Potential US policy rollback would be 'big mistake'

HAVANA - Rumors have been hovering in the streets of Havana in the past few days about a possible rollback in the United States' policy toward the Caribbean island, reversing the historic detente initiated in 2014 by former president Barack Obama.

According to media reports, President Donald Trump is set to announce in Miami on Friday a rollback to the thaw between Washington and Havana, a promise he made during his election campaign last year.

For Cubans, this possible scenario would be a return to the past, marked by political confrontation and economic limitations due to the financial embargo that Washington has still imposed on the island.

"It would be a big mistake in Trump's policy toward Cuba, because the US has many possibilities to invest and contribute to the economic development of the country," said Javier Casamayor, a tourism guide for the state-run Gaviota tour agency.

This company, part of a business conglomerate belonging to the Revolutionary Armed Forces, operates a five-star hotel in Havana along with US company Starwood.

According to sources, the Trump administration has been discussing policy changes that include prohibiting US companies from doing business with those associated with the Cuban military, such as Gaviota.

"The tourism industry would be seriously harmed. Since relations were restored, US citizens have become the second-largest group of visitors to our country. If Trump limits them, there would be a direct economic impact," said Casamayor.

The White House has also been debating new restrictions on US tourists to Cuba, which have more than tripled since Obama's 2014 announcement.

In the first five months of this year, nearly 284,500 US citizens visited Cuba under 12 US government-permitted categories that include people-to-people contacts, academic, cultural and educational exchanges.

The figure, disclosed on Tuesday by the Cuban ambassador to Washington, Jose Ramon Cabanas, represents as many US citizens who visited the island in 2016.

"I am not sure that rolling back the policy will work because Cuba is a very interesting destination for US people. This is not about what Donald Trump wants but rather what most US people demand," said Mac Josselin, a US tourist in Havana.

Like Josselin, thousands of US citizens and US organizations advocate continuing the thawing bilateral ties as it contributes to the development of both nations.

"I think Trump will change the policy and we will go back to the past. It will be more difficult for US people to come to Cuba and we may see a return to confrontation, although I hope common sense prevails," said Emilio de Leon, a Cuban-American.

Other ideas under discussion, according to officials familiar with the matter, include guidelines that would require US citizens to formally explain how their travel to Cuba benefits the US and the Cuban people, as well as increased scrutiny of travelers and the frequency of their visits.

Travel restrictions could impact US airlines with direct flights to Cuba as well as the cruise industry.

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Cuba "must begin to address human rights challenges" if it wants Washington to move toward more normal relations.

Cuban President Raul Castro said earlier this year that his government is willing to continue negotiating pending bilateral issues with the new US administration. However, he warned that Havana would not make political concessions.

Xinhua