P.M. Briceño Addresses Ninth Summit of the Americas

Prime Minister John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño is in Los Angeles, California where he addressed the plenary session of the Ninth Summit of the Americas.  P.M. Briceño, who is also the pro tem chair of CARICOM, discussed the global issue of climate change, as well as the crushing debt crisis that has led to a sharp increase in poverty, hunger and education loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The most salient part of his speech, however, touched on the exclusion of other countries, including Cuba and Venezuela.  Prime Minister Briceño said, “the Summit belongs to all of the Americas.  It is therefore inexcusable that all countries of the Americas are not here, and the power of the Summit diminished by their absence. It is incomprehensible that we would isolate countries of the Americas which have provided strong leadership and contributed to the hemisphere on the critical issues of our time. Cuba has provided consistent, unmatched cooperation in health to almost two-thirds of the countries in this hemisphere including Belize. Cuban healthcare experts of the Henry Reeve Brigade were on the frontline in the very early and uncertain days of Belize’s COVID-19 response. Many Belizean doctors and healthcare professionals are trained in Cuba. The illegal blockade against Cuba is an affront to humanity. It continues to cause untold suffering. It is inconsistent with our values. In fact, it is un-American.  The time has come, Mr. President, to lift the blockade and to build bonds of friendship with the people of Cuba. Similarly, Venezuela has done so much toward energy security for the Caribbean region through its innovative financing programs. Venezuela’s absence is unforgivable.”