Trump Freezes Grants to Cuban Media that Promote Democracy
By Circles Robinson
HAVANA TIMES – In the wave of chaos created by Donald Trump’s freezing of all government agency internal and foreign aid programs for 90 days, Cuban media persecuted by the island’s government are part of the casualties. The action must have the Cuban Communist Party celebrating with the prospect of a debilitated independent online media, in the information battle with their monopoly of state media.
One of the agencies temporarily blocked from making approved fund disbursements is USAID, whose democracy promotion programs have been a lifeline to numerous media outlets from Cuba and a host of other nations living under dictatorships.
(Notwithstanding, in past decades, USAID’s role in maintaining dictatorships in numerous countries when they were considered allies of US economic interests, is well documented.)
On Tuesday a federal judge in Washington D.C. blocked the sudden freezing measure for a week to analyze the action and its implications. However, the ball is already rolling, and immediate cutbacks of personnel and programs were already underway for several media and other projects and groups.
The pause in funding also affects assistance to refugees and students of countries like Cuba, suffering the boot of dictatorship in their countries.
While Havana Times has never received any funding from the US or other governments, NGOs or foundations, we are deeply concerned with the effect on other Cuba focused media that have much larger operations and audiences and face the prospect of severe cutbacks.