Obama: US re-establishing relations with Cuba

Wednesday, December 17, 2014 | 12:39 PM    

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama announced the re-establishment of diplomatic relations as well as an easing in economic and travel restrictions on Cuba Wednesday, declaring an end to America’s “outdated approach” to the communist island in a historic shift that aims to bring an end to a half-century of Cold War enmity.

“Isolation has not worked,” Obama said in remarks from the White House. “It’s time for a new approach.”

As Obama spoke, Cuban President Raul Castro addressed his own nation from Havana. Obama and Castro spoke by phone for more than 45 minutes Tuesday, the first substantive presidential-level discussion between the US and Cuba since 1961.

Obama’s announcement marked an abrupt use of executive power. However, he cannot unilaterally end the longstanding US economic embargo on Cuba, which was passed by Congress and would require action from lawmakers to overturn.

Wednesday’s announcements followed more than a year of secret talks between the U.S. and Cuba. The re-establishment of diplomatic ties was accompanied by Cuba’s release of American Alan Gross and the swap of a US spy held in Cuba for three Cubans jailed in Florida.

Obama said Gross’ five-year imprisonment had been a “major obstacle” in normalizing relations. Gross arrived at an American military base just outside Washington Wednesday, accompanied by his wife and a handful of US lawmakers. He went immediately into a meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry.

As part of resuming diplomatic relations with Cuba, the U.S. will soon reopen an embassy in the capital of Havana and carry out high-level exchanges and visits between the governments. The US is also easing travel bans to Cuba, including for family visits, official US government business and educational activities. Tourist travel remains banned.

Licensed American travelers to Cuba will now be able to return to the US with $400 in Cuban goods, including tobacco and alcohol products worth less than $100 combined. This means the long-standing ban on importing Cuban cigars is over, although there are still limits.

The US is also increasing the amount of money Americans can send to Cubans from $500 to $2,000 every three months. Early in his presidency, Obama allowed unlimited family visits by Cuban-Americans and removed a $1,200 annual cap on remittances. Kerry is also launching a review of Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terror.

Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserver

Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

View the original article here

Obama: US re-establishing relations with Cuba

Raul Castro welcomes renewal of relations with US

Wednesday, December 17, 2014 | 12:21 PM    

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban President Raul Castro says he welcomes the restoration of relations with the United States.

In a nationally broadcast speech, the Cuban leader says profound differences remain between Cuba and the US in areas such as human rights, foreign policy and questions of sovereignty.

But he says the countries have to learn to live with their differences “in a civilized manner.”

Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserver

Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

View the original article here

Raul Castro welcomes renewal of relations with US

Cubans celebrate renewed relations with US

Wednesday, December 17, 2014 | 6:44 PM    

HAVANA (AFP) — Cubans erupted into celebration Wednesday at news of a historic renewal in relations with the United States, voicing hope the breakthrough would change their lives amid economic decay.

In Havana’s old town, where overjoyed groups gathered in the street as the news spread, the phrase “historic day” was on many people’s lips as the more than 50-year-old Cold War standoff showed signs of ending.

“I have goose bumps all over,” said Ernesto Perez, 52, who works at a cafeteria in the capital.

In a sign of the communist island’s baby steps toward reform, Perez got the news on his cell phone — devices President Raul Castro legalized shortly after taking power in 2006 during a health crisis for his older brother Fidel, the father of Cuba’s 1959 revolution.

But in this country where the government still controls the media, Perez got the announcement from state news portal Cubadebate.

“It’s very important news that will change all our lives. I think everything is going to change. A lot of things can change, and for the better,” he said.

Many Cubans were at work or school when they got the news that the US had agreed to revive diplomatic ties and ease its five-decade trade embargo — an announcement made simultaneously in Havana and Washington by President Castro and his American counterpart Barack Obama.

The announcement caught many by surprise, despite tentative signs of a thaw in US-Cuban relations recently.

Bank employee Amelia Gutierrez, who is seven months pregnant, said she got a knot in her throat when she realized her baby would grow up in a new era for US-Cuban relations.

“He won’t have to live under the atmosphere of tension that has marked the relationship between Cuba and the United States for the past 50 years,” said Gutierrez, 28.

“This is great news. It’s a historic day. Cuba and the United States are neighboring countries. There’s no reason they should get along so poorly,” she told AFP.

“Only God knows if things will get better slowly or quickly. But this is a huge first step.”

Marlon Torrez, a 16-year-old student, said he hoped above all that the changes would help Cuba’s economy, which despite minor reforms has never been on solid footing since losing the vital support of the Soviet Union.

