Travel blogger and Deputy Editor of Oh The People You Meet!, Olivia Balsinger, explores her experiences visiting Havana and Santiago De Cuba, only days after the death of former President, Fidel Castro. Chronicling her observations about the end of an era, Cuban history and culture, and US-Cuba relations, she quotes Diaspora Travel & Trade Founder, Kasara Davidson, to provide expert and comprehensive insight into the history of US and Cuban government relations. Here is an excerpt from her introduction before quoting Davidson’s detailed explanation of the history, limitations, and effects of the US embargo against Cuba.
“Over the past few years, questions about accessibility for Americans to travel to Cuba has ebbed and flowed through media headlines. These questions have since surfaced again as President Trump declared on June 18th 2017–to a small, elite audience in Little Havana—that he would be, “canceling the last administration’s completely one-sided deal with Cuba.”
And this has led American travelers to ask: What does this mean? How do I legally travel to Cuba? What am I allowed to do in Cuba?
The history between the United States and Cuba governments has been turbulent, at times hostile and often confusing. Though it’s important to note that this is exclusively at a governmental level and not reflective of Cuban and American interactions.”
he history between the United States and Cuba governments has been turbulent, at times hostile and often confusing. Though it’s important to note that this is exclusively at a governmental level and not reflective of Cuban and American interactions.
Kasara E. Davidson, founder of the consulting company Diaspora Travel & Trade, has been traveling to Cuba for the past decade. She has also been developing programs and projects in and about Cuba for organizations, groups, and individuals for the past three years.
Davidson provides comprehensive insight into the history of US and Cuban government relations:
“ On October 19, 1960, the US Government placed an embargo (prohibition) on all exports to Cuba, except for food and medicine. Since then, the US Embargo Against Cuba, known in Cuba as el bloqueo (“the blockade”), has grown to consist of a number of Federal statutes and associated regulations that form a commercial, economic, and financial embargo against Cuba.
The Embargo is comprehensive, detailing all prohibited activity – almost all direct or in direct financial activity by any persons or entities subject to US Jurisdiction that involves the Cuban Government, Cuban property, or Cuban nationals – and any exceptions to these restrictions. Additionally, they are written so that the Executive Branch has the discretion to broaden or narrow certain areas.
The Embargo prohibits transactions related to and necessary for travel (purchasing flights, accommodations, food, etc.), whether paid for by the person subject to US Jurisdiction, one subject to a third party country, or for free. Those whose travel activities qualify for a “general license” or “specific license” as they are defined by the laws relevant to their travel dates, are exempted from these particular financial prohibitions. Over the years, various Administrations have changed the elements required to obtain and comply with general and specific license procedures.
On December 17, 2014, US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro announced their respective country’s intentions to reestablish diplomatic relations in an effort to begin to normalize relations between the neighboring nations. During the remainder of his term, President Obama and his Administration continued to use the Executive Power to “loosen” the restrictive nature of the Embargo….”