Beyonce and Jay-Z's Cuba trip sanctioned by the US

[Judi Lynn]

Source: South China Morning Post

Beyonce and Jay-Z's Cuba trip sanctioned by the US
Wednesday, 10 April, 2013 [Updated: 05:00]

visit by American pop star Beyonce and rapper husband Jay-Z to Havana last week was a cultural trip that was fully licensed by the US Treasury Department, a source familiar with the itinerary said.

The long-standing US trade embargo against Cuba prevents most Americans from travelling to the communist-led island without a licence granted by the US government.

Three Cuban-American members of Congress, all Republicans from Miami and supporters of a firm stance on Cuba, had asked the Treasury Department for information about what type of licence the couple obtained for their trip.

Beyonce and Jay-Z celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in Havana and were greeted by big crowds as they strolled through the Cuban capital. The music industry power couple were instantly recognised as celebrities despite the long ideological conflict that separates the two countries.

The source said the trip included visits with Cuban artists and musicians, as well as several nightclubs where live music was performed, and some of the city's best privately run restaurants, known as paladares.

Read more: http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1210939/beyonce-and-jay-zs-cuba-trip-sanctioned-us

[John2]

1. You have to ask the question if

their visit had anything to do with race and the big fuss about it from certain Republican politicians? That is why I'm so angry about the fuss. Then you consider what these people do to oppress certain voting rights in this country. They have just gotten under my skin.

[In_The_Wind]

6. Just

[Malik Agar]

2. If they were common citizens they wouldn't have gotten to go...

But this really begs the question: Why the fuck are we still embargoing Cuba?

[riverbendviewgal]

3. Many americans go to cuba via Canada or Mexico

That is a known fact.

[NYtoBush-Drop Dead]

5. EXACTLY

If you want to see Repug heads explode, dump the 60 year old Embargo!!!! Can he do it by Executive order?

[Malik Agar]

8. I don't think Republican/ Democrat politicians really care about the embargo...

The only reason they don't repeal it is because they are scared of losing the Florida/Cuban voters.

[Pterodactyl]

4. It must be nice to be part of the 1%.

[avebury]

7. I am really considering retiring

overseas (hopefully someplace that I could qualify for dual citizenship). I figure if I can get dual citizenship then I can use the my passport from the other country to go to Cuba - to heck with the embargo). Costa Rica is looking good.

It has been over 50 years since Castro took control, people need to get over it and move on. Trade embargo and travel restrictions need to be lifted. The hoopla on Beyonce and Jay-Z going to Cuba just highlights the idiocy of US policy where Cuba is concerned.

[Sgent]

9. Why bother with dual citizenship?

Cuba has no problem admitting someone with a US passport -- they won't even stamp it.

The problem is coming back. If US Immigration discovers you've been to Cuba w/o permission you can go to prison.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. My understanding is the rules have been relaxed to allow Americans with family to visit.

My boyfriend's co-worker visited a couple years ago. All legit.


I do have a couple friends that go through Mexico.

One friend has both US and Irish passports so he doesn't have to worry about the stamp issue.

Booking the flight from Mexico to Cuba can be a challenge for an American. In the past, he had a friend in Ireland book it with his credit card. The last trip he went down without a reservation for the Cuba flight and had to bribe the Mexican airport agent like $30 bucks. Before the bribe, the flights to Cuba were booked solid for a week. After the nominal cash fee, a seat opened up.

[avebury]

11. Not if you use your other passport and enter and exit

Cuba from another country.


Edit to add: If you enter and exit Cuba as a citizen of another country I hardly see how the US get ding you for it.

[Judi Lynn]

12. I've heard from other people who were considering moving to Cuba after retirement,

having been to Cuba, and deciding it would be perfect, and starting to look into it, that the United States Government WILL NOT send your Social Security checks to you there. I had never heard about this, and was amazed the USG would take the hostilities this far. Apparently it's part of the embargo, and the travel ban which demands NO U.S. American will be allowed to spend a dime in Cuba because to do so would be to financially contribute to the socialist system they have in place there, and that system has been declared to be "the enemy!"

Here's an example of how far-reaching and complete that travel ban goes, which was discussed among posters at the US/Cuba relations message board at CNN around 2000. Their message board system has been dismantled since then.

~snip~
Kip (73) and Patrick (58) Taylor of Michigan sailed to Cuba in 1996. Knowing that U.S. law prohibited spending money in Cuba, the Taylors stocked their sailboat with enough provisions to last for the duration of their three-month trip. While sailing back to Florida, their boat was caught in a storm and struck by lightning, destroying their mast. After being rescued by the Cuban Coast Guard, the boat was towed back to Cuba. When the Taylors applied to the U.S. Treasury Department for permission to repair it, they were told to abandon their boat and leave their two dogs in Cuba. After weeks of attempting to negotiate, and unwilling to leave behind their dogs and a sailboat worth more than the costs of repairs, the Taylors fixed their boat mostly by themselves and with the help of visiting sailors who donated parts.

Upon their return to the U.S., the Taylors faced a civil charges from OFAC for disclosing that they gave a band-aid to a Cuban cook who had hurt his finger. They were charged with providing "nursing services to a Cuban national," which is forbidden under the embargo. For the next four and a half years, the Taylors, who are on a fixed income, were unsuccessful in requesting a hearing or a reduction of the penalty. In 2001, the government froze Patrick Taylor's tax refund, which he needed to pay for urgent medical care, and applied it to his fine. In 2003, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed suit claiming that the Taylors were unfairly penalized under the Cuba embargo regulations. Lawyers also say the two were not informed of their Fifth Amendment rights which protect them from self incrimination. The suit was eventually settled.

More:
http://www.righttotraveltocuba.org/defending/victories_vs_travel_ban

[avebury]

13. The US attitude towards Cuba is totally absurd.

If you look at the history of American intervention in Central and South America I think that our government just can't stand it when we don't get our own way. It is totally childish.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Jay-Z references Cuba trip in song 'Open Letter'

Jay-Z references Cuba trip in song 'Open Letter'
Thursday, April 11, 2013
By: Associated Press

NEW YORK — Jay-Z is defending his recent trip to Cuba in a new song.

The rapper released "Open Letter" Thursday after two Florida Republican lawmakers critical of the trip questioned if the rapper's visit to Havana with wife Beyonce, which coincided with their fifth wedding anniversary, was officially licensed.

On the song, Jay-Z talks about his distaste for politicians and repeats the refrain, "Y'all gon' learn today."
Jay-Z raps: "Want to give me jail time and a fine? Fine, let me commit a real crime."

U.S. Treasury officials said Tuesday the couple's trip was licensed as an educational exchange after Cuban-American U.S. Reps Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart expressed concerns about the trip and wanted to know if it was licensed.

Jay-Z and Beyonce are avid supporters of President Barack Obama. Jay-Z raps in his song, "Obama said, 'Chill, you gon' get me impeached, you don't need this (expletive) anyway, chill with me on the beach."

More:
http://bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/music_news/2013/04/jay_z_references_cuba_trip_in_song_open_letter