loyola llothta
☭☭☭
Last edited:
Essential Afro-Latino/ Caribbean Current Events
- Thread starter Poitier
- Start date
loyola llothta
☭☭☭
loyola llothta
☭☭☭
UCC puts $3b price tag on university town development
Published: Friday | October 22, 2021 | 12:09 AM Karena Bennett - Business Reporter
Executive Chairman of UCC Group Winston Adams.
A plan by the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, UCC, to develop a university town some six years ago is finally gaining traction, with the groundbreaking slated to take place on completion of UCC’s listing on the Jamaica Stock Exchange next year.
The development cost is about US$20 million ($3.060 billion), founder and Executive Chairman of the UCC Dr Winston Adams said, and will include facilities for technical and vocational training for global students, a public library, varied residential and shopping areas, banks, restaurants, cultural and creative arts facilities, and government agencies.
Thirty acres of land in Ironshore, Montego Bay, has been identified as the location for the town, which will be named Caribbean Knowledge City. The preliminary process for the land acquisition has begun, Adams told the Financial Gleaner in an interview on Wednesday, which is expected to be a US$11-million ($1.7-billion) deal.
The development plan awaits planning approvals, but for now is designed to accommodate up to 5,000 students using shared academic services, while the residential facilities will hold up to 500 students.
The town will mimic globally established knowledge communities such as the Dubai International Academic City.
“It’s really a location that will allow us to export education, whether through laboratory research, technological innovation, and so on. The UCC will identify international partner universities that might have an interest in co-location within the university town. We are looking to engage with some five or six accredited institutions of higher education,” Adams said.
Universities out of the United States, Canada, Qatar and United Kingdom are being approached by UCC regarding potential partnerships, with the help of investment promotion agency Jampro.
“The marketplace is no longer Jamaica, it is now global, and we want to be able to attract international students not just online, but physically,” he added.
UCC’s university town development is back at the top of the institution’s to-do list following the acquisition of Jamaican real estate franchises REMax Elite and REMax Jamaica by Spectrum Capital Partners St Lucia Limited, A UCC subsidiary, from Marquis Holding Limited on October 15, 2021.
The deal included the business, expertise and intellectual properties of REMax Elite, a realty company that has been operating in Jamaica for 12 years, and three commercial real estate properties in Kingston and Montego Bay held under REMax Elite.
The acquisition of REMax Jamaica regional franchise portfolio is still pending closure, Dr Adams said, but on completion, will allow UCC to increase REMax franchises offices in Jamaica from two to six.
“UCC REID itself will operate at least 75 per cent of the franchises in Jamaica, while the remainder will be operated under contract arrangements. While we seek to expand the offices in Jamaica, we will also be expanding REMax Elite services to four Caribbean countries to include Barbados and the Dominican Republic,” he said.
The acquisition price has not been disclosed.
REMax Elite and REMax Jamaica join the portfolio of the UCC Real Estate Investment and Development, or UCC REID, the real estate and property arm of the UCC Group launched in March 2020 to develop additional campuses across the Caribbean, and to spearhead the group’s residential and commercial developments in Jamaica.
Months before the acquisition, the institution had restructured its operations to include the launch of two new subsidiaries, Spectrum Capital Partners and the UCC Business Development and Consulting Institute, with the aim of providing synergistic services for its student body, many of whom are entrepreneurs.
“It’s all a part of the vertical integration of the UCC Group. Our intention is to bundle all of the services under the group and to offer registered students a discount on real estate needs,” said Adams. “Eventually, we want to get into mortgage financing and business financing through Spectrum Capital.”
The buildout of the Caribbean Knowledge City will be done through UCC REID.
UCC Group engaged the services of brokerage house and advisory firms Mayberry Investments Limited and the Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited for the acquisition deal. With 90 per cent of that transaction now completed, Adams said, UCC is now focused on getting listed in 2022 and thereafter, REMax Elite and REMax Jamaica.
Proceeds from UCC initial public offering of shares, he said, would support the construction of the university town; while capital raised from the second offering will go towards expanding REMax in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
“That’s just one source of financing,” Adams said of the equity raise. “We are looking at multiple [sources].”
UCC intends to rename Marquis Holding, which holds the REMax Jamaica franchises and was acquired from David Dixon, Richard Oliver, Nicola Anya Levy and Faith Downie, and will appoint a new board of directors for the real estate business. Two of the directors of Marquis Holding will remain of the board of the new company.
UCC puts $3b price tag on university town development
Published: Friday | October 22, 2021 | 12:09 AM Karena Bennett - Business Reporter
Executive Chairman of UCC Group Winston Adams.
A plan by the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, UCC, to develop a university town some six years ago is finally gaining traction, with the groundbreaking slated to take place on completion of UCC’s listing on the Jamaica Stock Exchange next year.
The development cost is about US$20 million ($3.060 billion), founder and Executive Chairman of the UCC Dr Winston Adams said, and will include facilities for technical and vocational training for global students, a public library, varied residential and shopping areas, banks, restaurants, cultural and creative arts facilities, and government agencies.
Thirty acres of land in Ironshore, Montego Bay, has been identified as the location for the town, which will be named Caribbean Knowledge City. The preliminary process for the land acquisition has begun, Adams told the Financial Gleaner in an interview on Wednesday, which is expected to be a US$11-million ($1.7-billion) deal.
The development plan awaits planning approvals, but for now is designed to accommodate up to 5,000 students using shared academic services, while the residential facilities will hold up to 500 students.
The town will mimic globally established knowledge communities such as the Dubai International Academic City.
“It’s really a location that will allow us to export education, whether through laboratory research, technological innovation, and so on. The UCC will identify international partner universities that might have an interest in co-location within the university town. We are looking to engage with some five or six accredited institutions of higher education,” Adams said.
Universities out of the United States, Canada, Qatar and United Kingdom are being approached by UCC regarding potential partnerships, with the help of investment promotion agency Jampro.
“The marketplace is no longer Jamaica, it is now global, and we want to be able to attract international students not just online, but physically,” he added.
UCC’s university town development is back at the top of the institution’s to-do list following the acquisition of Jamaican real estate franchises REMax Elite and REMax Jamaica by Spectrum Capital Partners St Lucia Limited, A UCC subsidiary, from Marquis Holding Limited on October 15, 2021.
The deal included the business, expertise and intellectual properties of REMax Elite, a realty company that has been operating in Jamaica for 12 years, and three commercial real estate properties in Kingston and Montego Bay held under REMax Elite.
The acquisition of REMax Jamaica regional franchise portfolio is still pending closure, Dr Adams said, but on completion, will allow UCC to increase REMax franchises offices in Jamaica from two to six.
“UCC REID itself will operate at least 75 per cent of the franchises in Jamaica, while the remainder will be operated under contract arrangements. While we seek to expand the offices in Jamaica, we will also be expanding REMax Elite services to four Caribbean countries to include Barbados and the Dominican Republic,” he said.
The acquisition price has not been disclosed.
