(Host) Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie says the time has come for the United States to lift its trade embargo and its travel restrictions with Cuba. Dubie traveled to Cuba in April as part of Cuban humanitarian program and returned with several letters of intent to have the Cuban government purchase Vermont food products such as skim milk powder and apples.
Speaking Tuesday night on VPR’s Switchboard program, Dubie said a new approach is needed because the embargo policies of the last 43 years have not been successful in resolving the differences between Cuba and the United States:
(Dubie) “From Manchester to Burlington is further away from the United States to Cuba – less than 90 miles. Cuba’s our neighbor. We really should figure out how to enhance the relationship with our neighbors first. So yeah I think it’s time to take a look at the travel restrictions between Cuba and the United States. There are some issues that we need to talk about – human rights issues, social justice issues – that would be a part of that conversation.”
(Host) Dubie says he hopes to return to Cuba this fall to deliver 100 Vermont heifers as part of an effort to help rebuild the Cuban dairy industry.