October 30, 2026

Opposition writes to Leader of Government Business to strongly protest handling of Cuban motion debated in Parliament on Tuesday

The Opposition says a statement of regret should come from the Government about the handling of the Cuban motion debated in Parliament on Tuesday.

Leader of Opposition Business in the House Phillip Paulwell has written to his counterpart Floyd Green to strongly protest the matter.

It was revealed on Wednesday that Jamaica abstained from the United Nations general assembly vote, calling for an end to the embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith told a post-Cabinet press briefing that the country could not simply continue to vote for the resolution, as its language required amendment to support constructive engagement between Cuba and the United States.

In the letter copied to the media, Mr. Paulwell explains that he enquired about the Cuban resolution on Friday October 23, noting that in was on Tuesday confirmation came that the the matter would be taken that day.

He says he enquired about the written draft of the motion and was told first that it was not ready for circulation, then that it was not printed for circulation to members.

Mr. Paulwell states that it was not tabled until 6:06 p.m., when in the normal course of business it would have been tabled seven days in advance.

According to the letter , its clear that the government was determined to hide from the Opposition and the country that it was fundamentally altering the content of the motion departing from what has been an established practice enjoying bipartisan support for decades.

Mr. Paulwell describes this as deceptive and unparliamentary.

He says the Opposition had no idea that the Government was departing from the usual policy of condemning the us embargo of Cuba and calling for it to be lifted.

The Opposition says the tenor and content of the debate reflected its understanding that both sides continued to be at one on condemning the embargo of Cuba.

Mr. Paulwell says the Opposition heard the preamble and prayer of the motion when it was read by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Alando Terrelonge.

The Opposition says the Government’s new policy was not explicitly articulated was not sufficiently clear to participants in the debate who proceeded to called for an end to the embargo.

The Opposition says the handling of the matter was premeditated to avoid a policy debate and to obfuscate, describing it as a scheme of deception.

The Opposition says the entire episode is unbecoming of any government .

Mr. Paulwell adds that he believes it fundamentally goes to government’s trustworthiness, with longer term implications for government and opposition cooperation.

The Opposition says it will be seek to raise the matter formally during next week’s sitting.