THE illegal blockade against Cuba by the United States is the greatest obstacle to the development of the island and a systematic violation of the human rights of the people, the country’s Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said today.

Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, the leader said that despite all the challenges presented by the economic, commercial and financial blockade, the socialist Caribbean nation will continue to make the transformations that are necessary to the economy and society.

Mr Marrero welcomed the solidarity shown to Cuba from peoples and governments across the world in the fight against the more than 60-year-old blockade.

He said the island is working to strengthen the public business system, increase agricultural production, and diversify economic actors with the establishment of more than 10,000 small to medium-sized private companies.

Prime Minister Marrero said his country believed: “One could not seriously talk about technological advances or equitable access to communications when more than 84 million children remain out of school and more than 660 million people do not have electricity.”

Mr Marrero called on the conference to work for a world of peace that allows the full development of societies and that through solidarity, co-operation and dialogue between peoples, “a better world is possible.”