REMax Elite and REMax Jamaica join the portfolio of the UCC Real Estate Investment and Development, or UCC REID, the real estate and property arm of the UCC Group launched in March 2020 to develop additional campuses across the Caribbean, and to spearhead the group’s residential and commercial developments in Jamaica.
Months before the acquisition, the institution had restructured its operations to include the launch of two new subsidiaries, Spectrum Capital Partners and the UCC Business Development and Consulting Institute, with the aim of providing synergistic services for its student body, many of whom are entrepreneurs.
“It’s all a part of the vertical integration of the UCC Group. Our intention is to bundle all of the services under the group and to offer registered students a discount on real estate needs,” said Adams. “Eventually, we want to get into mortgage financing and business financing through Spectrum Capital.”
The buildout of the Caribbean Knowledge City will be done through UCC REID.
UCC Group engaged the services of brokerage house and advisory firms Mayberry Investments Limited and the Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited for the acquisition deal. With 90 per cent of that transaction now completed, Adams said, UCC is now focused on getting listed in 2022 and thereafter, REMax Elite and REMax Jamaica.
Proceeds from UCC initial public offering of shares, he said, would support the construction of the university town; while capital raised from the second offering will go towards expanding REMax in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
“That’s just one source of financing,” Adams said of the equity raise. “We are looking at multiple [sources].”
UCC intends to rename Marquis Holding, which holds the REMax Jamaica franchises and was acquired from David Dixon, Richard Oliver, Nicola Anya Levy and Faith Downie, and will appoint a new board of directors for the real estate business. Two of the directors of Marquis Holding will remain of the board of the new company.
UCC puts $3b price tag on university town development
loyola llothta
☭☭☭
Barbados inches closer to becoming a republic
Posted on October 27, 2021
As the most English or British of Caribbean Community countries becomes a republic in less than five weeks, the legislative groundwork is easily being rolled through the Barbados parliament and very soon, titles like Her Majesty’s Prison Service and the Royal Barbados Police Force will be tossed after nearly 400 years.
Earlier this week, parliament amended local laws to change the names of several national honor awards from British names and symbols to national ones with distinctly Barbadian insignias.
Barbados’ Attorney General, Dale Marshall piloted the legal amendments through a parliament dominated by lawmakers from the governing Barbados Labor Party (BLP) with consummate ease as excitement builds for the Nov. 30 switch from a country’s whose head of state is a white, aging great grandmother from England to a local ceremonial president who is Black like most Barbadians.
The title of governor general who represents Queen Elizabeth of Britain, will be replaced by a ceremonial or titular president. Constitutional and administrative systems have already been put in place for outgoing Governor General Dame Sandra Prunella Mason to become the country’s first president, serving alongside another woman at the helm of government and state-Prime Minister Mia Mottley. This is the first time in Barbadian history that two women hold the two most important constitutional titles and this feat is also among the first in the bloc of 15 nations. The change to a republic has been deliberately organized to coincide with Barbados’ 55th year of independence. The BLP holds nearly all 30 seats in the lower house.
The nation of just over 300,000 people and the most easterly in the Caribbean island chain, currently operates with names like her majesty’s prison service. State prosecutors and practicing attorneys have for decades appeared before magistrates and judges representing the crown, meaning her majesty’s crown system. Marshal says these will now serve the state of Barbados as those vestiges of colonialism are being removed to reflect Barbadian identity and localness.
Touching on national merit awards given out annually, the AG told the house that the gold and silver crowns of merit will now become the golden and silver tridents of excellence respectively. And locals who were knighted by the Queen will still be allowed to keep their titles even though it is unclear whether this system will continue going forward. Marshall made it clear as such to people in a country with among the highest number of knighthoods per capita outside the United Kingdom.
“Now there are those who might feel that by going republic we should throw out those things. But I think that that would be the wrong thing to do to try to diminish the value of that individual and the value of the honor to that individual at the time when it was given,” Marshall said.
Parliament has also approved an increase in the number of some awards which had had previous numerical limits. New appointees could only have been awarded in the aftermath of the death of a holder. In one such case, the limit has been moved to 50 from 15 and in another, group awards are now allowed, all in the lead up to Nov. 30.
When Barbados completes the process, it will join Guyana and Trinidad and former British colonies, which have become republics and are now governed by executive or titular presidents.
As the count down to the moment of national pride continues, PM Mottley contends that “there can be no better way than to reflect the love of self than to accept that one of your very own, born of this nation, shaped by this nation, adding to this nation, bringing honor to this nation that that person should be elected here. How can anyone deny the rightness of the moment? Recognizing, we need a mobilizing force and a unifying force to allow us to fight battles that hitherto in an independent Barbados we have not had to fight,” she said as parliament approved the nomination of Dame Sandra Mason to be president next month end.
Barbados inches closer to becoming a republic
Posted on October 27, 2021
As the most English or British of Caribbean Community countries becomes a republic in less than five weeks, the legislative groundwork is easily being rolled through the Barbados parliament and very soon, titles like Her Majesty’s Prison Service and the Royal Barbados Police Force will be tossed after nearly 400 years.
Earlier this week, parliament amended local laws to change the names of several national honor awards from British names and symbols to national ones with distinctly Barbadian insignias.
Barbados’ Attorney General, Dale Marshall piloted the legal amendments through a parliament dominated by lawmakers from the governing Barbados Labor Party (BLP) with consummate ease as excitement builds for the Nov. 30 switch from a country’s whose head of state is a white, aging great grandmother from England to a local ceremonial president who is Black like most Barbadians.
The title of governor general who represents Queen Elizabeth of Britain, will be replaced by a ceremonial or titular president. Constitutional and administrative systems have already been put in place for outgoing Governor General Dame Sandra Prunella Mason to become the country’s first president, serving alongside another woman at the helm of government and state-Prime Minister Mia Mottley. This is the first time in Barbadian history that two women hold the two most important constitutional titles and this feat is also among the first in the bloc of 15 nations. The change to a republic has been deliberately organized to coincide with Barbados’ 55th year of independence. The BLP holds nearly all 30 seats in the lower house.
The nation of just over 300,000 people and the most easterly in the Caribbean island chain, currently operates with names like her majesty’s prison service. State prosecutors and practicing attorneys have for decades appeared before magistrates and judges representing the crown, meaning her majesty’s crown system. Marshal says these will now serve the state of Barbados as those vestiges of colonialism are being removed to reflect Barbadian identity and localness.
Touching on national merit awards given out annually, the AG told the house that the gold and silver crowns of merit will now become the golden and silver tridents of excellence respectively. And locals who were knighted by the Queen will still be allowed to keep their titles even though it is unclear whether this system will continue going forward. Marshall made it clear as such to people in a country with among the highest number of knighthoods per capita outside the United Kingdom.
“Now there are those who might feel that by going republic we should throw out those things. But I think that that would be the wrong thing to do to try to diminish the value of that individual and the value of the honor to that individual at the time when it was given,” Marshall said.
Parliament has also approved an increase in the number of some awards which had had previous numerical limits. New appointees could only have been awarded in the aftermath of the death of a holder. In one such case, the limit has been moved to 50 from 15 and in another, group awards are now allowed, all in the lead up to Nov. 30.
