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Jamaica's main opposition party, the People's National Party (PNP), issued a statement on Tuesday urging the governments of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to adopt a coordinated regional response to the increasing tensions between Cuba and the United States, warning that the situation threatens regional stability and the economic security of the Caribbean.
The call, reported by the Jamaica Observer, comes in the context of a severe humanitarian crisis in Cuba, amid a deep internal economic and energy crisis, further exacerbated by the pressure measures accumulated by the Trump administration since January 2026, which have reduced the island's energy imports by between 80% and 90%.
The PNP expressed specific concern about the Executive Order signed by Washington in January 2026, which restricts the supply of fuel to Cuba and has disrupted transportation, the production of goods and services, and has overloaded the Cuban healthcare system.
Citing a , the party noted that the Cuban healthcare sector has significantly deteriorated: 96,000 surgeries have been postponed, including 11,000 in children, and around 3,000 minors are facing delays in their vaccination schedule.
The party also highlighted the additional sanctions introduced by the United States on May 1, 2026, aimed at Cuban state entities and international actors associated with the energy, finance, and defense sectors.
The energy crisis and the decline of basic services in Cuba precede the most recent measures from Washington and also respond to structural problems that have accumulated over the years, including a lack of state investment and the deterioration of infrastructure.
Since January 2026, the Trump administration has imposed more than 240 sanctions against Cuba, including the re-inclusion of the island on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism and, on May 19, the designation of nine high-ranking Cuban officials and the Directorate of Intelligence (DGI/G2).
In May 2026, power outages in Cuba exceeded 20 hours a day in some areas, with electrical deficits of up to 2,153 megawatts, impacting the preservation of medications, water pumping, and the education of nearly half a million children.
The PNP warned that a continued escalation could have direct consequences for Jamaica and the Caribbean, with potential impacts on tourism, economic recovery, and migration pressures, especially as Jamaica continues to rebuild after Hurricane Melissa, which struck the island as a category five in October 2025.
This is not the first time that CARICOM has acted in response to the Cuban crisis. At its 50th Heads of Government Summit, held in February in Saint Kitts and Nevis, the bloc agreed on a coordinated humanitarian response. In March, CARICOM announced the shipment of food, medicines, and solar panels to Cuba with logistical support from Mexico, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines contributed $100,000 in April.
The PNP called on the Jamaican government and the other CARICOM member states to "join their voices, in a measured and constructive manner, to the regional and international demands for the protection of peace in our region, the reversal of the escalation of adverse actions concerning Cuba, and the defense of Cuba's territorial integrity and self-determination."
The Jamaican opposition also urged the government to take on a proactive mediating role to help restore normal relations between Washington and Havana, at a time when the humanitarian crisis on the island shows no signs of relief.
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