In Miami, the Cuban-American National Chamber of Commerce (CANCC) held its fourth meeting, drawing together some of Florida's wealthiest Cuban-American families. These influential exiles, with names like Bacardi and Babun, assembled at the residence of a well-known plastic surgeon to discuss the future of Cuba. They are anticipating what they believe will be an imminent change in regime.
Juan Omar Sixto, who presides over the CANCC, made it clear that the group is prepared to dive into business in Cuba as soon as the current regime collapses. Sixto, a real estate developer who left Cuba as a teenager, is leading efforts to plan for a post-Communist Cuba. The CANCC has already put forward proposals for establishing a Cuban Stock Exchange and has created committees to tackle issues like energy infrastructure and food security.
While optimism abounds in Miami, skepticism is the mood in Cuba. The island's leadership, under Miguel Díaz-Canel, has recently rolled out 176 measures aimed at economic liberalization, which critics in Miami see as mere window dressing. These reforms include removing caps on the number of workers private businesses can hire and allowing Cuban Americans to own multiple businesses. Nonetheless, the attendees at the CANCC meeting dismissed these changes as inadequate and are unwilling to invest while the current government stays in power.
Some analysts warn that the Cuban Americans' plans might be premature. Mike Bustamante, a history professor at the University of Miami, points out that while the Trump administration's policies have fueled expectations for change, the focus on other global issues, like the Iran conflict, makes further escalation unlikely. The existing sanctions have already hit Cuba's oil supply hard, but Bustamante argues they haven't yet sparked a political transformation.
The Cuban government has not officially responded to the CANCC's activities, but historically, exile groups like these have faced fierce resistance from Cuban revolutionaries. These groups are often viewed as relics from a past era, seeking to reclaim lands and properties nationalized under Fidel Castro's rule.
Hugo Orizondo, a Cuban-American agricultural expert, recognizes the challenges but also sees potential in Cuba's agricultural land. He believes that foreign investment could bring the technology and capital necessary to enhance agricultural productivity and lessen reliance on food imports.
Land ownership remains a hot-button issue. Sixto's father lost properties in Cuba's Pinar del Rio province during the revolution, and Sixto is now seeking compensation for these losses. While he claims he has no intention of displacing current residents, he does want restitution for the nationalized land.
The Cuban government portrays these claims as the complaints of a corrupt elite who once profited from exploitative labor practices. Yet, exile organizations, such as the National Association of Sugar Mill Owners of Cuba, led by Nicolás Gutiérrez, are resolute in their aim to reclaim and repurpose these lands for modern uses like ethanol production or solar energy.
As the CANCC members laid out their plans, Cuba experienced its sixth nationwide blackout of the year, underscoring the stark divide between the dreams in Miami and the harsh realities in Cuba. While the exiles dream of revitalizing industries with their wealth and connections, ordinary Cubans continue to face severe shortages in essentials such as food, water, and medicine.
The estimated cost to repair Cuba's crumbling electrical grid alone is between $8 billion and $10 billion. Despite the ambitious plans of the Miami diaspora, many Cubans simply hope for a future where daily life becomes a bit more manageable.
