By Steve Piacente. Of The Post and Courier staff. Charleston.net. Tuesday, June 6, 2000
WASHINGTON - Rep. Jim Clyburn said Monday that his recent trip to Cuba, which included a long meeting with President Fidel Castro, convinced him that Congress should eliminate a U.S. embargo on food and medicine to the island nation.
"In almost 40 years, it has not worked," Clyburn said at a press conference in Columbia. "And there's nothing to indicate Castro's going anywhere now."
Clyburn, D-S.C., said fairness dictates that Cuba be treated the same as China, which appears on the verge of winning normalized trade relations with the U.S. despite concern over human rights issues.
One reason Clyburn said he voted against upgrading China's trading status was because Cuba was not given the same consideration.
"The best way to put more democracy in Cuba is the way we're doing it in China," he said. "I will be an active proponent."
Relaxing an embargo that dates back to the Kennedy administration also would help South Carolina farmers by opening new markets, plus boost tourism for both Cuba and the United States, Clyburn said.
Clyburn led a three-member delegation to Cuba in his role as chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. He and Democratic Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York and Bennie Thompson of Mississippi met with government officials and toured medical facilities, schools, agriculture cooperatives,
churches and historical and cultural sites.
During the five-day visit, Clyburn said he ran into colleagues from Arkansas, as well as an official from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He concluded that forward-thinking Americans are already seeking out investment opportunities.
"It seems to me that South Carolina and the 6th Congressional District cannot get left out of this new market," he said.
Clyburn said that despite evidence that life in Cuba is hard, he still believes he was correct when he said young Elian Gonzalez should be with his father in Cuba rather than his relatives in Miami.
"The issue is not whether Elian would be better off here," but whether the child was old enough to determine his own future, Clyburn said.
Clyburn also said he was impressed with Castro during a three-hour meeting. Castro is "very reflective," and a "policy wonk" with "a great sense of history and a great sense of self," Clyburn said. "I was really pleased with his whole sense of history."
Most compelling during the trip were visits to children's hospitals where Clyburn said U.S. equipment and supplies could make a significant difference. "They don't have in Cuba anything like what we have here," he said.
While opposition to easing the embargo can be expected from anti-Castro lawmakers such as Republicans Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart of South Florida, Clyburn won't have to work hard to win the support of Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C.
The Charleston Republican has already introduced his own bill to allow travel between the United States and Cuba.
Like Clyburn, Sanford believes "engagement with Cuba now will plant the seed for a democratic government following Castro's death."
Steve Piacente covers Washington. Contact him at 301-340-8646 or stevep7012@aol.com |