This New York Times article by James C. McKinley, reports the resignation of Fidel Castro as Cuba's maximum leader.
Will this mean a slow but steady transition to democracy or will chaos ensue?
Click here for another interesting link at the Cato Institute.
Here's wishing the Cuban people well in their journey ahead.
The following blog was in the works for sometime, and I thought that in view of Castro's resignation it might not be relevant any longer. But on second thought I believe there is still some merit to some of the arguments raised:
Hope you enjoy it.
PLEASE DOWNGRADE THE BAHAMAS EMBASSY IN HAVANA CUBA
While in opposition, just a few short months ago, the Free National Movement (FNM) recommended downgrading The Bahamas Embassy in Cuba to a consular office. The discussion at the time suggested an embassy was a waste of money when a consulate would do just fine.
The position seems to have changed now that the FNM have regained control of the Government of The Bahamas.
When asked at the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce Meet the Minister Conference last year if The Bahamas would downgrade the embassy in Cuba, Mr. Brent Symonette, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs responded that the Embassy will remain open because:
"...there are benefits to our relationship with Cuba; we have a tremendous number of Bahamians that go there...we have quite a number (of persons) incarcerated in Cuba and we have an increase in trade in Cuba. That necessitates keeping the embassy in Cuba. (The Tribune, Saturday, July 21, 2007.)"
The Trade Numbers
Regarding trade with Cuba, according to the Department of Statistics, The Bahamas imports totalled $1,556,688 and exports were approximately $1,000 in 2005. Such small numbers hardly require Ambassadorial oversight.
Mr. Felix Wilson, Former Cuban Ambassador to The Bahamas indicated in his farewell address that approximately 15,000 people travel to Cuba on flights from The Bahamas each year. However, he could not say how many of them were Bahamians.
We are also told that many of those Bahamians visit Cuba for pleasures other than the beautiful scenery, beaches and cigars.
While we have been unable to ascertain the number of Bahamian students or prisoners in Cuba, the size of trade and tourism does not warrant an embassy. If there are other reasons to justify the additional cost of an Embassy over a less costly Consular office the government should advise accordingly.
Democracy
The Bahamas has a democratic history of over 250 years so why give credence to a dictator like Castro in his final hour? Our support should be for the people of Cuba when his regime falls and the country moves toward freedom and democracy. Not to help prop Castro up.
As Friederich von Hayek pointed out in his wonderful book, The Road To Serfdom, "Collectivism is Slavery". So by extension, our embassy provides tacit support for the tyrannical regime in Cuba.
At the time The Bahamas Embassy was opened in Cuba, many people believe it was only done in a attempt to thumb noses at America.
We should trade with Cubans
It is important to trade with Cuba as a way to help the Cuban people up from oppression at the hands of Castro and the henchmen that support his regime.
The primary beneficiaries of trading relationships should ensure the Cuban people get the dollars and not the Cuban regime. As Mr. Perez Roque, Cuban Foreign Minister, pointed out when he visited the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce to promote business in Cuba several years back, employers there do not pay their workers directly. They must pay the state and the state gives the workers their paltry salary. (Reports are that accountants and doctors earn $15 per month and a labourer $5 per month). Not to mention the fact that one cannot own property there - It all belongs to the state.
A consular office
Informed sources suggest that a consular office can conduct the same day to day business that the embassy does. The only difference is an Embassy is of a higher "stature" in the scheme of things, so it lends more credence to the government of the host country.
In fact many countries appoint their nationals that live in the country or appropriate locals to represent them. Canada's representative office here in The Bahamas is a good example.
To spend $300,000 a year or more to have an embassy in Cuba, when a representative office will do, thereby lending tacit support to a tyrannical regime, is unconscionable, and frankly it should be offensive to all freedom loving Bahamians.
The impetus is on the new government to justify the expense of maintaining an Embassy with hard earned tax dollars in a period of rising costs. Add to this the uncertainties associated with falling tourism figures, a conservative fiscal policy seems appropriate.
