No US pressure behind Ja’s decision to abstain from Cuba embargo vote – Morris Dixon

The Jamaican Government is denying that any United States pressure influenced its decision to abstain from today's United Nations General Assembly vote condemning America's embargo against Cuba.

Although failing to register a vote, the Government is arguing that the abstention is in line with its long-articulated position on the matter.

Citing Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness’ address to the CARICOM Heads of Government Summit in February, where he said Jamaica called for reforms and argued that it did not support a unilateral embargo, Information Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon told the media at today’s post-Cabinet press briefing that Jamaica’s abstention was in line with those utterances.

"In that speech, it was very clear in terms of the fact that we do not support a unilateral embargo. The Prime Minister also said that it is time for reforms."

Earlier at the press briefing, it was Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith who disclosed that Jamaica had abstained from the vote, which she said was carried out by Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Brian Wallace.

Morris Dixon also pointed out that Johnson Smith had expressed similar sentiments last month, which were taken to Parliament on Tuesday.

"So, we've been saying the same thing, and we've been very consistent on that. In the vote today, there was no one influencing Jamaica. Jamaica is a sovereign nation and Jamaica made a decision to abstain,” Morris Dixon said.

The Information Minister was adamant that the abstention does not mean Jamaica does not want change.

"What we are saying is that a unilateral embargo like this Jamaica does not support and we've been consistent with that. We've also noted there is need for reform and so the country, the government agreed, that in this case we would abstain. And that is consistent in terms of the utterances."

She also added that decisions across the region varied.

The resolution was passed on Wednesday, with 130 countries in favour and 17 opposed, including the US and Israel.

Jamaica was among 25 countries that abstained, including Germany and Italy, which had previously voted in favour.

The UN General Assembly has voted to condemn the embargo annually for more than three decades.

- Karen Madden

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