The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jamaica, Kamina Johnson Smith, rejected this Sunday the accusations made by former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, who described his country's decision to abstain from the United Nations vote on the U.S. embargo against Cuba as "abominable treason."
The chancellor assured that Jamaica has not changed its opposition to the embargo and denied that the abstention represents support for the economic sanctions against the island.
"The suggestion by Mr. Patterson that abstaining equates to supporting the embargo or remaining silent in the face of Cuban suffering is simply incorrect," stated Johnson Smith in a statement reported on November 1 on the official page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica.
"Jamaica did not vote against the resolution. We abstained. And we did not remain silent either. We formally explained our position immediately after the vote," he added.
Former prime minister accuses the government of betraying Cuba
The controversy began after Patterson, who governed Jamaica from 1992 to 2006, harshly criticized the abstention of his country in the UN General Assembly on October 28.
Jamaica had supported for more than three decades the resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo, but this year it chose to abstain.
For the former leader, the change represented a break with Jamaica's diplomatic tradition of solidarity with Cuba.
Patterson described the decision as a "abominable betrayal that history will never forget" and accused the Government of compromising the sovereignty and historical principles of the country’s foreign policy.
He also questioned why the abstention occurred just one day after the Jamaican Parliament approved, with no opposing votes, a motion regarding the Cuban economic and humanitarian situation.
The former prime minister stated that this contradiction constituted a serious breach of parliamentary authority and suggested that, under similar circumstances, there should be censure and ministerial resignations.
The Chancellor defends the abstention and points out internal issues in Cuba
Johnson Smith responded that Patterson's criticisms were based on interpretations that, in his opinion, did not hold up under examination of the facts.
He explained that the Jamaican delegation to the UN acknowledged the effects of external economic restrictions on Cuba, but also referred to the internal economic and structural challenges facing the country.
The chancellor defended the need to seek alternatives that contribute to improving the living conditions of Cubans, rather than just annually supporting a resolution that has not achieved its main objective.
He also recalled that Jamaica requested the reduction of economic restrictions, the promotion of dialogue, and the facilitation of greater integration of Cuba into the international economy.
Johnson Smith denied that the Government disobeyed Parliament, asserting that the motion passed did not mandate a vote in favor of the United Nations resolution.
He also denied that the decision was motivated by foreign pressures or the pursuit of favors from other governments.
The minister insisted that each administration has the responsibility to make its own foreign policy decisions in accordance with national interests.
The resolution against the U.S. embargo was approved with 130 votes in favor, 17 against, and 25 abstentions.
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