US Abstains in UN Vote Against Embargo

Date: 27 Oct 2016 13:03


On Wednesday, October 26th, the United States took another massive step towards ending the Cuban Embargo. The US changed its vote from ‘in favor’ to ‘abstain’ for the UN General Assembly’s resolution for an end to the embargo. This marks the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 the US has not voted in favor to maintaining the embargo. Normally, several smaller nations vote in line with the USA. However, this time, of the 193 UN member countries, 191 voted against the embargo with just Israel siding with the USA in abstention and nobody opposing the reform.

The resolution urges nations to retract laws that limit or control freedom of trade and travel. Rejecting the UN’s resolution on the Cuban Embargo had become a habit for the US at New York’s UN Headquarters over the last 25 years every autumn. However, the abstention to the vote has served as a further indication to the shift in the USA’s foreign policy to Cuba. Last week, Obama released a Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) urging strong change to the policy of isolation and a shift towards one of engagement.

Yesterday’s vote was a clear indication that the policy of isolation, aimed at crippling the Cuban economy in an attempt to force regime change, is one that the US no longer believes to be a productive one. The Obama Administration has taken yet another important step in ending the longest embargo in history by abstaining. It is a clear message to the rest of the world that the policy shifts are serious and more than just words. The end of the embargo would bring the repeal of the US travel restrictions to Cuba, immediately opening up restriction-free flights, cruises and most importantly: ferries.

Business Projects Continue to Sprout in Mariel Port

Date: 20 March 2017

Contrary to the popular belief that nothing has changed in Cuba since the Thaw, The Port of Mariel Special Development Zone has approved another 5 projects, taking the total to over 20 projects, from a dozen countries, with investments totaling over $900m. The Special Development Zone was built only a few years ago by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, and is reputedly one of the “most modern container ports in the Americas”.

Florida Business with Cuba Exceeded $65m in 2016

Date: 20 February 2017

Cuban emissaries recently traveled to the Florida port cities of Palm Beach and Tampa to negotiate trade deals between Cuba and the two ports in question, as recent demand has continued to increase. There was much acclaim about such possibilities. A hype that was quickly shut down by menacing threats to “withhold funds for port improvements to any ports that expand trade with Cuba”, from Florida Governor, Rick Scott.

Ferries Lie Waiting in the Wings, as Cruise Travel to Cuba Increases

Date: 09 February 2017

Some things are destined to happen. Sometimes you can only keep things under wraps for so long. Maritime travel between the USA and Cuba has long been outlawed. However, due to developments over the previous years, cruise liners managed to get their foot in the door in 2016. Since the inaugural Fathom sailings in May 2016, the numbers of cruises to Cuba has increased.

Cuba’s Most Momentous Year Since 1962

Date: 02 January 2017

Although it concluded the year, one must start with the death of Fidel Castro, Cuba’s totalitarian leader for the last half a century. It is never good to wish harm upon anyone. But, sometimes when people become used to a way of life, only a drastic event, a shock to their system, will cause a spark that can lead to a blaze of change. Will it be out with the old and in with the new? Only time will tell. But, this has been a year of firsts. Leading to the belief that Cuba could turn the page on the 1950s once and for all and progress into the 21st Century. All else will follow.

Five More Cruise Companies Gain Approval to Sail to Cuba

Date: 14 December 2016

A new wave of cruise companies, a total of five, working under either the Royal Caribbean & Norwegian Cruise Lines holdings umbrellas are entering the South Florida – Cuba ferry market. Norwegian will become the only operator headquartered in the USA that will have the entirety of its brands sailing to the once-forbidden island. The three brands, Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent 7 Seas and Oceania Cruises, will sail to the island while acting in accordance with US Department of Treasury regulations. In addition to these three, Azamea Club Cruises and Royal Caribbean will also begin operations from Florida to Cuba. Under the regulations as classified by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), passengers would engage in ‘people-to-people activities’.

Key West to Advance on Plan for Ferry Route to Cuba

Date: 06 December 2016

Hardly more could have changed in the US/Cuba dynamic in the last month. With the surprise election of Donald Trump, everything seemed to be reverting to the Cold War period. But after breaking campaign promise after campaign promise, the threats seem less and less viable. Compound that with the recent death of Cuban, Marxist-Leninist revolutionary, Fidel Castro and everything seems up in the air. With the more moderate Raúl Castro now pulling the strings, without any interference from his brother to moderate any advances in economic policy, the possibility for change is there.

Cuba Outstretches Hand for FDI

Date: 29 November 2016

The leader of the Cuban Revolution is dead. Now all the backlog of change, 50 years’ worth of it, can slowly start. Until he passed the baton to his brother Raul Castro (2008), Cuba had resisted change for almost half a century. After Raul took over, the country started changing slowly but surely. The automatic ‘no’ answers, to anything and everything that involved change, became ‘maybes’ and ‘under certain conditions’. This gave way to laws that permitted private businesses and private property, previously outlawed in Cuba.

Business to Trump Politics in Cuba

Date: 22 November 2016

A collection of big multi-nationals who started planning for life after the embargo will attempt to pander to president-elect Trump’s self-proclaimed superior business acumen. Dozens of companies are either planning to, or have started expanding into Cuba already. Trump threatened to shut the doors on the newly re-opened American embassy in Havana, as well as flirting with reverting to previous Cold War economic relations and travel agreements. However, the Chamber of Commerce will be pushing to maintain the current status quo after Obama’s reform created loads of promising commercial prospects. The strategy is trying to pull at strings that are key pieces to the Trump persona. If an opportunity makes good business sense, then why would a proficient businessman turn it down?

Spanish Businessmen Hurry Up their Plans for Cuba

Date: 16 November 2016

Spanish businessmen with pending plans for the island have made no attempt to hide their fear that the first mover’s advantage benefits of certain big American companies could create barriers that will make their entry into the market more difficult. Even though, stateside, the fear is that the politics will revert to the times before the Obama rapprochement two years ago.

New Presidential Directive Working Already

Date: 07 November 2016

The new Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) is working already. The PPD, which was enacted last month, is the latest in a course of events in the Cuban Thaw that, through executive action, loosened travel and trade to Cuba. It allows for the import of Cuban medicines to the USA. CIMAvax, an encouraging lung-cancer vaccine, will soon commence Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clinical trials in the USA. As of today, never before has a Cuban drug been run in clinical trials in the USA. At first glance, the shipment of delicate cargo seemed a precarious obstacle. However, after a successful test run to ensure the delicate cargo would arrive intact, shipping a box of water, it seems that the USA are ready to receive the delicate cargo.