Taken from The Jamaica Observer
15 dec. 2004

Observer Reporter

FOREIGN Minister K D Knight has urged the United States of America to rethink its position on the Castro-led administration in Cuba.

At a meeting Monday with US permanent representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Ambassador John Maisto, Minister Knight urged the Bush administration "not to increase the isolation of Cuba through the Helms-Burton Act", according to a statement from the foreign ministry.

".The Helms-Burton Act is an invidious piece of legislation. We got caught up in it through one of our hotel investors," Knight said, noting that the Caribbean Community (Caricom) had also added its voice for an inclusionary approach to Cuba.

At the same time, the foreign minister told the US diplomat that Jamaica remained concerned about the situation in Haiti, pointing to the unstable security situation, arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions, sham trials and the prominence of rebels who helped to destabilise the country. Whilst calling for adherence to the election timetable, Minister Knight reiterated that the Lavalas Party must be a part of the process. He also called on the international donors to honour their pledges so that the Haitian people can be helped.