When Barbados completes the process, it will join Guyana and Trinidad and former British colonies, which have become republics and are now governed by executive or titular presidents.
As the count down to the moment of national pride continues, PM Mottley contends that “there can be no better way than to reflect the love of self than to accept that one of your very own, born of this nation, shaped by this nation, adding to this nation, bringing honor to this nation that that person should be elected here. How can anyone deny the rightness of the moment? Recognizing, we need a mobilizing force and a unifying force to allow us to fight battles that hitherto in an independent Barbados we have not had to fight,” she said as parliament approved the nomination of Dame Sandra Mason to be president next month end.
Barbados inches closer to becoming a republic
An unrealized political possibility: remembering the Grenada Revolution
By Kevin Edmonds, October 20, 2021
October 25th marks the 38th anniversary of Operation Urgent Fury — the name given to the United States invasion of the Caribbean commonwealth of Grenada. Thanks to the efforts of 7,600 US troops and a flagrant violation of international law, Grenada was “rescued” from the horrors of communist dictatorship and certain economic collapse. This is the reason why October 25 is Grenada’s “Thanksgiving Day”, and similar to the better known Thanksgivings, it celebrates a myth. The truth is that the US invasion of Grenada and the liquidation of the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) was a triumph of western imperialism and neoliberalism over a peoples’ socialist experiment.
With the collapse of the PRG’s socialist experiment, Grenada was thrown head first into the neoliberal era and a debt crisis, resulting in multiple rounds of structural adjustment that would eviscerate public spending and gut already-meagre social support networks. Similar to other Caribbean states, the government in Grenada is the predominant employer. When it was forced, through structural adjustment policies, to sell off public assets, structural, long term unemployment was the inevitable result. Emigration has since become characteristic of the island, as 71 percent of its secondary school and 85 percent of tertiary graduates have left the island. Not surprisingly the size of the Grenadian diaspora is estimated to be larger than the domestic population of 110,000 people.
In 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, 32 percent of Grenada’s population lived in poverty (defined as less than $6 USD per day) – the highest poverty rate in the Eastern Caribbean. In 2020, the unemployment rate hit 48 percent, and 40 percent of the population were skipping meals due to the increasingly unaffordable prices of food. If this was not bad enough, Grenada also has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most indebted nations in the world. The devastating cycle of austerity is expected to only worsen due to increased pressures from climate change and the pandemic.
This is what capitalism looks like nearly 40 years later in “liberated” Grenada, elections and all. And it was totally avoidable. Rather than only looking at the PRG as an experiment which went tragically wrong, in his study Beyond Coloniality: Citizenship and Freedom in the Caribbean Intellectual Tradition political theorist Aaron Kamugisha more appropriately called the Grenada Revolution an “unrealized political possibility.” It is a political possibility that deserves to be put forward as an alternative model in today’s context where the political imagination of the Caribbean is handcuffed to neoliberalism.
The PRG was working to build a revolution in an underdeveloped, small island nation. The terrifying thing for the US and the neo-colonial puppets in the region such as Edward Seaga, Eugenia Charles, and John Compton was that it was working. That the PRG would carry out reforms aimed at improving the lives of the masses made sense – the entire platform of the PRG was to overturn the economic and political inheritances from colonial time and build an unlikely Grenadian model.
Since the beginnings of the Grenada Revolution in 1979, many of the ideas that were advocated and successfully implemented, such as building food security, diversifying the economy, building linkages between tourism and agriculture, boosting productivity and employment, would have a direct impact on the aforementioned problems of today, all while going directly against the advice of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The World Bank was even forced to admit in its 1982 report that despite inheriting a deteriorating economy from the former dictator Eric Gairy, the policies and platform of the PRG were turning Grenada’s economy around. Grenada was one of the few countries in the Western hemisphere to see sustained, multi-year growth during a global economic downturn.
The PRG’ understood that despite supposed “independence” in 1974, the economy largely remained frighteningly similar to the colonial days, in terms of the inequality of land ownership, unequal terms of trade, and a broken model which saw a primarily undiversified, agricultural nation dependent on imported food.
To address these issues, the PRG put underutilized and idle land into production, increasing domestic food supplies, creating jobs, and freeing up money that would have previously gone towards food imports to infrastructure and social programs. With the money saved from these initiatives, as well as increased aid from new allies such as Cuba, the Soviet Union, East Germany, Libya and others (that was actually spent rather than stashed in private accounts), the PRG would go on to make unmatched investments in healthcare and education (over 20% of government spending per year), eliminated school fees, a national childcare system, lowered the prices of food and basic goods, improved the housing stock, improved and built infrastructure where there was none (water, power, telephone, sanitation, roads), the creation of a national cooperative federation and more. The full list of economic and social achievements is even more impressive, considering how current governments across the Caribbean literally cannot be bothered to do anything to improve the standard of living of the masses.
This speaks directly to how the PRG engaged with democracy. This also gets distorted. The New Jewel Movement began to contest elections in 1973 while Grenada was under the Gairy regime. From this moment on, the political opposition that Maurice Bishop, Unison Whiteman, and their supporters faced beatings, arbitrary arrest and detention, attacks upon meetings, demonstrations by Gairy’s paramilitary “Mongoose Gang”, and even the killing of family members. Facing such brutal repression, the PRG soon realized how the political systems of the Caribbean work in order to marginalize dissenting voices, even if they are popular with the masses.
The bloodless coup of March 1979, brought the PRG some breathing time to figure out what form democracy would take in Grenada. Elections were never off of the table, but they were not considered the best expression of popular power. Maurice Bishop referred to elections as an exercise in “5 second democracy.” The PRG’s main concern was the consolidation of the revolution and transformation of society to meet the demands of the masses. The PRG succeeded in this because of the democratic feedback received through the systems of participatory politics and budgeting, with the creation of the People’s Budget – which deepened and challenged bourgeois ideas of what democracy actually is.
It should be clear that the PRG was attacked because of these very real achievements of the Grenadian Revolution – not, as often recounted, to rescue a handful of American medical students, to stop the building of a Cuban/Soviet air base, or to bring democracy and human rights to Grenada. Indeed, at the time of the attack, the US was propping up the murderous Duvalier regime in Haiti.
The real reason why Grenada was attacked and invaded, was because it was doing the unthinkable of overturning deeply entrenched neocolonialism and undertaking an imperfect but ultimately successful revolution in the most unlikely of places. This was a threat to not just the rest of the Caribbean, but to countries across the globe, including the US. The popular appeal of the PRG’s model and Bishop’s speeches was high within Black communities in the US, and the PRG leadership was invited to many community forums and campuses. The terrifying concern for the imperialists was that other countries and communities in the region would be motivated by PRG’s success and attempt similar measures.
Grenada is not alone with its contemporary economic challenges and failure to improve the standard of living of the masses. This is a common feature across the Caribbean. The current system in place is clearly not working. Grenada’s advantage is that its revolutionary past holds the key lessons to these existential crises. In 1984, Audrey Lorde distilled the extraordinary achievements and experience of the Grenada Revolution by saying, “Revolution. A nation decides for itself what it needs. How best to get it.” And Grenada’s Revolution worked. Imperialism just wouldn’t let it survive.