“This could open a lot of doors, especially in terms of trade between the two countries, which are very close neighbors,” said Torrez, one of the 7.7 million people on this island of 11.1 million who have lived their whole lives under the US embargo.

Many Cubans were also overjoyed at the return of three prisoners jailed for more than 15 years in the United States on spying charges.

The three, who have been declared “Heroes of the Republic” by the Havana government for fighting anti-communist Cuban exile groups, were exchanged for American contractor Alan Gross and an unnamed intelligence agent who had been caught working for the US in Cuba and held for two decades.

“It makes me incredibly happy that these three men can reunite with their families in Cuba. It’s about time,” said Bertha Perez, a 58-year-old librarian at Simon Bolivar House.

Hugo Cansio, a Cuban-American who runs a magazine called On Cuba, said the move was long overdue.

“Some of us have worked very hard for many years to bring about a change in policy between Cuba and the United States,” the 50-year-old businessman said in an email to AFP.

“Today is a great day, a historic day, the beginning of a new dream, a new opportunity for all Cubans.”

Dissidents crestfallen

  However opponents of the Castro regime were crestfallen.

“This was not the right time for these measures. They should have waited for a decisive gesture from Havana on human rights,” said former political prisoner Jose Daniel Ferrer, the head of the dissident Patriotic Union of Cuba in second city Santiago.

“But the move is already made,” he told AFP.

“We must use the openings that will be created under these measures.”

Dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez said the announcement meant that “Castro-ism has won.”

“Now we can look forward to long weeks of cheers and slogans in which the Cuban government proclaims itself the victor in its final battle,” she wrote.

Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserver

Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

View the original article here

Cubans celebrate renewed relations with US

Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago to establish joint commission to improve bilateral relations

Foreign Minister A.J Nicholson (left) and his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Winston Dookeran met in Port of Spain last week

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tuesday July 1, 2014, CMC – Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have agreed to the urgent formation of a joint commission “or a similar entity” to advance the issue of enhanced functional cooperation between them.

A joint communiqué following the second round of bilateral talks between the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries also re-affirmed “the importance of the consultations as a mechanism for strengthening political dialogue, reviewing bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on a range of pertinent issues”.

The first round of bilateral consultations on free movement in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) was held here in December last year following the controversy that erupted when Port of Spain deported a number of Jamaican nationals. The move resulted in calls for a boycott of Trinidad and Tobago products in Jamaica.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

Foreign Minister A.J Nicholson and his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Winston Dookeran met in Port of Spain last week and according to the communiqué released here Monday, both ministers said they were cognisant of the fact that the Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica’s bilateral relationship is based on a history of shared values, respect, friendship and a tradition of cooperation at all levels of government, business and civil society.

The communiqué noted that the meeting had assessed the progress made since the initial round of consultations “and agreed on the need to maintain and intensify efforts with a view to implementing initiatives on the bilateral agenda.

“In this regard, both sides agreed to explore urgently the formation of a Joint Commission or a similar entity to advance the issue of enhanced functional cooperation between the two countries.”

The communiqué said that both countries “have a vital stake in and share a common commitment” to CARICOM and in the spirit of regional cooperation,” will work together closely, seeking to advance common approaches to regional and international issues”.

On the issue of hassle-free travel, the ministers called for further discussions among their immigration and other relevant officials on the implications of the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the case involving the Jamaican national Shanique Myrie and Barbados.

The CCJ had in October last year ruled that Myrie be awarded BDS$75,000 (One Barbados dollar =US$0.50 cents) in non-pecuniary damage and BDS$2, 240 in pecuniary damages after she had alleged that when she travelled to Barbados on March 14, 2011 she was discriminated against because of her nationality, subjected to a body cavity search, detained overnight in a cell and deported to Jamaica the following day.

Myrie also claimed that she was subjected to derogatory remarks by a Barbadian Immigration officer and asked the CCJ to determine the minimum standard of treatment applicable to CARICOM citizens moving around the region.

The communiqué said that Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica had expressed a desire for the discussions on the implications of the CCJ ruling to be held region-wide as well.

”Both sides engaged in a wide-ranging discussion on Community law as outlined in the above-mentioned Ruling and took note of the fact that CARICOM member states should treat with the review and amendment of their domestic legislation as required, in light of that ruling.

“Trinidad and Tobago provided details of its existing procedures whereby those CARICOM nationals denied entry have access to an administrative review of the decision of the Immigration Officer. Jamaica noted that its law makes provision in certain cases for a referral to a resident magistrate and that this could be used as a transitional measure to provide for judicial oversight pending formal amendment of its law consistent with Community law.”

The communiqué noted that both countries provided details of their on-going efforts to train Immigration Officers and that Immigration Officers from Trinidad and Tobago participated in sensitization sessions facilitated by the CARICOM Secretariat late last month.

“The two sides assessed the progress made with respect to the implementation of the Complaints Mechanism approved by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in November 2013. It said that Trinidad and Tobago asserted that approvals from the respective line ministries and Cabinet were required before implementing the Complaints Mechanism and undertook to keep Jamaica abreast of developments in this regard. Jamaica noted that the Complaints Mechanism approved by the COTED has already been made available at its ports of entry.

“Both sides recommitted to the sharing of data regarding the travel of nationals between the two countries, and exchanged ideas on mechanisms to facilitate the enhanced exchange of information, on a regular basis, through mutually agreed channels.

“They also agreed to enhance the process for collecting and sharing more specific data in respect of travel between their respective countries.”

The communiqué said that discussions were also held on the issue of airport detentions and it was noted that Jamaica had dedicated accommodation facilities at their main airports for persons denied entry. In this regard, Trinidad and Tobago informed that options will be explored for providing facilities at the airports for persons denied entry.

“On the subject of the harmonizing of practices and procedures with regard to the free movement of skilled nationals, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica welcomed the work being undertaken in the context of the administrative component of the CARICOM Trade and Competitiveness Project (CTCP), with particular reference to the acceptance of a standardised Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification (Skills Certificate).”

Both countries said that they had “reaffirmed their commitment to hassle-free travel and committed to work towards developing public education programmes to highlight the rights and responsibilities of those who exercise their right to travel or move freely in the Single Market”.

The next meeting between the two countries are expected to be held before the end of this year.

View the original article here

Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago to establish joint commission to improve bilateral relations

Jamaica urged to deepen trade relations with Brazil

BRAZIL and Jamaica must move beyond exchanges in just music and culture, and deepen their trade relations, says the Brazilian ambassador to Jamaica.

“We need to know each other better. Brazil needs to know Jamaica beyond reggae and Usain Bolt. These are certainly great brands, but we need to make these brands connect,” Antonio Francisco da Costa e Silva Neto stated in his keynote address at a luncheon hosted by JN Small Business Loans Limited (JNSBL) at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston.“Jamaica needs to talk not only about looking ‘south’ but they have to ‘do the walk south’,” the ambassador added at the luncheon aimed at strengthening the dialogue to increase business between the two countries.He commended the Donovan McFarlane-led Jamaica-Brazil Chamber of Commerce delegation to Jamaica, adding that the time had come for Jamaica to establish a sister organisation in Kingston to deepen the discussions about doing business with Brazil.“We should have a sister organisation to develop closer ties, which does not only involve trade; but investment and joint venture investments; partnerships, to not only tap into the Brazilian and Jamaican markets, but to also to tap into markets that Brazil may have access to, such as other South American markets,” he declared.He also maintained that the Brazilian Embassy was willing and ready to help.“The Brazilian Embassy is not only here to promote sports, as good as that would be; but we are also here to help Jamaica to export more to Brazil,” he stated.His comments were welcomed by Earl Jarrett, general manager of Jamaica National,who said the local private sector could look at establishing a “business club” to facilitate greater knowledge-sharing about the opportunities for business in Brazil and Jamaica, and facilitate talks on issues impacting trade between the two countries.According to Jarrett, there is still a lack of knowledge about opportunities for the private sector in both countries, which has been an impediment to trade during the past 50 years, despite the diplomatic relationship between the nations.“Such a facility would help to support the work the Jamaica-Brazil Chamber of Commerce, which is already providing another space for dialogue on the possibilities and the issues that prevent us from capitalising on our bilateral relations over the past century,” Jarrett said.The JN general manager noted that there was still a need for a regularised visa agreement between the countries, to facilitate Jamaicans seeking to trade with Brazil. Under the current visa agreement, Jamaicans who hold diplomatic passports and official passports may stay in Brazil for up to 90 days, while ordinary Jamaicans are required to obtain a visa, although Brazilians may stay in Jamaica for up to 30 days without a visa.He added that there was also need for better air linkages between the countries if Jamaica is to improve business with Brazil, pointing to “the lack of direct flights between the two countries, which is a barrier to the need for expanded cooperation with the South American nation”.Echoing a similar point, Arnaldo Brown, minister of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, added that the ease of travel is critical to trade with Brazil. And, in relation to tourism, he said, “At present we are aware that out of South Africa there are direct flights into Brazil and Jamaica is going to see how we can make that full circle from Brazil into Kingston.”Brown said, in that regard, the issue of intra-regional travel also needed to be tackled. He suggested that the proposed logistics hub will become important to travel, “because, we are not only speaking about the movement of people, but cargo, as well.”Industry Minister Anthony Hylton noted that the transhipment project was vital to vastly improving the island’s competitiveness, and should deepen Jamaica-Brazil trade relations.“With the logistics hub you are talking about a greater integration of Jamaica into the global economy and the movement of passengers and goods globally,” he stated. “We will have the links between Jamaica and Brazil enhanced.”With constant high economic growth rates and a population of nearly 200 million people, Brazil is the world’s seventh largest economy and is also considered the seventh largest in terms of purchasing power parity, with GDP per capita of some US$10,200.In his remarks, Donovan McFarlane, president of the Jamaica-Brazil Chamber of Commerce, noted that more than 45 million Brazilians had moved into the middle class in recent years.“And with their assent into the world of the middle class has come a world of new consumer opportunities. This rising consumer class is expected to be a driving force in facilitating the strength in the consumer market due to its exceptional spending power,” he stated.However, despite these opportunities, Jamaica has maintained a trade deficit with Brazil. In 2012 imports from Brazil of mostly ethanol and corned beef, amounted to US$240 million, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, while exports from Jamaica to Brazil amounted to US$9.4 million leaving a deficit of US$230.4 million.McFarlane said the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games will provide further opportunities for entrepreneurs in Jamaica and other countries to expand their businesses, noting that the Jamaica-Brazil Chamber was willing to support businesses ready to make a move.“The Jamaica-Brazil Chamber of Commerce seeks the cooperation and support of businesses and organisations to afford us the opportunity of moving forward together,” McFarlane affirmed. “We are ready and equipped with the tools necessary to help you to achieve success.” The Christ the Redeemer statue stands back-dropped by Sugar Loaf mountain (right) as the sun sets in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Brazilian ambassador to Jamaica, Antonio Francisco da Costa e Silva Neto.

