U.S. Government defends $3.4 million grant to CANF

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cP4WBk2gbZY/Tu3f4Shdn3I/AAAAAAAAAaE/-qCR96h5WNE/s1600/canf.png

Earlier this year, USAID awarded the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba, an arm of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF), a $3.4 million grant to promote democracy in Cuba. USAID’s decision raised quite a few eyebrows since CANF is for one, a political organization, and two, has little to no experience carrying out such projects in Cuba. They are, however, quite chummy with the Obama administration. An administration that has on more than a few occasions shown its willingness to reward its supporters with cash.

Once again, an old adage comes to mind: It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

Via The Miami Herald:

U.S. defends $3.4M grant to Cuba program

A grant to a Miami nonprofit that supports democracy in Cuba ignited critics who argue the money was given to reward Obama’s cronies.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is strongly rejecting complaints of political favoritism in its grant of $3.4 million to a human rights group closely linked to the Cuban American National Foundation.

USAID this summer approved the three-year grant to the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC), a Miami nonprofit created by CANF members, to help support civil society and democracy on the communist-ruled island.

News of the grant drew complaints from critics who allege that FHRC has little experience with such grants and point to the warm relations between CANF, the premier exile organization, and the Obama administration.

South Florida Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart complained last week that U.S. funds for democracy programs in Cuba “should be provided only to organizations with strong experience and proven track records” on the island.

“It would be a disgrace if the Obama administration broke with tradition and used a penny of that critical funding to reward political cronies,” Diaz Balart added in a statement emailed.

1 thought on “U.S. Government defends $3.4 million grant to CANF”

  1. CANF, the same CANF that Jorgito Mas Santos destroyed? The same CANF that stopped being an important factor in Cuba-Cuban American politics a long time ago, especially since they lost their mandate and no longer speak for anyone, except for themselves: that is to say, their 50,000+ members [again thanks for Jorgito Mas Santos].

    Interesting. I guess that Obama wants his cake and he wants to eat it too. He probably figures, I’ll give CANF money and this will make me look good in exile circles [forget that I’m appeasing castro and pouring money into that regime], theses Cubans are so stupid that they’ll vote for me based on this grant.

Comments are closed.