An Unrealized Political Possibility: Remembering the Grenada Revolution
By Kevin Edmonds, October 20, 2021
October 25th marks the 38th anniversary of Operation Urgent Fury — the name given to the United States invasion of the Caribbean commonwealth of Grenada. Thanks to the efforts of 7,600 US troops and a flagrant violation of international law, Grenada was “rescued” from the horrors of communist dictatorship and certain economic collapse. This is the reason why October 25 is Grenada’s “Thanksgiving Day”, and similar to the better known Thanksgivings, it celebrates a myth. The truth is that the US invasion of Grenada and the liquidation of the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) was a triumph of western imperialism and neoliberalism over a peoples’ socialist experiment.
With the collapse of the PRG’s socialist experiment, Grenada was thrown head first into the neoliberal era and a debt crisis, resulting in multiple rounds of structural adjustment that would eviscerate public spending and gut already-meagre social support networks. Similar to other Caribbean states, the government in Grenada is the predominant employer. When it was forced, through structural adjustment policies, to sell off public assets, structural, long term unemployment was the inevitable result. Emigration has since become characteristic of the island, as 71 percent of its secondary school and 85 percent of tertiary graduates have left the island. Not surprisingly the size of the Grenadian diaspora is estimated to be larger than the domestic population of 110,000 people.
In 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, 32 percent of Grenada’s population lived in poverty (defined as less than $6 USD per day) – the highest poverty rate in the Eastern Caribbean. In 2020, the unemployment rate hit 48 percent, and 40 percent of the population were skipping meals due to the increasingly unaffordable prices of food. If this was not bad enough, Grenada also has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most indebted nations in the world. The devastating cycle of austerity is expected to only worsen due to increased pressures from climate change and the pandemic.
This is what capitalism looks like nearly 40 years later in “liberated” Grenada, elections and all. And it was totally avoidable. Rather than only looking at the PRG as an experiment which went tragically wrong, in his study Beyond Coloniality: Citizenship and Freedom in the Caribbean Intellectual Tradition political theorist Aaron Kamugisha more appropriately called the Grenada Revolution an “unrealized political possibility.” It is a political possibility that deserves to be put forward as an alternative model in today’s context where the political imagination of the Caribbean is handcuffed to neoliberalism.
The PRG was working to build a revolution in an underdeveloped, small island nation. The terrifying thing for the US and the neo-colonial puppets in the region such as Edward Seaga, Eugenia Charles, and John Compton was that it was working. That the PRG would carry out reforms aimed at improving the lives of the masses made sense – the entire platform of the PRG was to overturn the economic and political inheritances from colonial time and build an unlikely Grenadian model.
Since the beginnings of the Grenada Revolution in 1979, many of the ideas that were advocated and successfully implemented, such as building food security, diversifying the economy, building linkages between tourism and agriculture, boosting productivity and employment, would have a direct impact on the aforementioned problems of today, all while going directly against the advice of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The World Bank was even forced to admit in its 1982 report that despite inheriting a deteriorating economy from the former dictator Eric Gairy, the policies and platform of the PRG were turning Grenada’s economy around. Grenada was one of the few countries in the Western hemisphere to see sustained, multi-year growth during a global economic downturn.
The PRG’ understood that despite supposed “independence” in 1974, the economy largely remained frighteningly similar to the colonial days, in terms of the inequality of land ownership, unequal terms of trade, and a broken model which saw a primarily undiversified, agricultural nation dependent on imported food.
To address these issues, the PRG put underutilized and idle land into production, increasing domestic food supplies, creating jobs, and freeing up money that would have previously gone towards food imports to infrastructure and social programs. With the money saved from these initiatives, as well as increased aid from new allies such as Cuba, the Soviet Union, East Germany, Libya and others (that was actually spent rather than stashed in private accounts), the PRG would go on to make unmatched investments in healthcare and education (over 20% of government spending per year), eliminated school fees, a national childcare system, lowered the prices of food and basic goods, improved the housing stock, improved and built infrastructure where there was none (water, power, telephone, sanitation, roads), the creation of a national cooperative federation and more. The full list of economic and social achievements is even more impressive, considering how current governments across the Caribbean literally cannot be bothered to do anything to improve the standard of living of the masses.
This speaks directly to how the PRG engaged with democracy. This also gets distorted. The New Jewel Movement began to contest elections in 1973 while Grenada was under the Gairy regime. From this moment on, the political opposition that Maurice Bishop, Unison Whiteman, and their supporters faced beatings, arbitrary arrest and detention, attacks upon meetings, demonstrations by Gairy’s paramilitary “Mongoose Gang”, and even the killing of family members. Facing such brutal repression, the PRG soon realized how the political systems of the Caribbean work in order to marginalize dissenting voices, even if they are popular with the masses.
The bloodless coup of March 1979, brought the PRG some breathing time to figure out what form democracy would take in Grenada. Elections were never off of the table, but they were not considered the best expression of popular power. Maurice Bishop referred to elections as an exercise in “5 second democracy.” The PRG’s main concern was the consolidation of the revolution and transformation of society to meet the demands of the masses. The PRG succeeded in this because of the democratic feedback received through the systems of participatory politics and budgeting, with the creation of the People’s Budget – which deepened and challenged bourgeois ideas of what democracy actually is.
It should be clear that the PRG was attacked because of these very real achievements of the Grenadian Revolution – not, as often recounted, to rescue a handful of American medical students, to stop the building of a Cuban/Soviet air base, or to bring democracy and human rights to Grenada. Indeed, at the time of the attack, the US was propping up the murderous Duvalier regime in Haiti.
The real reason why Grenada was attacked and invaded, was because it was doing the unthinkable of overturning deeply entrenched neocolonialism and undertaking an imperfect but ultimately successful revolution in the most unlikely of places. This was a threat to not just the rest of the Caribbean, but to countries across the globe, including the US. The popular appeal of the PRG’s model and Bishop’s speeches was high within Black communities in the US, and the PRG leadership was invited to many community forums and campuses. The terrifying concern for the imperialists was that other countries and communities in the region would be motivated by PRG’s success and attempt similar measures.
Grenada is not alone with its contemporary economic challenges and failure to improve the standard of living of the masses. This is a common feature across the Caribbean. The current system in place is clearly not working. Grenada’s advantage is that its revolutionary past holds the key lessons to these existential crises. In 1984, Audrey Lorde distilled the extraordinary achievements and experience of the Grenada Revolution by saying, “Revolution. A nation decides for itself what it needs. How best to get it.” And Grenada’s Revolution worked. Imperialism just wouldn’t let it survive.
