A group of Cuban exiles protested this Sunday outside the main office of a well-known travel and shipping agency to Cuba to denounce the alleged ties of the company to the regime and demand the release of political prisoners on the island.
The protest took place in front of Cubamax Travel, at its headquarters located in Hialeah, Florida. The demonstrators argue that the agency supplied tasers and other resources to the Cuban government. These resources were allegedly used in the repression of the protests on July 11, 2021.
Cubamax Travel was founded in 2001 and has 13 branches in Florida. The accusations against it have not been substantiated by the U.S. government, nor are there any official sanctions, but opposition from the exile community has intensified in recent months.
"Uniting the Cuban family"
In April, Cubamax suspended the sending of remittances to Cuba, stating that they were going through "a restructuring process related to the companies that distribute money on the island.” They asserted that the decision was not in response to any specific legislation passed in Washington.
The company processed remittances to Cuba through Orbit S.A., an entity linked to the military conglomerate GAESA, which was sanctioned by the United States government at the end of January. Orbit was added to the restricted list of the State Department, which prohibits transactions with companies connected to the military and security apparatus of the Cuban regime.
Despite being promoted as an independent company, Orbit utilized the financial infrastructure of CIMEX and shared operational data with that entity, which positioned it as part of the business framework controlled by the Cuban military.
During the protest in Hialeah, the demonstrators reiterated that the sending of remittances and services through entities like Cubamax ultimately benefits the regime, while demanding greater scrutiny from U.S. authorities.
So far, Cubamax Travel has not issued an official statement in response to the protests or the accusations.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Protest of Cuban Exiles in Hialeah Against Cubamax
Why did Cuban exiles protest against Cubamax in Hialeah?
The Cuban exiles protested in front of the Cubamax headquarters in Hialeah to denounce alleged ties between the agency and the Cuban regime and to demand the release of political prisoners on the island. They accuse Cubamax of having provided resources to the Cuban state that were used in the repression of demonstrations in 2021.
What allegations exist against Cubamax regarding its relationship with the Cuban regime?
Cubamax has been accused by protesters of being linked to the Cuban regime, specifically by supplying resources to the state that were used to repress the protests of July 11, 2021. These accusations have not been officially verified, and Cubamax has not issued a statement regarding this.
What is the relationship between Cubamax, Orbit S.A., and GAESA?
Cubamax managed remittances to Cuba through Orbit S.A., an entity connected to the military conglomerate GAESA, which has been sanctioned by the U.S. government. Orbit S.A. has been identified as having direct ties to GAESA, despite presenting itself as an independent entity.
How do U.S. sanctions affect Cubamax's operations regarding remittances?
The sanctions imposed by the U.S. have restricted the ability of companies like Cubamax to process remittances to Cuba, due to the inclusion of Orbit S.A. on the list of restricted entities. This has resulted in the suspension of remittance services through Cubamax.
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