A Letter From Our Director

Dear Friends of Common Ground,

We are sure that you have all been alarmed with the latest news from the U.S. Treasury Department placing Havanatur and other tour operators in Cuba on a list of Cuban companies with which U.S. companies are forbidden to do business, except for companies authorized to do business with Cuba, i.e. licensed travel service providers.

It is indeed alarming news. Nevertheless, we want to assure you that Common Ground still holds its U.S. Treasury Department license authorizing it to do business with tour operators in Cuba for all travelers authorized to travel to Cuba under general or specific license. Those of you who travel under general or specific license are still permitted to pay for authorized services in Cuba.

Here is the important paragraph, direct from the horse's mouth, i.e. John Snow's speech to the Cuban American Community yesterday, February 9th: (http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/js1160.htm)

"As a result of today's action, all property of these entities [Havanatur, Cubanacan, etc] that is in the possession of persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction is blocked and no persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction may engage in any transactions with these entities unless authorized by OFAC."

That is, unless and until we have been notified otherwise, our license and the licenses that our clients hold are valid, authorizing them to engage in travel related transactions.

Why is the news so alarming? In our estimation it is a further attempt to harrass and intimidate a U.S. public eager and determined to get to know the Cuban people and Cuban reality for themselves. Mr. Snow also says:

"That is why sanctions, especially on travel, are being vigorously enforced by the Bush administration, and why the President told Congress he would veto any attempt to weaken the prohibitions on travel and trade.

"On March 24th, new OFAC rules eliminated the 'people to people' educational license that had allowed educational travel unrelated to academic coursework. The license had increasingly been abused for trips that amounted to little more than tourist travel, thus undermining the intentions of the U.S. sanctions against Cuba. So we got rid of it. Because we're serious about enforcing the sanctions.

"We must not and we can not have American dollars lining Fidel Castro's pockets and those who would perpetuate his oppressive regime... and enforcement actions by the Department of the Treasury, along with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), are making sure that does not happen."

We at Common Ground urge you to read the full text of Mr. Snow's statement at http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/js1160.htm. We believe that we should all be insulted rather than intimidated by the U.S. administration. It belittles the motives of our clients and friends in traveling to Cuba. It belittles our Cuban American friends and clients who are determined to preserve their family ties and their heritage and to help their families maintain a life of dignity. It belittles our the determination of our professors that their students learn about Cuba, about U.S.-Cuba policy, about the culture, history, politics and social norms of another society. It belittles our professionals -- teachers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, architects, social workers, planners, arti

It also, frankly, belittles travelers who skirt the regulations by traveling through 3rd countries without U.S. Treasury Department permission. Recent articles have described such U.S. citizens as "on a lark", traveling for "the thrill of the forbidden". While many U.S. citizens and residents do not actually understand the regulations, the majority of U.S. citizens -- we must believe -- travel to Cuba because they are eager for knowledge, eager to see dear friends or make new ones -- or simply acting out of the beliefs they were raised on from grammar school: That America is a democracy where we have the right of free association, the right of travel, the right to earn money and to spend the money we earn in ways that reward and do not punish human and social endeavor.

Please write to us if you are concerned about the latest developments, but do not be intimidated and do not be deterred from continuing contact with Cuba. As Mr. Snow also says: "That is why sanctions, especially on travel, are being vigorously enforced by the Bush administration, and why the President told Congress he would veto any attempt to weaken the prohibitions on travel and trade." Obviously, the U.S. administration is making an end run around legislation to lift the travel ban that had the clear support of in the U.S. Congress and was likely to pass. To avoid this veto, the legislation was withdrawn.

Common Ground Education and Travel exists to promote dialogue and exchange between Americans and Cubans of all points of view, of all backgrounds and perspectives. We work strictly under U.S. license and with licensed travelers, but we support all travel to Cuba. We know that the dialogue and exchange between Cubans and Americans will go on, as it has not just for decades but for centuries. Write to your Congressman or woman with your own views. We also suggest that you check out the L.A. Working Group website (www.lawg.org) for other suggestions as to what you might do to voice your opinion.

Sincerely,

Merri Ansara
Director, Common Ground