Sensitive to the situation in Cuba – aggravated by Washington’s blockade of more than six decades – Barbara Lee, Jim McGovern, Gregory Meeks and Joaquin Castro, members of the House of Representatives, sent a letter to the president in which they ask for a change of policy regarding Cuba.
According to the letter, published on Lee’s official website, the legislators call for the immediate relief of sanctions on the Cuban people “who are currently facing widespread blackouts and an escalating energy crisis, exacerbated by the impact of Hurricane Rafael.”
From their perspective, this scenario “is not only causing immense suffering for the Cuban people but also poses serious risks to US national security interest,” because “if left unaddressed, the crisis will almost certainly fuel increased migration,” they emphasized.
The congresspeople asked Biden to remove the State Sponsor of Terrorism arbitrary designation from Cuba, as well as sending expedite emergency humanitarian and technical assistance to the Cuban people.
In addition, they demanded that the US president “issue safe harbor letters to address overcompliance with sanctions, suspend sanctions impeding aid, and facilitate energy infrastructure repair and modernization.”
“Even temporary relief can save lives and permit the Cuban people a chance to insulate themselves and their families from further vulnerability. We urge your administration to act swiftly to implement these measures,” they concluded.
On October 20, McGovern stated on his X account that the US current policy directly contributed to Cuba’s energy problems by sanctioning ships that transport oil to Cuba and depriving the Caribbean nation of the foreign exchange earnings that it needs to import fuel and spare parts.
A representative for Massachusetts, McGovern is one of the most active members of Congress in the fight for a change of policy towards Cuba. He stressed that the assistance would allow “restoring the electrical grid and dealing with the shortage of food and medicine that is impoverishing the Cuban people and causing unprecedented migration to the United States.”
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez has said repeatedly that his country appreciates “the voices denouncing the United States blockade, the main cause of the limitations and damage suffered by our people.”
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