Published On:Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Tribune Staff Reporter

alowe@tribunemedia.net

ONE of the Obama administration’s top foreign policy experts says the economic embargo the United States imposes on Cuba will be lifted if the country’s government allows more freedoms – but this should not worry the Bahamas.

Dr Arturo Valenzuela, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the US Department of State, also emphasised that the lifting of the long-standing embargo will not happen “overnight” as it is codified in US law and would require the consent of Congress.

However, the top official said he foresees that if the embargo is lifted – taking with it the travel restriction which imposes penalties on US citizens caught travelling to Cuba – the Bahamas can still find itself in an advantageous position economically, despite the greater competition for tourists.

“Certainly there will be more competition for tourist dollars and that kind of thing, but it seems as if there’s plenty of room for everybody and a country like this beautiful country here will always have a chance to be able to be a good place for people to come and visit.

“At the same time, I think that with the measures this country needs to take in providing better educational opportunities and those kind of things, that the Bahamas in the long-haul will find that its niche in services and other areas like that will go beyond tourism so I don’t think it will necessarily be a detrimental effect for the Bahamas.”

Dr Valenzuela met with Bahamian media yesterday at US Ambassador Nicole Avant’s residence on Sandford Drive, Cable Beach.

He is visiting the Bahamas as part of a five-day trip which will see him fly on to Jamaica and Trinidad and address issues such as the recently launched Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, economic opportunity, competitiveness, energy, environmental and health initiatives.

One of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s key advisers on foreign policy, which he both formulates and implements, the former academic had discussions with Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, other government officials and leader of the opposition Perry Christie yesterday morning to discuss a number of issues relevant to the US-Bahamas bilateral relationship.

Asked about the administration’s position on the 48-year-old embargo against Cuba during a session with the local media, Dr Valenzuela first noted that despite the embargo that makes trade between US companies and Cuba difficult and makes it illegal for US citizens to travel to the Communist-led country, the US still has a “significant commercial relationship” with Cuba and has been able to have “very constructive conversations” with the Cuban government on issues of mutual concern, such as the reconstruction of Haiti post-earthquake.

He added that the policy of President Barack Obama’s administration towards Cuba at present is focused on enhancing “people-to-people relationships” between the two countries’ populations, with this evidenced in the lifting of travel restrictions strengthened under the presidency of George W Bush which stopped Cuban Americans travelling freely to visit their family members in the island nation.

The administration also eased limitations on the transfer of money from the US to Cuba.

Echoing other Obama officials, Dr Valenzuela said that he expects that the embargo could be totally lifted if the Cuban government “liberalises”.

Nonetheless, since the embargo has been codified in law in the US since 1992, such a shift in the US’ approach to Cuba would require legislation calling for it to end to be passed by US lawmakers before receiving Presidential assent.

Such legislation has been proposed by politicians in the US before, but none have been successful.

At the moment the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act, sponsored by Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan and Republican Senator Mike Enzi, is working its way towards a vote in the US House of Representatives.

The House Agriculture Committee voted 25 to 50 in favour of the legislation moving to the full House vote. Whether this happens is not up to the House Democratic leadership.

The Bill seeks an easing of restrictions on agricultural exports to Cuba in particular – a move which would create significant new economic opportunities for US farmers – along with the lifting of the travel ban for most US citizens.

Senators Dorgan and Enzi have said that they believe they can secure the 60 votes necessary in the Senate to overcome a filibuster and end the ban.