THE EDITOR, Sir:I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with the editorial in the Gleaner newspaper of the April 5 titled 'BNS, Cuba and the USA Patriot Act'.
To say I am a little disappointed with the Bank of Nova Scotia for cancelling the United States dollar account for the Cuban Embassy here in Jamaica, would be a gross understatement.
In cancelling those accounts, the Bank of Nova Scotia is complying with US and not international laws.
My question to the Bank of Nova Scotia would be, what countries are signatory to the United States Patriot Act? It has been my assumption that that Act was passed solely by the U.S. Congress.
And what are the implications for our sovereignty?
Bill Clarke, head of BNS Jamaica a brilliant man should and must realise that the U.S. have been attempting to alienate Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean from Cuba for decades; and to the chagrin of many, BNS is giving them the avenue through which to do it.
Jamaican banks are governed by Jamaican and international laws; the U.S. predilection to wage economic war on Cuba because of a bruised ego of long ago is neither legislated by Jamaica nor the international circuit.
I agree that in an act of diplomacy, the Jamaican Government must engage the issue. We have strong personal ties and friendship with the U.S. Government, but we must be careful that though we are friends, we do not become their lackeys.
I am, etc.,
COLLETTE McINTOSH
collshell@hotmail.com
White Water Meadows
St. Catherine
