Opposition welcomes shift in US foreign policy on Cuba

By Balford Henry

Wednesday, December 17, 2014 | 4:33 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ed Bartlett, this afternoon welcomed announcement of a resumption in diplomatic relations between the governments of the United States and Cuba.

Bartlett, in a release on the development, described it as “an epochal moment in Caribbean political history and diplomatic relations.”

“We are truly delighted as, on both sides of the governmental aisle, we have been united on the principle of the removal of the embargo, which has been seen as unfair and unjust,” he said.

He added that the Opposition also took particular note of US president Barack Obama’s description of the shift in policy, as the “most significant change” in his country’s foreign policy in more than fifty years.

“Jamaica has been at the centre of this matter within the Caribbean, and we note that this has significant implications, as it signals the normalisation of diplomatic relations within the region, as well as the normalization of relations between two of our most important friends and neighbours,” he stated.

In closing, Bartlett said that, given that the USA is Jamaica’s largest trading partner, and Cuba its closest neighbour, there will clearly be new opportunities for discussions on trade and also deeper economic collaboration between Jamaica Cuba and the USA.

“We look forward for discussions on this co-operation particularly in the areas of tourism and the development of our logistics hub capabilities, and we encourage continued steps towards the full removal of the trade embargo which will certainly unlock the gates to free trade among the Americas,” Bartlett told the Observer,

US President Barack Obama announced today that the United States would restore diplomatic relations it severed with Cuba more than 50 years ago.

After 18 months of secret talks facilitated by the Vatican and Canada, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed by phone on Tuesday on a prisoner exchange and the opening of embassies in each other’s countries.

In a television speech on Wednesday, Obama announced the end of what he called a rigid and outdated policy of isolating Cuba that had been ineffective in achieving change on the island.

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Opposition welcomes shift in US foreign policy on Cuba

Three high schools to end shift system

STUDENTS attending three of the nation’s high schools will no longer have to contend with the shift system, as the institutions will be removed from that fixture during the new school year.

The schools are Holy Trinity High, in Kingston, Glengoffe High, St Catherine, and Anchovy High in St James.Education minister Ronald Thwaites made the disclosure during a back-to-school press conference held at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Andrew on Friday.Thwaites said that over time, more schools will be removed from the system used by institutions to accommodate the large number of students.In the meantime, the education minister said that expansion works at the Holy Trinity High School will be completed during the first term of the school year.For Glengoffe High School, Thwaites said that a new classroom block has been added, which will facilitate its removal from the shift system. He thanked the Government of Japan for funding the project.The minister also said that the Montpelier Complex in St James will be renovated to facilitate the expansion of Anchovy High School in January 2014.Turning to other school plants which are being upgraded, Thwaites said that the Cedar Grove High School in St Catherine will open in September, starting with 100 grade seven students.“A portion of the building has been finished for us to start. When the plant is completed in November, it will have a capacity of 1,200 students and will include a sixth form, which is very much needed in the Portmore vicinity,” he said.Thwaites said that the Belair High School in Manchester is now a grant-aided school and will, in September, accommodate an additional 105 students at grade six, and an expanded sixth form.The minister also noted that repairs and expansion at the Garvey Maceo High School in Clarendon was completed and will be ready for occupancy at the start of the new school year.In the meantime, he said that 63 basic schools will be absorbed into 50 infant departments in primary schools, with others to follow later during the school year.Thwaites also noted that the ministry is on track to convert 66 pit latrines to water closets by December 2013.The 2013/14 academic school year is slated to begin on September 2.THWAITES… more schools to be removed from shift system

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Three high schools to end shift system