As reported by several news sources Tuesday April 14, 2009 the Obama administration as lifted some travel restrictions to Cuba and will allow money transfers. The changes include allowing unlimited family visits and remittances, and expansion of humanitarian items that can be sent including clothing and fishing equipment.
Today at his regular news briefing White House press secretary announced President Obama is also allowing U.S. telecom companies to operate there, opening up the communist island nation to more cellular and satellite service.
But this does in no way change the embargo the U.S. has against Cuba.
This allows U.S. companies to be licensed for roaming contracts in Cuba and to establish fiber-optic and satellite links between United States and Cuba.
“We think the positive benefits here will way outweigh any negative effects that they may have” said Dan Restrepo, a special assistant to the president giving his remarks in both English and Spanish. “That creating independence, creating space for Cuban people to operate freely from the regime is the kind of space they need to start the process toward a more democratic Cuba.”
In Miami, travel agencies began considering additional charter flights and bigger planes.
But the policy change also reignites one of the most emotionally charged issues in
Miami’s Cuban exile community: Should exiles visit the island they fled, and in doing so, help prop up the communist governments economy with U.S. dollars? This is a question I’m sure will hit hard with many of the cigar manufactures that still have family in Cuba.
Sources for this story: The Washington Post
Fox News, West Palm Beach, FL.
Miami Herald