An Unrealized Political Possibility: Remembering the Grenada Revolution
loyola llothta
☭☭☭
loyola llothta
☭☭☭
OONI'S DELEGATION IN BRAZIL AHEAD OF THE 2022 'BACK-TO-HOME' PROJECT
Published By IFE CITY BLOG On Wednesday, November 17, 2021
A delegation of the Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II on Tuesday visited Fábrica do Samba to learn a little about Unidos de Vila Maria for Carnival 2022 in Brazil and to meet Afro-Brazilian stakeholders ahead of his trip to unveil a Back-To-Home Project themed the "Precious of Our Ancestors".
The team had arrived in São Paulo on Monday for the purpose of establishing more connections between Brazil and the African continent and to fulfill a ten-day schedule organized by Oduduwa Heritage Home, a cultural institute based in Rio de Janeiro, whose purpose is to strengthen ties and build bridges that facilitate cultural exchange between these two countries connected by fraternal ties for centuries.
The Ooni's team formed by tow kings; Oba Joseph Adewole the Ajero of the Kingdom of Ijero (Ekiti) and Oba Kayode Adenekan Afolabi the Alapomu of Apomu (Osun), the coordinator of the team is Comrade Moses Olafare, the Ooni's Director of Media & Public Affairs while the Saagba of Ogbagi Akoko in Ondo State Highchief Adekunle Sumbo and Prince Fagoroye Olokoba as members had earlier same day Tuesday visited the Afro Brasil Museum in Ibirapuera Park; they also had the opportunity to visit Fábrica do Samba and inspect the place where the samba schools in São Paulo develop their artistic projects to produce the parade of samba schools during carnival, a spectacle internationally known for its grandeur and luxury.
Published By IFE CITY BLOG On Wednesday, November 17, 2021
A delegation of the Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II on Tuesday visited Fábrica do Samba to learn a little about Unidos de Vila Maria for Carnival 2022 in Brazil and to meet Afro-Brazilian stakeholders ahead of his trip to unveil a Back-To-Home Project themed the "Precious of Our Ancestors".
The team had arrived in São Paulo on Monday for the purpose of establishing more connections between Brazil and the African continent and to fulfill a ten-day schedule organized by Oduduwa Heritage Home, a cultural institute based in Rio de Janeiro, whose purpose is to strengthen ties and build bridges that facilitate cultural exchange between these two countries connected by fraternal ties for centuries.
The Ooni's team formed by tow kings; Oba Joseph Adewole the Ajero of the Kingdom of Ijero (Ekiti) and Oba Kayode Adenekan Afolabi the Alapomu of Apomu (Osun), the coordinator of the team is Comrade Moses Olafare, the Ooni's Director of Media & Public Affairs while the Saagba of Ogbagi Akoko in Ondo State Highchief Adekunle Sumbo and Prince Fagoroye Olokoba as members had earlier same day Tuesday visited the Afro Brasil Museum in Ibirapuera Park; they also had the opportunity to visit Fábrica do Samba and inspect the place where the samba schools in São Paulo develop their artistic projects to produce the parade of samba schools during carnival, a spectacle internationally known for its grandeur and luxury.
Received by Mr. Adilson de Souza, president of Unidos de Vila Maria, where the “Treasures of Our Ancestors” project will also be presented as well as the pre-launch of the "Back to Home" program, the Ooni's team was able to know part of the project that is being developed by the school for the 2022 parade, when the theme “The World Needs Each One of Us”, will be presented by the carnival artist Cristiano Bara, who will perform his third job at the school.
According to the school's president, receiving Ooni's entourage opens up a range of exchange opportunities for partnerships, especially at a social level. “For us who represent Brazilian culture, it is very important, an honor to feel the presence of the Ooni here with us. We are happy because we can have the opportunity to know more about Nigerian culture and open space for new partnerships, carrying out joint actions, with exchange of culture and actions that can serve as a mutual example between the two countries. Vila Maria has a very strong welfare work and we are open to increasingly strengthen these ties with training between professionals, everything possible to enhance the carnival and the culture we defend”, said Adilson.
For Ajoyemi Osunleye, president of Oduduwa Heritage Home in Rio de Janeiro, the visit of the Ooni's team is another step towards consolidating the link between Brazil and Ile-Ife, in large part due to the constant representation centered around the Orishas. “Carnival is the largest open-air cultural festival in the world and we observe that, every year, black representation is present in the plots. Through this festival, we revisit history, our ties with Africa, our cultural and religious memories of Yoruba origin. Establishing this connection between Brazil and the African continent, more precisely Nigeria, has been a constant challenge and it is during the parades when we feel totally connected, through the Orishas, as children of Oduduwa”, says Ajoyemi.
In the same vein, Moses Olafare, Director of Media at the Palace of the Ooni of Ifé, defended a greater cultural connection between the sister nations, so that the Brazilian people can better know their identity.
“We are on an important mission here as assigned by the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, which is to reconnect with true history. We are all children of Oduduwa and now, knowing the scale of this responsibility, be rest assured that the Ooni and all traditional rulers of Oduduwa Race worldwide will work together with you to strengthen these cultural, diplomatic, tourist and economic ties”, Olafare said.
OONI'S DELEGATION IN BRAZIL AHEAD OF THE 2022 'BACK-TO-HOME' PROJECT
According to the school's president, receiving Ooni's entourage opens up a range of exchange opportunities for partnerships, especially at a social level. “For us who represent Brazilian culture, it is very important, an honor to feel the presence of the Ooni here with us. We are happy because we can have the opportunity to know more about Nigerian culture and open space for new partnerships, carrying out joint actions, with exchange of culture and actions that can serve as a mutual example between the two countries. Vila Maria has a very strong welfare work and we are open to increasingly strengthen these ties with training between professionals, everything possible to enhance the carnival and the culture we defend”, said Adilson.
For Ajoyemi Osunleye, president of Oduduwa Heritage Home in Rio de Janeiro, the visit of the Ooni's team is another step towards consolidating the link between Brazil and Ile-Ife, in large part due to the constant representation centered around the Orishas. “Carnival is the largest open-air cultural festival in the world and we observe that, every year, black representation is present in the plots. Through this festival, we revisit history, our ties with Africa, our cultural and religious memories of Yoruba origin. Establishing this connection between Brazil and the African continent, more precisely Nigeria, has been a constant challenge and it is during the parades when we feel totally connected, through the Orishas, as children of Oduduwa”, says Ajoyemi.
In the same vein, Moses Olafare, Director of Media at the Palace of the Ooni of Ifé, defended a greater cultural connection between the sister nations, so that the Brazilian people can better know their identity.
“We are on an important mission here as assigned by the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, which is to reconnect with true history. We are all children of Oduduwa and now, knowing the scale of this responsibility, be rest assured that the Ooni and all traditional rulers of Oduduwa Race worldwide will work together with you to strengthen these cultural, diplomatic, tourist and economic ties”, Olafare said.
OONI'S DELEGATION IN BRAZIL AHEAD OF THE 2022 'BACK-TO-HOME' PROJECT
Ooni’s team presents ‘Treasures of Our Ancestors’ to Black Leaders, Influencers at Unidos De Vila Maria Court
NEWS By BISIRIYU On Nov 21, 2021
The visit of the delegation from The Ooni of Ifé, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II to the city of São Paulo in Brazil on Thursday brought together leaders and influencers willing to promote the proposal of the Oduduwa Heritage Home within the project “Treasure of Our Ancestors”.
