U.S. changes requirements for some Cuba trips

Posted on Tuesday, 05.15.12

U.S. changes requirements for some Cuba trips

The U.S. changes on some 'people to people' visits come after pressure
from Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
By Juan O. Tamayo
jtamayo@ElNuevoHerald.com

The U.S. Treasury Department has tightened a few of its restrictions on
trips to Cuba by non-Cuban Americans on so-called "people to people"
visits, saying that the revisions will "help to deter abuses."

Complaints of abuses of such trips — they must be for "educational"
purposes, never for tourism — have dogged the program since President
Barack Obama approved it last year in a bid to increase Americans'
engagement with regular Cubans.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., drew laughter during a speech in Washington
last year when he read the schedule for one such trip, showing salsa
dancing sessions every night. Other tours have met with Cuban government
ministers and even a daughter of ruler Raúl Castro.

Rubio put a block on Roberta Jacobson's nomination as the top U.S.
diplomat for Latin American until the Obama administration addressed
some of the myriad complaints. Jacobson was sworn in earlier this month.

"I think it's progress … because the changes require closer reviews of
the itineraries," Rubio said. "But I still have concerns about the
program in general, because it is difficult to manage and avoid abuses."

Treasury spokesman John Sullivan said the department's Office of Foreign
Assets Controls, which enforces sanctions on Cuba, revised the
regulations for those seeking OFAC licenses to organize trips "in part
because of reports we received."

He did not detail the "reports" but added that the changes "will provide
clarity to applicants and licensees seeking renewal

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/15/2801235/us-changes-requirements-for-some.html