MIAMI (WSVN) - After Cuba’s national energy grid suffered a major failure, the country’s leader announced he would be accepting an offer of humanitarian aid from the United States, but the news was greeted with skepticism by South Florida’s Cuban American community.
In a statement posted in Spanish on X, Thursday, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel announced the country will not stand in the way of accepting $100 million in humanitarian aid being offered by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It reads:
“If there is truly a willingness on the part of the United States government to provide aid in the amounts it announces and in full conformity with the universally recognized practices for humanitarian assistance, it will encounter no obstacles or ingratitude from Cuba, however inconsistent and paradoxical the offer may seem to a people that the United States government itself punishes collectively in a systematic and ruthless manner.”
Friday morning, Cuban Americans at Café Versailles in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood told 7News that while that sounds like a great deal, they’re just not optimistic that the money will actually make it to the Cuban people.
“The people there, they’re not going to get it,” said John Gonzalez.
“Whether it gets to them, I doubt it. I don’t trust a word out of [the Cubans leaders’] mouth,” said Rick Amaro.
Speaking with 7News on Friday, U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., addressed his constituents’ concerns.
We want to use Catholic charities to distribute this aid. We have used Catholic charities there in Cuba in the past,” he said.
Dispersing the aid through religious organizations is also top of mind for local activists.
“If the relief is given to the Catholic Church and the Protestant churches in Cuba, we support it. If it’s given to the regime, no,” said Ramón Saúl Sánchez, president of the Democracy Movement.
Díaz-Canel’s change of heart follows CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s unannounced trip to Havana, where he met with Raul Castro’s grandson and other Cuban officials.
“This is the same agency, the CIA, that the Cuban government has blamed for decades,” said Patrick Oppman, CNN’s Havana Bureau Chief. “You know, they are the devil in the eyes of the Cuban government, so to accept this visit shows how dire things are.”
The need for relief is more evident now then ever, as the island continues to deal with crippling electricity and fuel shortages.
The country’s massive fuel shortage is happening in the aftermath of the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. Prior to being taken into U.S. custody, Maduro was a primary supplier of oil for the Caribbean island.
Over the months since Maduro’s capture, Cuba has faced numerous blackouts, particularly in the last several weeks, as authorities ration power.
On Thursday, Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said they’ve run out of oil, and with summer beginning, the situation is worsening.
Cubans on the island, like 73-year-old Jose Bueno, said they’re forced to light fires in their backyards just to cook. Many districts in Havana remained without electricity for up to 22 hours at a time this week.
Now, all eyes are on Cuban leaders, as many question whether or not they will accept the U.S.’ demands.
“The way to end the suffering of the Cuban people is for this regime to go. They’re the ones that have caused this suffering. We haven’t had elections in over 65 years. They’ve got political prisoners. Hey, it’s time for you to go,” said Gimenez.
During Thursday’s conversation with the Ratcliffe, Cuban officials reportedly told him they do not feel they pose any threat to U.S. security. They are also not happy with their continued inclusion on the United States’ list of state sponsors of terrorism.
While Díaz-Canel indicated he is ready to accept this aid, he also suggested that lifting the embargo would provide Cuba even more relief.
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