This is an initiative of the African foremost king; Ooni Ogunwusi with the purpose of strengthening ties and building bridges that facilitate cultural, tourist, and economic exchange between Brazil and Nigeria and, in particular Ile-Ifé, Cradle & Natural Headquarters of the Yoruba people and Oduduwa Race at large.
Representing His Majesty, the delegation formed by the king’s Joseph Adebayo Adewole the Ajero of the kingdom of Ijero-Ekiti and Oba Kayodee Adeenekan Afolabi the Alapomu of Apomu) Chief Adekunle Sumbo the Saagba of Ogbagi Akoko, Prince Adekunle Olokooba, a specialist in traditional medicine and Comrade Moses Olafare, head of communication at the palace of the Ooni of Ifé in addition to visiting the Unidos de Vila Maria warehouse at Fábrica do Samba also visited the association’s rehearsal court to Learn about the school’s social project and talk a little about the “Back To Home” programme that will be officially launched by the Ooni of Ifé in 2022, precisely in the month of March, when he will visit the country for the second time.
In his introductory speech, the Ooni’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, urged Afro-Brazilians to proudly comport themselves as ambassadors of African nobility and royalty. He admonished them to take their huge population as an advantage to own the country where they were once treated like slaves.
“It is paramount on the agenda of your father back home in Ile-Ife which is your ancestral home; Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II to stand by you and ensure you are connected to your continent of Africa.
“First of all, we need to understand that we are descendants of African royalty, we are heirs to kings, you are all princes and princesses, our ori (head) is blessed and your descent is noble. We can not think otherwise. You the Oduduwa descendants hold almost 60 per cent population in this country Brazil, it means you own this country and you can not be treated like second-class citizens. You are heirs and sounds of Oduduwa”, Olafare said.
Received by the President of Unidos de Vila Maria, the royal representatives watched a small samba dance show presented by the school’s cast that proposed a collaborative partnership between the social projects of Nigeria and Brazil.
Former Brazilian Ambassador, Mrs. Maria Auxiliadora Figueiredo, and Oba Ogboni Adekunle Aderounmu, highlighted the importance of the connection between the sister countries in addition to the fatherly messages from the Ooni by the duo of Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti and Alapomu of Apomu Kingdom.
Ooni's team presents 'Treasures of Our Ancestors' to Black Leaders, Influencers at Unidos De Vila Maria Court
NEWS By BISIRIYU On Nov 21, 2021
The visit of the delegation from The Ooni of Ifé, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II to the city of São Paulo in Brazil on Thursday brought together leaders and influencers willing to promote the proposal of the Oduduwa Heritage Home within the project “Treasure of Our Ancestors”.
This is an initiative of the African foremost king; Ooni Ogunwusi with the purpose of strengthening ties and building bridges that facilitate cultural, tourist, and economic exchange between Brazil and Nigeria and, in particular Ile-Ifé, Cradle & Natural Headquarters of the Yoruba people and Oduduwa Race at large.
Representing His Majesty, the delegation formed by the king’s Joseph Adebayo Adewole the Ajero of the kingdom of Ijero-Ekiti and Oba Kayodee Adeenekan Afolabi the Alapomu of Apomu) Chief Adekunle Sumbo the Saagba of Ogbagi Akoko, Prince Adekunle Olokooba, a specialist in traditional medicine and Comrade Moses Olafare, head of communication at the palace of the Ooni of Ifé in addition to visiting the Unidos de Vila Maria warehouse at Fábrica do Samba also visited the association’s rehearsal court to Learn about the school’s social project and talk a little about the “Back To Home” programme that will be officially launched by the Ooni of Ifé in 2022, precisely in the month of March, when he will visit the country for the second time.
In his introductory speech, the Ooni’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, urged Afro-Brazilians to proudly comport themselves as ambassadors of African nobility and royalty. He admonished them to take their huge population as an advantage to own the country where they were once treated like slaves.
“It is paramount on the agenda of your father back home in Ile-Ife which is your ancestral home; Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II to stand by you and ensure you are connected to your continent of Africa.
“First of all, we need to understand that we are descendants of African royalty, we are heirs to kings, you are all princes and princesses, our ori (head) is blessed and your descent is noble. We can not think otherwise. You the Oduduwa descendants hold almost 60 per cent population in this country Brazil, it means you own this country and you can not be treated like second-class citizens. You are heirs and sounds of Oduduwa”, Olafare said.
Received by the President of Unidos de Vila Maria, the royal representatives watched a small samba dance show presented by the school’s cast that proposed a collaborative partnership between the social projects of Nigeria and Brazil.
Former Brazilian Ambassador, Mrs. Maria Auxiliadora Figueiredo, and Oba Ogboni Adekunle Aderounmu, highlighted the importance of the connection between the sister countries in addition to the fatherly messages from the Ooni by the duo of Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti and Alapomu of Apomu Kingdom.
Ooni's team presents 'Treasures of Our Ancestors' to Black Leaders, Influencers at Unidos De Vila Maria Court
Milestones in The History of ALBA Integration Programs
A Cuban doctor checks a patient in Bolivia. | Photo: Twitter/ @MarioGarcesJim1
Published 14 December 2021
Since 2004, over 3,6 million Latin American people have regained vision or improved their visual health thanks to the development of the Milagro Mission program.
On Tuesday, Latin America celebrates the 17th anniversary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples' Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP) first summit in 2004.
RELATED: ALBA Denounces US' Criminal Use of COVID Against Other Nations
Founded by Hugo Chavez (Venezuela) and Fidel Castro (Cuba) as an alternative to the U.S.-controlled Free Trade Area for the Americas (FTAA), the ALBA-TCP encompasses Antigua & Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Venezuela. Below is a list of the main milestones of the ALBA integration programs.
Venezuela, Bolivia, and Nicaragua were declared illiteracy-free territories in 2005, 2008, 2009, respectively thanks to the development of the "I can", a teaching method which Cuban pedagogues designed for over-15-year-old people who never attended school or only studied for a few years and have forgotten what they learned.
Since 2004, over 3,6 million Latin American people have regained vision or improved their visual health thanks to the development of the Milagro Mission program, which favors low-income citizens who have never before received attention for their visual conditions.
Since 2005, Venezuela's PetroCaribe has fostered regional energy sovereignty by delivering fuel to Caribbean countries through long-term payment plans or bartering of goods or services.
Currently, over 2,000 young people from Latin America and Africa are trained as community doctors for free at the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM).
About 10,000 athletes from 31 nations have participated in the ALBA-TCP Games, which are held once every two years to boost sports development in the region.
After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the ALBA-TCP countries approved a joint action plan for counteracting this catastrophe's impact by boosting health, finance, energy, agriculture, and education development in this Caribbean nation.
Milestones in The History of ALBA Integration Programs
A Cuban doctor checks a patient in Bolivia. | Photo: Twitter/ @MarioGarcesJim1
Published 14 December 2021
Since 2004, over 3,6 million Latin American people have regained vision or improved their visual health thanks to the development of the Milagro Mission program.
