City, port officials join Cuba trip

City, port officials join Cuba trip
By TED JACKOVICS
tjackovics@tampatrib.com
Published: July 14, 2009

TAMPA - Tampa Councilwoman Mary Mulhern and Tampa Port Authority
Commissioner Carl Lindell will join about two dozen businesspeople on a
fact-finding trip to Cuba, hoping to lay the groundwork for Tampa-area
trade once U.S.-Cuba relations improve.

The group is scheduled to fly from Miami to Havana on Friday and return
July 22, with a full itinerary of meetings Friday, Monday and July 21.

Lindell and the businesspeople will pay their own expenses. Mulhern will
use her own money beyond about $1,380 for hotel, airfare and travel visa
expenses drawn from her city council member discretionary account.

"This trip is for the benefit of my constituents," Mulhern said. "It
involves economic development possibilities, trade and jobs."

The port authority declined to send a delegation to Cuba when Lindell
floated the idea in February, shortly after President Barack Obama took
office and eased travel restrictions on Cuban-Americans.

Cuba policy remains a sensitive political issue, although opposition to
restoring relations appears to have declined over the years, with trade
proponents pointing to U.S. trade and travel with Vietnam.

"One reason I'm going is that in a democracy you can't wait for
politicians to do things," said Lindell, a local developer and former
auto dealership owner.

"It is important we heighten awareness," he said. "We need to send a
message to elected officials that maybe it's time they take another look
at changing relations with Cuba."

City, port officials join Cuba trip (14 July 2009)
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jul/14/sp-city-port-officials-join-cuba-trip/