FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 25, 2019
Trump Flight Cancellations Another Failed Policy: CET Statement
Trump Administration to Prohibit Commercial Flights to Nine Cities in Cuba
Photo credit: The Points Guy
WASHINGTON, DC - Today the Trump Administration announced that it will prohibit flights between the United States and cities in Cuba, with the exception of Havana. The order calls for a 45 day period to wind down flights to non-Havana destinations in Cuba, which includes Santiago, Varadero and Santa Clara, among others.
“This is another counterproductive measure taken by the Trump Administration as part of a completely failed approach towards Cuba. Travel between the U.S. and Cuba benefits Cuban families, Cuban entrepreneurs and many US companies and these measures will greatly harm a lot of people,” said Collin Laverty, President of Cuba Educational Travel. “Ending flights to cities that are mostly frequented by Cubans traveling to see loved ones is another blow to Cuban families on both sides of the Florida straits.”
The Trump Administration has taken a series of measures to make it harder for Cubans to travel to the US and Americans and Cuban Americans to Cuba, leading to family separation, harm to Cuba’s private sector and general hardships for the Cuban people. Guided by Senator Marco Rubio, the Trump Administration has subscribed to the same failed policy of over 50 years that has caused suffering to the Cuban people with the goal of causing civil unrest that would topple the Cuban government. The Trump Administration’s policy has led to significant suffering amongst Cuban families, entrepreneurs and average Cubans without achieving its objective of regime change.
“How long are the politicians in South Florida and Washington going to kick around the Cuban people? Starving the Cuban people into submission is terrible for Cubans, contrary to national interests, and cruel,” added Laverty. “While Trump officials and Trump associates fly private jets and first class to Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Ukraine, the Cuban people are not allowed to visit their family members in Holguin.”
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