On Tuesday, Latin America celebrates the 17th anniversary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples' Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP) first summit in 2004.
RELATED: ALBA Denounces US' Criminal Use of COVID Against Other Nations
Founded by Hugo Chavez (Venezuela) and Fidel Castro (Cuba) as an alternative to the U.S.-controlled Free Trade Area for the Americas (FTAA), the ALBA-TCP encompasses Antigua & Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Venezuela. Below is a list of the main milestones of the ALBA integration programs.
Venezuela, Bolivia, and Nicaragua were declared illiteracy-free territories in 2005, 2008, 2009, respectively thanks to the development of the "I can", a teaching method which Cuban pedagogues designed for over-15-year-old people who never attended school or only studied for a few years and have forgotten what they learned.
Since 2004, over 3,6 million Latin American people have regained vision or improved their visual health thanks to the development of the Milagro Mission program, which favors low-income citizens who have never before received attention for their visual conditions.
Since 2005, Venezuela's PetroCaribe has fostered regional energy sovereignty by delivering fuel to Caribbean countries through long-term payment plans or bartering of goods or services.
Currently, over 2,000 young people from Latin America and Africa are trained as community doctors for free at the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM).
About 10,000 athletes from 31 nations have participated in the ALBA-TCP Games, which are held once every two years to boost sports development in the region.
After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the ALBA-TCP countries approved a joint action plan for counteracting this catastrophe's impact by boosting health, finance, energy, agriculture, and education development in this Caribbean nation.
Milestones in The History of ALBA Integration Programs
National Statistics Office requested to include ethnicity in the X Population and Housing Census
By Monday, September 6, 2021
Darío Solano, from the Afro-descendant Studies and Empowerment Network and la Negreta.
SANTO DOMINGO — The Afro-descendant Studies and Empowerment Network (Red de Estudios y Empoderamiento Afrodescendiente, Afrosred) requested this Monday the National Statistics Office (Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas, ONE) to included the ethnic variable within the Tenth Population Census that is in the organization stage, with the aim of raising awareness about the population that takes on this identity.
In a letter addressed to the general director of the ONE, Miosotis Rivas Peña, Afrosred argues that this demand is based on a perspective of building cultural citizenship and human rights, and in order to contribute to the setting of public policies that help to structure a society free of racial discrimination.
In the letter signed by Darío Solano, from Fundación la Negreta, it is established that the creation of statistics around ethnicity would help combat structural racism in Dominican society.
They state that “this request is framed within the context of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and acquires greater relevance in the face of the celebration of the United Nations' program for the International Decade for People of African Descent (2014–2024) as well as the country's commitments to the census round in the Americas”.
Afrosred understands that this is a totally appropriate moment for the Dominican Republic to take on this demand from the Afro-descendant social movements to position the country among nations that make efforts to highlight this segment of the population.
“We express our will to contribute to this census and, likewise, propose to this government body the creation of a technical committee with civil society and academia organizations interested in including the requested variable”, says the organization in the letter.
They consider that the inclusion of the ethnic variable, as they understand it must occur, implies reserving a period of time to articulate a process of raising the collective awareness of the population; and they express that they would like to know if this is contemplated within the institutional strategies of the ONE.
They consider that, given the time factor, the ONE should define and implement an institutional and orientation campaign for such purposes.
Celebration
On August 31, the Dominican Republic celebrated for the first time the International Day of People of African Descent, which seeks to contribute to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, during a ceremony headed by the Minister of Culture, Carmen Heredia and the mayor of Santo Domingo Norte, Carlos Guzmán.
National Statistics Office requested to include ethnicity in the X Population and Housing Census
By Monday, September 6, 2021
Darío Solano, from the Afro-descendant Studies and Empowerment Network and la Negreta.
SANTO DOMINGO — The Afro-descendant Studies and Empowerment Network (Red de Estudios y Empoderamiento Afrodescendiente, Afrosred) requested this Monday the National Statistics Office (Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas, ONE) to included the ethnic variable within the Tenth Population Census that is in the organization stage, with the aim of raising awareness about the population that takes on this identity.
In a letter addressed to the general director of the ONE, Miosotis Rivas Peña, Afrosred argues that this demand is based on a perspective of building cultural citizenship and human rights, and in order to contribute to the setting of public policies that help to structure a society free of racial discrimination.
In the letter signed by Darío Solano, from Fundación la Negreta, it is established that the creation of statistics around ethnicity would help combat structural racism in Dominican society.
They state that “this request is framed within the context of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and acquires greater relevance in the face of the celebration of the United Nations' program for the International Decade for People of African Descent (2014–2024) as well as the country's commitments to the census round in the Americas”.
Afrosred understands that this is a totally appropriate moment for the Dominican Republic to take on this demand from the Afro-descendant social movements to position the country among nations that make efforts to highlight this segment of the population.
“We express our will to contribute to this census and, likewise, propose to this government body the creation of a technical committee with civil society and academia organizations interested in including the requested variable”, says the organization in the letter.
They consider that the inclusion of the ethnic variable, as they understand it must occur, implies reserving a period of time to articulate a process of raising the collective awareness of the population; and they express that they would like to know if this is contemplated within the institutional strategies of the ONE.
They consider that, given the time factor, the ONE should define and implement an institutional and orientation campaign for such purposes.
Celebration
On August 31, the Dominican Republic celebrated for the first time the International Day of People of African Descent, which seeks to contribute to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, during a ceremony headed by the Minister of Culture, Carmen Heredia and the mayor of Santo Domingo Norte, Carlos Guzmán.
National Statistics Office requested to include ethnicity in the X Population and Housing Census
Unlocking U.S. sanctions: China signs construction & energy deals with Cuba
Originally published: Silk Road Briefing by Chris Devonshire-Ellis (January 3, 2022 ) - Posted Jan 07, 2022
Sometimes, you just have to be patient. Cuba, the Caribbean nation long a thorn in the side of the United States since Fidel Castro took control of the island against U.S. wishes, has managed to get around crippling U.S. sanctions that have rendered the islands economy backwards for over 50 years by signing reconstruction deals with China as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Cuba’s economy shrunk by 11% in 2020, and the government says it only began to grow slowly last year at just 2%. Cuba’s shortages of food, medicine and other basics have been worsened by decades of U.S. sanctions, which were tightened under former President Donald Trump.
China and Cuba have now signed a cooperation plan to promote construction into the country, injecting momentum for further collaboration by leveraging the complementary advantages of both parties and for cooperation between China and Latin America. China has been making inroads into Latin and Central America too as the United States ability to agree external funding for some of its closest global partners is buried under a weight of preconditions and political infighting. Never mind the proposed ‘Build Back Better World’, China is exerting control of a region now seemingly beyond Washington’s influence.
The China-Cuba deal also shows that the era of U.S. economic might is possibly damaged more than is generally realized. While the nation remains rich, political infighting has diminished its ability to contain perceived threats and extend its global influence, bending other nations to U.S. Foreign policy.
