Cool It With Cuba, Gov. Rick Scott Tells Florida Ports

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Relations between the United States government and Cuba warmed considerably during President Barack Obama’s time in the White House. That doesn’t mean, however, that the chill between the Sunshine State and its neighbor to the south ended.

Case in point: Gov. Rick Scott announced via Twitter on Wednesday his displeasure with plans for several of the state's ports to do business with Cuba. Port Everglades and the Port of Palm Beach both had intentions of inking deals with the country this week. Port Tampa Bay is also reportedly in discussions with the Cuban government, but doesn’t have a deal set in stone.

Scott issued a series of three Tweets Wednesday making his feelings about doing business with Cuba crystal clear.

“We cannot condone Raul Castro’s oppressive behavior,” one of the Tweets said. “Serious security/human rights concerns.”

Scott went on to say he intends to recommend cutting state funds for ports that work with Cuba in his budget.

“What I don’t believe is in our ports doing business with a ruthless dictator,” the Miami Herald quoted Scott as saying.

See also: America’s ‘Wet Foot, Dry Foot’ Policy Ends For Cubans

While the two South Florida ports were steaming ahead with agreements, Port Tampa Bay's vice president Ed Miyagishima said his port has been taking a more careful approach.

“The port itself is Cuba-ready, in the sense that we’re ready to work with all the entities once the embargo is lifted, but we’re taking a very conservative approach,” the Herald quoted Miyagishima as saying. “We are not signing an MOU with the Cuban government, just because there’s so much ambiguity in Cuba policy right now.”

Scott’s objections to doing business with Cuba came as the first legally shipped cargo from Cuba in more than 50 years arrived at Port Everglades on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Relations between Cuba and the United States warmed considerably under Obama’s administration. Within the past few months, the first commercial airline routes between the two countries in decades have been reopened. Cruise lines are also now making Cuban cities ports of call for American travelers.

Prior to his departure from office, Obama also ended the longstanding wet foot, dry foot policy that allowed Cubans who managed to step foot on American soil to stay in the country. Obama said the move was meant to ensure that Cuban migrants are treated in the same manner that those from other countries are. The Cuban government has agreed to accept the return of Cuban nationals who are removed from the United States.

Whether the policy change will see a reversal under Trump’s administration remains unclear. Raul Castro, however, has said he’d like to continue normalizing relations with the United states, provided Trump respects his country’s sovereignty.

“Cuba and the United States can cooperate and live side by side in a civilized manner, respecting our differences and promoting all that is of benefit for both countries and people,” Reuters quoted Castro as saying.

Whether the Florida Legislature will act on cuts for ports that do business with Cuba remains unclear.

Photo from Gov. Rick Scott’s Facebook page