Press Releases

Following President Obama’s announcement to visit Cuba via twitter, today, Virgin Islands Congresswoman issued the following Statement:

“While I have been supportive of the President renewing relations with Cuba in the past, and support the implications of his historic visit to the future development of the island, I want to remind the Administration that there are American territories in the region with more pressing needs.

Over the past several months, I have continued to press this issue with President Obama, his Cabinet members and with my colleagues in Congress, through letters, speeches on the House floor and in sidebar discussions. At each juncture, I remind them of the Constitutional responsibility of Congress to the well-being of the territory and of all of its citizens.

Renewed diplomatic and economic relations with Cuba present real challenges to the territory, specifically, in competition for U.S. tourism dollars and as a potential diversion of port and manufacturing opportunities in the Caribbean.

In my discussions with the Obama Administration and fellow lawmakers I have emphasized the need for the United States to prioritize the interests of its own island territories above the interest of diplomatic relations with Cuba.

 I view it unwise and irresponsible to fully embrace a changing dynamic with Cuba in the absence of a careful and deliberate recognition of the economic impacts on our community and on the future of the people of the territory.

Investments in Virgin Islands capital improvements for basic infrastructure needs, such as roads, ports, schools and hospitals, must be a priority addressed by Congress in accordance with its Constitutional obligation above any potential aid to the Cuban government."

###