CAL may fly to Cuba
20 Dec 2014 02:10:25
newsday.co.tt
MINISTER of Trade and Industry Vasant Bharath yesterday indicated that State-owned Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) could begin direct flights to Cuba in light of the thawing of relations between that country and the US, announced on Wednesday.
"œIt is a very real possibility," Bharath told Newsday yesterday when asked about the possibility of direct flights into the island. "œIn fact, it is something that was being discussed before," the Minister added. "œWith this easing of restrictions, we expect that Cuba will open up considerably in terms of travel and business." The Minister revealed that he has scheduled a visit to Cuba for the purpose of furthering trade for next January. "œI was supposed to visit Cuba this year but that trip will now take place in January now that these hurdles have been crossed," Bharath said.
On Wednesday, the White House announced that it would open an embassy at Havana and resume diplomatic relations. It also announced an ease in some travel restrictions and an increase in remittances allowed to be sent to Cuba. However, a trade embargo imposed since the 1960s remains in place until the US congress legislates its removal. Meanwhile, US president Barack Obama signaled he could use executive action to substantially alter the embargo. Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Dookeran yesterday said the US' stance reflected a shift in global politics. "œThis is a reflection of a new re-alignment of global politics and diplomacy," Dookeran told Newsday.
"œThe US announcement is consistent with the changing diplomatic map of the world. Several countries once outside the mainstream of diplomacy are now being brought into a diplomacy of inclusion. Evidence of that is clear in the warming of relations between the US and China and the growing efforts to incorporate several countries in the Middle East and Asia into an inclusive diplomacy," Dookeran said. "œThis augurs extremely well for the future and it reflects an acknowledgment by the US that the world has changed and that they are moving in a direction of a new multi-plural world."
Read full story: newsday.co.tt
