Ministry of Foreign Affairs says its monitoring the situation in Cuba

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs said it continues to closely monitor the ongoing challenges affecting the Republic of Cuba, particularly the widespread power outages and fuel shortages that have significantly impacted daily life in recent months. Through the Embassy of St Vincent and the Grenadines in Cuba, it said in a release that the government has maintained active engagement with Vincentian students currently pursuing studies there. The Ambassador-designate Angella Jackson, met with 42 students on March 14 and 18, and remains in regular communication with others, the ministry stated.

“Despite these circumstances, the students have demonstrated commendable resilience and commitment. They remain focused on their studies and determined to successfully complete their programmes, reflecting a strong sense of purpose and national pride.”

The Ministry’s release states as well that, at the recent Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held in St. Kitts and Nevis, regional leaders collectively expressed concern regarding the situation in Cuba and affirmed a coordinated CARICOM commitment to provide support to Cuba. The Ministry said that it commends the strength, perseverance, and dedication of Vincentian students in Cuba and reaffirms its continued engagement through established diplomatic channels. The ministry did not indicate what efforts were being made to provide additional support to the Vincentians studying in the Spanish-speaking nation, nor to the country itself. Cuba, which has been under a 65-year-old US embargo was placed under additional stress weeks ago when the US administration of President Donald Trump cut off the supply of oil provided to Cuba by Venezuela where it has taken control since launching a military strike on January 3, 2026 during which its president Nicolas Maduro was deposed and carted off to jail in the US on alleged narco-trafficking charges.