MIAMI (WSVN) - Members of the local Cuban exile community voiced their support for and their protest against President Donald Trump’s proposed policies involving Cuba.
The crowd outside Cafe Versailles in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood continued to grow, Friday afternoon, following Trump’s announcement of policy changes between the two countries.
Reactions among customers ranged from approval to distaste. 7News cameras captured spirited discussions between customers throughout the day.
Many applauded the president for his proposed efforts to restrict U.S. cash going to the military conglomerate that controls about 60 percent of the Cuban economy.
“I liked President Obama’s deal with them, but they didn’t give us anything,” said Versailles regular Peter Newman. “It was a very one-sided deal.”
Jose Sanchez, a supporter of the new policy, said the restoration of relations between the U.S. and Cuba did not help residents on the island. “The Obama administration’s policies were disasters for Cubans and freedom,” he said. “All they did was increase repression.”
“The Cuban government took all the property from my family,” said Armando Gutierrez, who fought in the Bay of Pigs.
Speaking to a packed house at the Manuel Artime Theater, also in Little Havana, Trump said he is fulfilling a campaign promise to take a harder stance against the Castro regime.
The Assembly of Cuban Resistance thanked Trump for keeping his campaign promise. “Freedom, human rights first, and [Trump] has announced a policy to support the Cuban people,” said Sylvia Iriondo of Mothers Against Repression.
Supporters of a free Cuba at the cafe said any effort to boost the private sector of the country is a good thing.
“The new measures, what they will do is extract a quid pro quo from the Cuban dictatorship by requiring that they give up something if we give up something,” said Sanchez.
However, not everyone feels that same as Sanchez.
Some said they believe restricting travel to the country may hurt the Cuban people even more, and while they want to help the Cuban people, they don’t believe this is the way to do so.
“I’m not sure it’s the best approach. Personally, I think that the more people that are able to go to Cuba and, somehow, talk to Cubans and change ideas, that’s good for both sides,” said Aliosha Gonzalez, who disagrees with the policy.
“Restrictions just cause frictions,” said Luis Baez, who is visiting from Texas.
It remains unclear if it will help boost the private sector in Cuba and give power to the people as intended.
“I don’t know if it’s gonna work because I’m not an economist, but anything that he takes away from the Cuban government is fine with me,” said Gutierrez. “Money, arms, property, everything.”
Others, on the other hand, argued the change in policy doesn’t do enough to improve the quality of life for the Cuban people. “Not enough, not good enough,” said author Luis Conte-Aguero, “but it’s a beginning, something to start and to develop.”
Trump opponent Nancy Ramirez said there is a lot residents from both countries can learn from each other. “We all have freedom to explore other places and other cultures instead of being limited,” she said. “I feel like the people from there can learn as much as we can learn from them.”
Trump stopped by Versailles back in September, but the president did not visit the restaurant on Friday.
The new policy is scheduled to go into effect in about 90 days.
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