Mayor Ray Nagin's surprise trip to Cuba has sparked criticism. The Mayor and a city delegation plan to meet with Cuba's Defense Committee over the next week, and they're hoping to exchange valuable lessons in disaster management. At least one critic, though, doubts that will really happen.
It wasn't until after Mayor Nagin and a city delegation left for Cuba early Friday morning that the city released a statement announcing the trip. The Mayor's spokesperson elaborated later, in a follow up email. Ceeon Quiett said, ".. key areas are preparing for emergencies, evacuation and medical facilities."
Besides Mayor Nagin, Louisiana House Speaker Pro Tem Karen Carter Peterson is on the trip, City Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, New Orleans Chief Adminstrative Officer Brenda Hatfield, Police Superintendent Warren Riley, Fire Superintendent Charles Parent, EMS Dir. Jullette Saussy, Lt. Col. Jerry Sneed, Airport Chairman Dan Packard and Cesar Burgos, head of the RTA are also there along with others the city did not name in a press release.
The Mayor will return from Cuba Thursday, October 22nd. The trip costs about $2,400 per person, totalling $24,000. A cost the city said it's covering for city officials since it's considered work in their official capacity. However, some leaders in the local Cuban American community said Friday it's a waste of taxpayer dollars.
"There must be some sort of an embargo on common sense in the Mayor's office," said George Fowler, a Cuban American who's also the Vice President of the Cuban American National Foundation, the largest Cuban exile foundation in the world.
He said, "we have very little to learn from Castro. It is a country that is embargoed by our own policies because it's been run by a dictator for 50 years. It is also one of four countries that our state department has declared to be a state sponsor of terrorism."
While various news articles tout Cuba's success in hurricane preparedness, Fowler said it's communist propaganda, and he doesn't buy the delegation's explanation that New Orleans can learn valuable lessons in disaster readiness from Cuba.
Councilman Arnie Fielkow told Fox 8 he was not invited, but suggests the trip could bring New Orleans an economic payoff down the road. Fielkow said, "if and when the embargo is lifted, we should be ready for it. The historical relationship between New Orleans and Cuba is very strong. Cuba was our largest trading partner right before Castro came into power, and from my perspective, an economic perspective, I want to make sure that the city of New Orleans is at the forefront of opportunity when the federal law is changed."
Quiett told Fox 8 in an email the Mayor has requested that President Obama approve a designation for Louis Armstrong International Airport to fly charter flights to Cuba. She said if the request is approved, it could have a positive impact on economic development and create jobs.
