Raul Martinez Statement on Cuba’s Request to Lift Embargo for 6 Months

“The devastation caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in Cuba has unfortunately become a political football between the U.S. and Cuba. The Cuban government’s request for the U.S. to lift the embargo for 6 months is far from a legitimate solution when they have not given the Cuban people the rights and freedoms they deserve, and the Bush Administration’s offer of sending some aide and a humanitarian assessment team does not go far enough to help Cubans who are suffering.”

“The Bush Administration needs to reconsider their opposition to lifting travel and remittance restrictions for 90 days. If the Cuban government decides to turn down the offer in favor of maintaining their unrealistic request to lift the embargo, then the blame lies squarely with them, but we cannot let political ideology get in the way of what is moral, humane and right. It is a shame that political posturing has prevented Cuban-Americans from helping their family in Cuba pick up the pieces of a life that has been turned upside down. There is no time to play politics when people’s lives are at stake.”

Hon. Raul Martinez, the former Mayor of Hialeah, Florida and Democratic nominee for Congress in Florida’s 21st District, two weeks ago called for the United States Government to temporarily lift restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba for 90 days to allow Cubans living in the U.S. to help their family members in Cuba who are suffering as a result of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. His position was later echoed by U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Howard Berman.