The governments of CARICOM are preparing to send humanitarian assistance to Cuba, as announced by CARICOM chairman Dr. Terrance Drew during the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, held in St Kitts and Nevis from February 24 to 27, 2026.
The CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana is overseeing this initiative. Member states will finance the acquisition of provisions, which will include powdered milk, baby formula, non-perishable food items like beans, flour, rice, and canned goods, along with medical supplies, solar panels, batteries, and water tanks.
The Government of Mexico has identified suppliers and will assist in delivering goods to the port of departure, additionally providing free shipping to Cuba.
Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, David Comissiong, confirmed the regional initiative while speaking at a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in Bogota, Colombia.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring that CELAC operates effectively as a development tool for the region, stating, “However, development cannot occur without peace!”
He urged member states to commit deeply to uphold and defend CELAC’s significant 2014 ‘Declaration of Havana’, which designated the region as a Zone of Peace.
Furthermore, he remarked that member nations must persist in denouncing the extrajudicial killings of citizens by an encroaching superpower and oppose “the United States’ illegal unilateral blockade” of Cuba.
In a recent email statement, Comissiong confirmed, “I can also state that CARICOM is actively working on an initiative to send humanitarian supplies to Cuba.”
He elaborated that each member state has agreed to provide financial contributions, which will be allocated to purchase supplies in Mexico for shipment to Cuba.
However, he noted that delays in the regional process led Barbados to take independent action.
“Just last week, Prime Minister Mottley instructed that Barbados should promptly proceed with delivering our supplies to Cuba,” he mentioned.
“The process has been initiated for the Barbados Government to acquire food and medicine in Mexico and arrange for their transportation to Cuba.”