Martinez Calls for Temporary Lift of Remittance and Travel Restrictions to Cuba in Wake of Hurricane Gustav
Posted: Sep 03, 2008“While thousands of Cubans call out for help following the destruction of Hurricane Gustav, U.S. restrictions on travel and remittances are preventing Cuban-Americans from coming to the aide of their family in Cuba,” said Raul Martinez. “We have a moral obligation to allow families to help each other in a time of dire need.”
Under current restrictions, Cubans living in the U.S. are limited to taking a family trip to Cuba once every three years and sending a maximum of $300 to family members every three months.
In a public statement released Sunday, August 31, Raul Martinez called upon the United States Government and the U.S. Interests Section to ask the Cuban Government and other governments of the Greater Antilles to allow the U.S. to send emergency supplies, including blankets, water bottles, first aid kits, plastic sheeting, etc. to NGOs assisting those affected by Hurricane Gustav. Mayor Martinez recommended that USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) authorize double the amount usually provided for immediate relief - up to $100,000 in grants to non-governmental organizations to help meet the needs of the victims of Hurricane Gustav.
"We must set aside our differences in order to directly help the Cuban people and others throughout the Greater Antilles in their time of need. We must act quickly and understand that it is our moral obligation to provide direct assistance to people who are suffering from this natural disaster," stated Martinez.
Martinez, who has experience in disaster relief management as Mayor of Hialeah, also suggested that the US offer to deploy a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to independently help determine what relief supplies are most needed.