View the original article here

Jamaica urged to deepen trade relations with Brazil

BlackBerry hires Speyside for regional public relations

Business

Saturday, August 03, 2013

FOLLOWING a global review of its public relations support, BlackBerry has appointed Speyside Corporate Relations as its public relations agency across Latin America and the Caribbean.The appointment is part of a new integrated global PR solution, with Speyside working alongside long-time partners Text100 and APCO who will support the company across North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe Middle East & Africa.The Speyside team will provide support in all markets across Latin America & the Caribbean, working through teams on-the-ground in eight countries. The principal focus of the team will be to further enhance journalist and blogger relationships and help communicate around BlackBerry’s new products across the region.Commenting on the appointment, Speyside CEO Ian Herbison stated, “We are delighted to be part of this global team, working with BlackBerry across Latin America and the Caribbean to help the company communicate its exciting new products and its vision for mobile computing.”Headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Speyside Corporate Relations is a Latin American-focused corporate, financial and government relations consultancy operating across the region. It was founded in 2009, but the company on its website notes that its management team has over 20 years’ experience in emerging markets, having previously built the leading emerging markets corporate communications and government affairs consultancy in 21 countries across Eastern Europe.BlackBerry in June reported a first quarter loss and warned of future losses despite releasing its make-or-break new smartphones this year. Its Latin America segment saw revenue decline by six per cent, attributed to Venezuela foreign currency restrictions negatively impacting US$72 million of service revenue recognition in the first quarter.The BlackBerry, introduced in 1999, was once the dominant smartphone for on-the-go business people. But it lost its cachet not long after Apple released the first iPhone in 2007. Apple’s device reset expectations for what a smartphone can do. RIM promised to catch up while developing a new software system called BlackBerry 10, which uses technology it got through its 2010 purchase of QNX Software Systems. But the company took more than two years to unveil new phones that were redesigned for the multimedia, Internet browsing and apps experience that customers now demand. During that time, RIM cut more than 5,000 jobs and saw shareholder wealth of more than US$70 billion vanish.RIM’s BlackBerry 10 operating system is critical to the company’s comeback. New phones running the BlackBerry 10 software began selling around the world this year. The BlackBerry Z10, a touch screen model, and the Q10, which sports a keyboard, have received positive reviews, but there was a delay in getting them to the market in the US.

