Guyana was one of 25 countries to abstain from voting when the United Nations General Assembly held a vote on Tuesday to condemn the ongoing United States Embargo against Cuba.

130 nations voted in favor of the resolution, 25 abstained, and 17 voted against.

This is the 34th year that the UN General Assembly has voted to condemn the US embargo on Cuba.

For over six decades the US has implemented a set of economic, commercial, and financial sanctions initiated against preventing U.S. businesses and citizens from conducting trade or commerce with Cuban interests.

This is not the first time that Guyana did not vote in support of Cuba.

Earlier this year, Guyana was absent and did not cast a vote at the United Nations on a motion seeking a debate on the longstanding blockade against Cuba.

The United States has been courting its allies for their backing in their push for a regime change in Cuba.

Earlier this year, President Irfaan Ali said he was supporting ‘changing the status quo’ in Cuba, in line with a position adopted by US President Donald Trump.

The U.S is pursuing a hardline regime change policy toward Cuba, aiming to force a collapse of the government. Washington has implemented strict sanctions, including a blockade on oil shipments, and is using economic pressure to encourage a deal” to flip the island.”

In 1972, Guyana led efforts by Caribbean states to break the diplomatic isolation of Cuba in the hemisphere; establishing diplomatic relations with that country.

Since establishing diplomatic ties on December 8, 1972, Guyana and Cuba have enjoyed a strong friendship based on shared trust, respect and mutual understanding.

Both the PPP and PNC governments have supported Cuba, and have continuously called for the economic embargo and sanctions against Havana to be dropped.

For decades, Guyana has sent scores of scholarship recipients to be trained in Cuba in the field of medicine and other areas.

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