The Dysfunction of the Racketeering Government

The Dysfunction of the Racketeering Government / Juan Juan Almeida
Posted on February 24, 2014

If there is something that terrifies me about the Cuban political class,
it is the colossal ability they have to manipulate events and invent
crises without the slightest decorum, like the pain of separated
families, and to employ it as a shield against the United States.

The new show is regrettable, or disguises secondary intentions, through
a press note where it's reported, that the Cuban Interest Section in
Washington is obliged to suspend consular services.

With Dantesque ease, agonizing creativity, impressive tranquility and
more desires of common sense, the note refers to the statement published
9 December 2013, which reported on the new deadline given by "M & T
Bank" for the conclusion of banking services to the Section and the
Cuban Permanent Mission to the United Nations. It fixed 1 March 2014 as
the deadline for the closure of the accounts, and the February 14 as the
deadline for deposits.

Understandably, following the protocol, the State Department assists the
Cuban Interests section to find a new bank to resume their functions,
but it is outrageous to learn that the island government rejected the
options and with shameless impudence, like someone going for a walk, and
they hung a sign on their webpage saying "Consular services are
suspended until further notice."

It may be that, although these banking problems have nothing to do with
the half-century dispute, nor with the embargo (or blockade, call it
what you like), starting now it stimulates the conflict that besides
being premeditated, arouses a kind of structured social alarm for Cuban
bigwigs wanting to make into a main priority the fact of feeding these
disagreeable inconveniences that this new situation causes Cuban
citizens, travelers, users of consular services such as renewing or
issuing passports, certifying documents, etc. As well as cultural,
scientific, academic, sports and every other kind of exchange between
Cuba and the United States.

Clearly it's annoying, the racketeering government creates law and
liberty, and continues making us dance to whatever tune they decide to
play; but a bank hold can't paralyze the consular services of a huge
mass of Cuban exiles and immigrants who live in the United States, we
need — forgive the repetition — consular services that aren't only
centered in the consulate in Havana or Washington DC.

We live in the era of the Internet, in a globalized world. This Cuban
community doesn't depend on this consulate, it is it and all the
officials who depend on us. We should not longer fall into the sophistry
of ignoring that Cuba has consulate representatives in Ottawa, Montreal,
Toronto, Mexico, Veracruz, Monterrey and around almost the entire planet.

There is not a single reason, then, that obliges me to support the
sovereignty of a government that proves it wants to use the Cuban family
drama for its own convenience, trying to say it's politics; far from
political, it's a simple banking breakdown. This text shows my absolute
disagreement.

23 February 2014

Source: The Dysfunction of the Racketeering Government / Juan Juan
Almeida | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/the-dysfunction-of-the-racketeering-government-juan-juan-almeida/