By: Daniel Nardini
There is now more talk about it than ever before in Havana—the possibility of Cubans to be able to leave Cuba, travel elsewhere and to be able to live outside of Cuba. The Cuban government, and by extension the Communist Party of Cuba, is now considering letting Cubans freely leave the country and freely travel anywhere. It makes perfect sense. If Cubans can travel outside of Cuba it means that they can also live with family outside of Cuba and send remittances back to family still in Cuba. It means that Cuban business people (still in the budding stage) will be able to freely come and go when they want, and be able to conduct business without the government restrictions. The last point is probably the key why the Communist Party is considering for lifting the restrictions on travel outside of Cuba. How can normal business be done if there are too many restrictions on Cuba’s own citizens from leaving?
Of course, the devil is in the details. Will any and all people be allowed to apply for passports? Will there still be exit and reentry visas? Will people from other countries be allowed to come to Cuba more freely? Will people from outside Cuba be able to come into the country without the need for getting visas beforehand? Will Cuba allow its citizens to be able to live and work in other countries so that they can make a living and then send money back to Cuba? How will Cuban dissidents be treated in this regards? I think the biggest question will be if Cuban citizens, if they can travel abroad, can travel to the United States? There are more Cuban immigrants and Americans of Cuban descent in the United States than anywhere else in the world. The problem is, as everyone has guessed it, there is no diplomatic relations between the two countries. This is to put it mildly a major stumbling block.
If the U.S. government will not allow its own citizens to go and visit Cuba freely, then why would it allow Cubans to come into the United States when no such deal has been worked out with the Cuban government? The whole problem still stems from America’s antiquated embargo against Cuba that has virtually isolated the United States from the rest of the Americas and has not helped in developing betters relations with Havana. So if and when Cubans get the chance to be able to travel, the U.S. embargo should be lifted and then there should be discussion on both sides to try and accommodate Cubans trying to go to the United States. It is the largest country to the north, and it is the most likely place that Cubans would go to do business in any given country. Of course, all of this will only be possible if and when the Cuban people are allowed to travel outside of Cuba.
Cubans to be Able to Travel?
By: Daniel Nardini
Of course, the devil is in the details. Will any and all people be allowed to apply for passports? Will there still be exit and reentry visas? Will people from other countries be allowed to come to Cuba more freely? Will people from outside Cuba be able to come into the country without the need for getting visas beforehand? Will Cuba allow its citizens to be able to live and work in other countries so that they can make a living and then send money back to Cuba? How will Cuban dissidents be treated in this regards? I think the biggest question will be if Cuban citizens, if they can travel abroad, can travel to the United States? There are more Cuban immigrants and Americans of Cuban descent in the United States than anywhere else in the world. The problem is, as everyone has guessed it, there is no diplomatic relations between the two countries. This is to put it mildly a major stumbling block.
If the U.S. government will not allow its own citizens to go and visit Cuba freely, then why would it allow Cubans to come into the United States when no such deal has been worked out with the Cuban government? The whole problem still stems from America’s antiquated embargo against Cuba that has virtually isolated the United States from the rest of the Americas and has not helped in developing betters relations with Havana. So if and when Cubans get the chance to be able to travel, the U.S. embargo should be lifted and then there should be discussion on both sides to try and accommodate Cubans trying to go to the United States. It is the largest country to the north, and it is the most likely place that Cubans would go to do business in any given country. Of course, all of this will only be possible if and when the Cuban people are allowed to travel outside of Cuba.