Better late than even later.
Plaudits to City Council for showing common sense and enlightened self-interest by formally agreeing (5-0) to be the catalyst for bringing together local and national officials to brainstorm on a plan for improving Tampa-Cuban relations. Imagine, pursuing any and all opportunities for trade during a recession! But it’s a start, however belated.
The good news is that an all-call will go out to key players: from Mayor Pam Iorio to representatives of the Hillsborough County Commission, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, the Tampa Port Authority and Tampa-area congressional delegation. The flip side: these are the same players who have been initiative-challenged forever on this subject. At best, settling for incremental progress, such as pushing — without result yet — for direct Tampa-to-Havana flights.
Moreover, there is the ever-possible scenario that anything to do with Cuba — an incongruous relic of American Cold War foreign policy — is still an intimidating, political hot potato to some. And consequently these well-intentioned plans could easily get “committeed” to death.
Steve Michelini, the managing director of Tampa’s World Trade Center, was direct in what this city’s agenda should be: “Tampa must be more active and more aggressive in becoming a trading partner with Cuba.” Added well-connected Tampa gadfly Al Fox: “This is a local issue. Cuba is open. We’re shutting ourselves out.”
Indeed, although the counterproductive federal embargo is now in its 48th year, U.S. law does permit exports of agricultural products and medicines as well as medical and telecommunications equipment to Cuba.
And while officials gather and work on a plan that could benefit the state, the region, the port and the city, look who’s actually going to Cuba this month.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, it will be Georgia Gov. Sonny Purdue. He’ll be leading his state’s trade delegation. The free-market Republican wants a trade upgrade from Georgia’s approximately $42.5 million in farm-product exports (mostly frozen chicken) to Cuba.
“Georgia is strategically located to Cuba with Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and both of our ports,” pointed out Heidi Green, deputy commissioner for global commerce with the Georgia Department of Economic Development. She makes an excellent point. Why wouldn’t Florida’s northern neighbor want to take advantage of its “strategic location?” Who wouldn’t?