USAID $ - Rags and riches on Cuba money trail

[flamingdem]

http://nyhavanablogging.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/rags-and-riches-on-cuba-money-trail/

-- snip


The Florida NGOs run by Cuban exiles disclosed more detail in their spending reports than their Washington, D.C., counterparts.
The Florida organizations also spent less money. One Cuban exile who manages a USAID democracy program earned less than $40,000 per year. Such contractors likely funnel a larger share of their support to Cuba than their Beltway cousins.
Many questions remain about democracy program spending. Beltway NGOs are particularly stingy with details, which is ironic since some spend tax dollars to promote openness and accountability outside the United States.
Some NGO chiefs earn huge salaries. The president of International Relief and Development makes more than Barack Obama. His wife also works at IRD. The couple’s total take in 2011: $1,040,171.
Taxpayers foot the bill for most of these salaries, yet NGO bosses don’t face the same scrutiny as public officials.

See below for additional details on 2011 expenses that USAID’s current partners reported in 2012.

[Demeter]

1. Surprise! Surprise!

For some, it's a chance to help their fellows.

For others, it's a chance to feed out of the public trough.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Absolutely unbearable. Do you recall the event serveral years ago, when supplies to "dissidents"

in Cuba being shipped to them from the U.S. Cuba-American organization in the U.S. were found to include leather coats, cashmere sweaters, Godiva chocolates, crab meat, even chain saws, etc., etc., etc.?

Radio/TV Marti, programmed, staffed, operated by Florida Cuban Americans costing the U.S. taxpayers over $40,000,000.00 per YEAR? There are so many additional ways to stick it to the US for their paid holiday here, it should have ended so very, very long ago.

Inconceivable greedy, and talk about a sense of entitlement! My God. The attitude that goes with this rip-off.