The Cuban National Television News (NTV) reported this Thursday on the suspension of sending remittances to Cuba through Western Union starting the next day 27th of this month of November.
The Cuban authorities attribute this decision to a statement published by the American company, in which according to the official version of the Island, Western Union says that it is obliged to comply with Washington's decisions that affect Havana, without clarifying what they refer to. to the sanction of the North American Administration that affects Fincimex, organization controlled by the Cuban military, which was included last June in the US Department of State Restricted Entities list
Fincimex, a state financial institution belonging to CIMEX and under the umbrella of the Business Administration Group (GAESA), processes the bulk of remittances that arrive from abroad to the Island.
The Cuban Restricted List (CRL), known as the State Department's blacklist, was created in 2017 and includes 220 Cuban entities that are prohibited from negotiating with US citizens or companies. for his link with the military business conglomerate GAESA, led by General Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja, former son-in-law of Raúl Castro.
Cuba blames the US Government for the suspension of sending remittances to the Island without clarifying what steps it has taken to replace Fincimex with an organization outside the sanctioned military leadership.
In its statement, Western Union announced that it was studying other ways to avoid suspending the service of sending remittances to Cuba. "We assure you that we are exploring all possible alternatives to continue helping you send your love and support to the people in Cuba."
NTV recalled yesterday that in October the company announced the closure of its offices in response to the ban on negotiating with the Cuban counterpart, ignoring the detail that this counterpart is controlled by the military.
The Government of Cuba interprets in this way the statement made public by Western Union in which the company limited itself to reminding that it is "obliged to comply with all government regulations", in reference to the veto of Fincimex.
Already on October 27, Fincimex announced that it would close 407 Western Union branches in Cuba after the sanctions ordered by the United States to avoid the control of the Cuban military over the distribution of remittances.
A document from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Treasury Department announced a few days ago that as of November 27, the sending of remittances to Cuba through companies controlled by the Cuban military would be suspended.
In statements to CiberCuba, Western Union stated that its goal is to continue providing essential money transfer services to customers, many of whom depend on remittances to live.
Remittances are the second source of income for the Cuban economy and reach $3.5 billion a year.
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