The significance of the China-Cuba deal will not be lost on Russia, also a close ally of Havana, and who have been threatened with ‘sanctions like you’ve never seen’ over the Ukraine issue. Those will mainly extend cutting Russia off from the global SWIFT payments network and persuading the EU to buy its goods and energy supplies from America instead, which might suit short-term Washington objectives but will ultimately cede global power and influence beyond Western Europe and North America to Beijing and Moscow.
But back to the China-Cuba deal. He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planner, and Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas, signed off the agreement on Christmas Day, clarifying key cooperation content and projects for China and Cuba under the BRI, including infrastructure, technology, culture, education, tourism, energy, communications, and biotechnology. This have been coordinated as many BRI agreements have been, to fit alongside Cuba’s short and longer-term development plans, and come with a proposed timetable and implementation roadmap.
The signing of this agreement shows that the two countries have accelerated their cooperation and highlighted China’s principle of mutual benefit on the basis of equality toward countries in Latin America, especially after the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Nicaragua–another Latin American nation long sanctioned by Washington.
Zhou Zhiwei, a research fellow on Latin American studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences noted in the Global Times that the agreement will help Cuba’s economic recovery and improve local livelihoods, as well as promoting cooperation between China and Latin America in tourism and energy. “Cuba is rich in mineral and oil resources and is a major source of nickel ore for China. The country also has large potential for development in agriculture and tourism,” he said.
China and Cuba have achieved results in energy cooperation in recent years. In terms of traditional energy, Chinese companies have carried out related cooperation projects in Cuba. In the new-energy sector, including wind power and photovoltaics, cooperation has been increased.
Cuba became a member of the BRI energy partnership in October 2021, a partnership network that now has 32 members and aims to promote energy cooperation in BRI markets as countries pursue a low-carbon transition. Energy has always been the focus of Cuba’s socioeconomic development plan, with Havana proposing that 24% of its electricity supply will come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
“China is actively maintaining the normal order of international relations and striving to promote common development across the world, unlike the U.S., which, under the banner of democracy, has imposed an economic embargo on some Latin American countries, interfering in their internal affairs and limiting cooperation among foreign companies,” Zhou noted.
China is Cuba’s largest trading partner in goods, and Cuba is China’s second-largest trading partner in the Caribbean. Cuba exports mainly sugar and nickel to China. It imports a broad array of supplies, ranging from machinery and transportation equipment to raw materials and food. The country has also recently become an observer nation to Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union, suggesting a Free Trade Agreement could soon be in the offing.
Washington meanwhile must be wondering exactly how the economic might it has been used to wielding via sanctions came to be so badly frittered away. Clearly, with China turning up in Cuba, when in 1962 the U.S. was able to rebuff Russia, the sanctions and economic threat strategies the United States have been so eager to deploy need a complete rethink. They simply now do not work–China has developed an economic vaccine.
Unlocking U.S. sanctions: China signs construction & energy deals with Cuba
Originally published: Silk Road Briefing by Chris Devonshire-Ellis (January 3, 2022 ) - Posted Jan 07, 2022
Sometimes, you just have to be patient. Cuba, the Caribbean nation long a thorn in the side of the United States since Fidel Castro took control of the island against U.S. wishes, has managed to get around crippling U.S. sanctions that have rendered the islands economy backwards for over 50 years by signing reconstruction deals with China as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Cuba’s economy shrunk by 11% in 2020, and the government says it only began to grow slowly last year at just 2%. Cuba’s shortages of food, medicine and other basics have been worsened by decades of U.S. sanctions, which were tightened under former President Donald Trump.
China and Cuba have now signed a cooperation plan to promote construction into the country, injecting momentum for further collaboration by leveraging the complementary advantages of both parties and for cooperation between China and Latin America. China has been making inroads into Latin and Central America too as the United States ability to agree external funding for some of its closest global partners is buried under a weight of preconditions and political infighting. Never mind the proposed ‘Build Back Better World’, China is exerting control of a region now seemingly beyond Washington’s influence.
The China-Cuba deal also shows that the era of U.S. economic might is possibly damaged more than is generally realized. While the nation remains rich, political infighting has diminished its ability to contain perceived threats and extend its global influence, bending other nations to U.S. Foreign policy.
The significance of the China-Cuba deal will not be lost on Russia, also a close ally of Havana, and who have been threatened with ‘sanctions like you’ve never seen’ over the Ukraine issue. Those will mainly extend cutting Russia off from the global SWIFT payments network and persuading the EU to buy its goods and energy supplies from America instead, which might suit short-term Washington objectives but will ultimately cede global power and influence beyond Western Europe and North America to Beijing and Moscow.
But back to the China-Cuba deal. He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planner, and Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas, signed off the agreement on Christmas Day, clarifying key cooperation content and projects for China and Cuba under the BRI, including infrastructure, technology, culture, education, tourism, energy, communications, and biotechnology. This have been coordinated as many BRI agreements have been, to fit alongside Cuba’s short and longer-term development plans, and come with a proposed timetable and implementation roadmap.
The signing of this agreement shows that the two countries have accelerated their cooperation and highlighted China’s principle of mutual benefit on the basis of equality toward countries in Latin America, especially after the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Nicaragua–another Latin American nation long sanctioned by Washington.
Zhou Zhiwei, a research fellow on Latin American studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences noted in the Global Times that the agreement will help Cuba’s economic recovery and improve local livelihoods, as well as promoting cooperation between China and Latin America in tourism and energy. “Cuba is rich in mineral and oil resources and is a major source of nickel ore for China. The country also has large potential for development in agriculture and tourism,” he said.
China and Cuba have achieved results in energy cooperation in recent years. In terms of traditional energy, Chinese companies have carried out related cooperation projects in Cuba. In the new-energy sector, including wind power and photovoltaics, cooperation has been increased.
Cuba became a member of the BRI energy partnership in October 2021, a partnership network that now has 32 members and aims to promote energy cooperation in BRI markets as countries pursue a low-carbon transition. Energy has always been the focus of Cuba’s socioeconomic development plan, with Havana proposing that 24% of its electricity supply will come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
“China is actively maintaining the normal order of international relations and striving to promote common development across the world, unlike the U.S., which, under the banner of democracy, has imposed an economic embargo on some Latin American countries, interfering in their internal affairs and limiting cooperation among foreign companies,” Zhou noted.
China is Cuba’s largest trading partner in goods, and Cuba is China’s second-largest trading partner in the Caribbean. Cuba exports mainly sugar and nickel to China. It imports a broad array of supplies, ranging from machinery and transportation equipment to raw materials and food. The country has also recently become an observer nation to Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union, suggesting a Free Trade Agreement could soon be in the offing.
Washington meanwhile must be wondering exactly how the economic might it has been used to wielding via sanctions came to be so badly frittered away. Clearly, with China turning up in Cuba, when in 1962 the U.S. was able to rebuff Russia, the sanctions and economic threat strategies the United States have been so eager to deploy need a complete rethink. They simply now do not work–China has developed an economic vaccine.
Unlocking U.S. sanctions: China signs construction & energy deals with Cuba