“The status quo cannot remain” – President Ali on Cuba

On the sidelines of the inaugural “Shield of the Americas” summit in South Florida, United States, President Dr Irfaan Ali voiced his support for a better livelihood for the people of Cuba, saying “the status quo cannot remain.”

He was at the time engaged in an interview with journalist Aishah Hasnie on Fox News Live.

“In the case of Cuba, we have had many discussions at the CARICOM level… we had discussions recently with [US] Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio… and we all agree that the status quo cannot remain.”

“We agree that there must be an attempt to have this status quo changed and we all are aware that it will take time. It has to be incremental… there must be dialogue,” he added.

The President said importantly, the changes must lead to better livelihoods for citizens of the Caribbean island.

“…those changes must lead to the improvement of the people of Cuba, must lead to better conditions for the people of Cuba, must lead to a society in which the rule of law, in which democracy, in which freedom is celebrated. We have discussed this only recently at the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting,” the President noted.

Ali further told Fox News Live, “I think that is what the President [Donald Trump] is referring to a type of transition that allows the people of Cuba to benefit from prosperity and democracy.”