View the original article here

BlackBerry hires Speyside for regional public relations

JLP serious about suspending relations with Caricom — Holness

OPPOSITION Leader Andrew Holness says that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) believes that Jamaica should consider suspending its relationship with the Caribbean Community (Caricom) until it sorts out current issues with the regional body.

“There could be a suspension until we get our house in order, so that we can participate on equal footing with everyone,” Holness told the Jamaica Observer at this week’s Monday Exchange.The Opposition leader, who was echoing the point made by his party’s spokesman on foreign affairs and foreign trade, Dr Christopher Tufton at a Kingston Lion’s Club meeting last week, said that it was an indication of the party’s consistency on the position.“We do not believe that Jamaica’s interests are necessarily being fully served by Caricom, and that’s not a statement from which we hide: We have made that statement before,” Holness said defiantly, as he spoke to the editors and reporters on his party’s 70th anniversary at the Observer’s Beechwood Avenue office in Kingston.“We believe that a weak Jamaica does not make a strong Caricom; so, for Caricom to be strong, Jamaica has to be strong, and if it is that Jamaica is not being served by the relationship, then we need to examine it,” Holness said.Senior spokesmen for the JLP have been promoting the idea of Jamaica temporarily pulling out of Caricom to rethink its relationship with the regional body, for several months now. The call was first made by the party’s spokesman on industry, commerce and energy, Gregory Mair; then its spokesman on transport and works, Karl Samuda; and more recently by Dr Tufton, who said that Jamaica’s best bet in dealing with Caricom trading issues would be a temporary withdrawal.“This period would also be sufficient for a comprehensive examination to be done, to determine if Jamaica should leave Caricom in its current form and, instead, seek functional collaboration on matters of strategic, regional and international importance,” Dr Tufton said.But, Holness went further on Monday, identifying the Common External Tariff (CET) as one of the land mines on the path to a more co-operative attitude towards the regional body.He said that the rush in the 1990s to create the tariff has not necessarily benefited Jamaica.“We have not been opposed to the creation of a common market, but we want to see a situation in which Jamaica benefits, and I have said that we are a Jamaica first party: Jamaica’s interests first, and that needs to be looked at,” the Opposition leader argued.Holness also suggested that a widened area of trade co-operation, including closer ties with Latin American countries like Colombia and Venezuela, was envisaged by his party.He noted that Jamaica already has strong economic links with Venezuela, primarily through the PetroCaribe oil agreement, while pointing out that Jamaica could benefit immensely from improving its trade with Colombia, as well as Panama.“We share an economic zone which can be mutually exploited, and Colombia is transforming itself in an amazing way. I think we need to strengthen these relationships,” he said, noting that Jamaica also has significant heritage ties with its Latin neighbours, including Colombia, Panama and Cuba.He said that the US embargo against Cuba cannot remain in perpetuity, and once the Cuba economy is released from those shackles there will significant investment shifts in the region.“We don’t want to appear anti-Caricom, but for Jamaica to advance, we have to look elsewhere. We have to be prepared not to become a consequence of this investment shift, but to be a beneficiary,” Holness said.HOLNESS… we believe that a weak Jamaica does not make a strong Caricom (PHOTO: NAPHTALI JUNIOR)

View the original article here

JLP serious about suspending relations with Caricom — Holness

Brazil lawmaker: US spying won"t hurt relations

News

Thursday, July 11, 2013

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Disclosures alleging that the United States has collected data on billions of telephone and email conversations in Latin America’s biggest country will not affect Brazil-US relations, the head of Brazil’s joint congressional committee on intelligence said yesterday.Congressman Nelson Pellegrino told foreign correspondents in Brasilia that despite Brazil’s strong repudiation of the US information- gathering activities in Brazil, “the good relations we have with the United States will not be interrupted.”“We have sent Washington a clear message that we are interested in maintaining good relations, but that we will not accept these kinds of practices,” he said. “We cannot accept that a country spies on another, on its citizens, its companies and its authorities.”He said President Dilma Rousseff’s state visit to Washington in October was still on and that it would not be affected by the recent disclosures.The O Globo newspaper reported last week that information released by National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden showed Brazil is the top target in Latin America for the NSA’s massive intelligence-gathering effort aimed at monitoring communications around the world.Snowden’s disclosures indicate that the NSA widely collects phone and Internet “metadata” — logs of message times, addresses and other information rather than the content of the messages. The documents have indicated that the NSA has been collecting the phone records of millions of US phone customers, and has gathered data on phone and Internet usage outside the US.

View the original article here

Brazil lawmaker: US spying won"t hurt relations