By Lilian Zac in Miami. Thursday, 12 July, 2001, 12:43 GMT
13:43 UK. BBC News Online
It may have been a fainting episode under the hot summer sun in Havana for
the Cuban President Fidel Castro, but for many people in the Cuban-American
community in Florida it marked the beginning of the end of Mr Castro's control
of the island.
As their hopes of Mr Castro's downfall by popular revolt fade away, the
leaders of the Cuban exiles place their hopes on the failing health of the Cuban
leader.
The image - repeated again and again in the Miami media - of Mr Castro
passing out in front of a huge crowd raised the hopes of the Cuban exiles.
Where the Bay of Pigs, the CIA, and the trade embargo have failed, maybe
nature will succeed.
Meetings were scheduled in frenzied anticipation to review the old plans on
how to tackle the public and political situation in the event of Mr Castro's
death.
The short-term plans by the Miami authorities and the Cuban-American leaders
aim to manage the anticipated celebrations and avoid unrest.
Immigration is another issue that worries authorities and exiles alike.
On the one hand, many in the Unites States fear a massive exodus from the
Caribbean island towards the Florida coast.
Americans have fresh memories of the Mariel boatlift in 1980, when Mr Castro
allowed thousands of people to leave the island.
On the other hand, many exiles believe that after Mr Castro is gone, they
will automatically be able to return to Cuba - and hope they will be able to
renew acquaintances with relatives and reclaim property they left behind after
the revolution.
The US Coast Guard is expected to try to stop the flow of boats in both
directions - and if necessary request help from the US Navy.
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service is likely to move promptly to
enforce immigration laws, allowing some people to enter the US but also
deporting many others.
Cuban-Americans are hoping to be able to influence the post-Castro
transition - even though it is as yet unclear what kind of regime will follow.
They plan to revitalise their contacts with people on the island and send
food supplies if the situation deteriorates drastically in Cuba.
One of the suggestions is to provide rice and beans in boxes labelled with
political messages.
The Cuban-American community is probably the most powerful Hispanic
community in the United States, even though it is not the largest.
It has been unified by its opposition to Mr Castro and his regime. Many
observers say that after the initial celebrations, the death of the Cuban
president could trigger internal feuds and a rift with Washington.
For the moment, though, any talk of future divisions is hushed, as the Cuban
exiles hold their breath, waiting for Mr Castro to breathe his last. | 
