The United States prohibited allocating federal funds to small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) linked to the Cuban regime as part of the Law of State Appropriations, Foreign Operations and Related Programs for Fiscal Year 2024.
This was announced by the Cuban-American congressman Mario Díaz-Balart in a press conference held this Wednesday, where he also reported the increase in the budget of Radio and TV Martí provided for in that legislation, and the decision of restrict visas to officials and employees of those governments and organizations that contribute to the trafficking of Cuban doctors.
At the end of March, the United States Congress passed a bill in support of democracy in Cuba which included these measures under the title of the Consolidated Additional Allocations Law 2024, written by Díaz-Balart.
The text proposed the allocation of 25 million dollars to finance the promotion of democracy in Cuba, which represents an increase of 25% compared to previous years. In addition, it included the proposal to allocate another 25 million dollars for the Transmission Office to Cuba, which includes Radio and TV Martí.
With the approval this Wednesday by the United States Senate of the final financing package for fiscal year 2024 (with an overwhelming vote of 74 to 24), the doors are opened to finance the policies to promote democracy in Cuba contemplated in the Díaz-Balart proposal.
The Law on State Appropriations, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) for fiscal year 2024 provides $58.346 million in total funding for the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other essential related programs.
The bill includes $11.8 billion for the State Department and USAID to carry out their vital mission around the world and continue to invest in the modernization of their workforce in the field of diplomacy and development.
Furthermore, within the framework of promoting human rights and democratic governance, the bill continues dozens of provisions that address global fragility and reflect values by strengthening good governance and protecting human rights, including funding for the International Criminal Court as it files charges against senior Russian officials, including the president Vladimir Putin, for committing war crimes in Ukraine.
In mid-October, independent media revealed that Mariela Castro's daughter and granddaughter of dictator Raúl Castro was the owner of an MSME in Havana dedicated to the sale of food.
Lisa Titolo Castro, daughter of Mariela and her Italian husband Paolo Titolo, who live in a luxurious mansion in the exclusive Miramar neighborhood, was the owner of Gaia Mercado. Lisa follows the path of her cousin Sandro Castro, grandson of the late dictator Fidel Castro, in the business world.
On social networks there are many complaints that indicate that MSMEs belong to members of the high leadership of the regime, to family members, or repressive officials.
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