Among 10 companies

facing assets seizures

By KHASHAN POITIER

Guardian Staff Reporter

Havanatur Bahamas Ltd is forced to change the way it does business, in the face of an embargo by the United States Treasury Department for allegedly providing Americans with illegal travel packages to Cuba.

"We are waiting to see what will happen and to have a better view of measures they have taken," Havanatur manager Nelson Sarduy told The Guardian on Tuesday. We have to make adjustments to the present state of our business."

On Monday, the Associated Press reported that the U.S. government intends to freeze the bank accounts and wire services of 10 companies based in seven countries, some of which are involved in the travel business and allegedly linked to Cuba. Countries involved are The Bahamas, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Britain, the Netherlands, and Cuba.

According to international reports, the companies specialize in travel to Cuba and one company deals with forwarding gifts to the communist island. The Cuban government or Cuban nationals supposedly control the companies.

Among the companies is Havanatur Bahamas Ltd., which has operated in Nassau for over 12 years from its East Bay Street location.

Mr. Sarduy said Tuesday that the company provides travel packages to Cuba, but that those services are offered to any nationality.

"They can do whatever they (the U.S. government) want to do. We are not focused in that matter," he explained, adding that, "We do provide tourist packages to Cuba. That's our work, but we provide to everybody.... If there is not a problem with that, then, of course, we will continue to sell tourist packages to Cuba, not just to Americans, but to the Bahamians and all the citizens of the world that come to Nassau."

Havanatur also provides Cubans with tourist packages to Nassau daily, he said.

Asked what was the company's reaction upon hearing the allegation, Mr. Sarduy said it was initially concerned about how it would impact their business.

"We are waiting to see what will happen and to have a better view of measures they have taken. We have to make adjustments to the present state of our business," he said.

The Treasury Department's actions are part of the United States' plan to strengthen travel restrictions to Cuba. Diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Cuba have been severed for over four decades when the U.S. enforced an economic embargo on Cuba. Americans, with few exceptions for journalists, relatives of Cubans, humanitarian travelers; are prohibited from traveling to Cuba.

According to U.S. officials, the companies use the Internet to advertise and sell Cuban tourist to Americans and law enforcement have intercepted several unauthorised travelers who bought tour packages through one of these companies.

Through the initiative, the U.S. government is warning unlicensed travel agencies and Americans who use them to travel to Cuba without authorisation that they too, can be punished.

The Guardian attempted to get a response from Government officials on this issue, but a day full of referrals and 'run-arounds' proved fruitless.

Posted: Wednesday February 11, 2004