SANTIAGO DE CUBA (CMC):

CHAIRMAN OF the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Baldwin Spencer, on Monday called for an immediate end to the United States (US) economic blockade against Cuba.

Spencer, who is also the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, described the blockade as a relic of the past that exists in spite of general international rejection.

Hope for future

Addressing the third Cuba-CARICOM Summit here, Spencer said that he hoped the new US administration would lift the current blockage that was enacted in 1962 after the Cuban Govern-ment nationalised properties of United States citizens and corporations.

The blockade prevents trade in most goods and services between the two countries and the Cuban Government estimates the negative effect to be in the billions of dollars.

Current US policy allows some licensed trade with Cuba in agriculture, with the US being the largest foreign supplier of agricultural products to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean country.

Prepared to battle

Cuba's President Raul Castro on Sunday said that his country was prepared to battle the embargo for another 50 years if necessary.

US President-elect, Barack Obama, has said he would seek direct diplomacy with the Cuban Government.

During the campaign for the US presidency, Obama said he would maintain the Cuban embargo, but would lift restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba.