Katrina Victims Abandoned Again

[link to www.ahora.cu]


Cuba: Katrina Victims Abandoned Again

Ahora.cu / 27-03-2006


Cuban Parliamentary President Ricardo Alarcon accused the government of President George W. Bush of abandoning Hurricane Katrina victims once again by preventing them from receiving a donation from Cuba.

In statements to Prensa Latina news agency, Alarcon condemned Washington's attempt to prevent US Katrina victims from receiving Cuba's proceeds from the World Baseball Classic.

Cuba's top legislator recalled that the U.S. government failed to prevent Cuba from taking part in the important tournament, as baseball federations from other countries refused to participate if the Island was deliberately excluded.

Washington tried hard to bar Cuba from participating in the 16-nation competition, using the false pretext that the island's team would make money out of the WBC tournament, which contradicts the blockade rules. In response, Cuba made it clear from the start that the island's team had never competed for money and would donate the proceeds to victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

"The Cuban team took part, ranked second, and of course is entitled to a percentage of total winnings, as are also all the other competitors. However, as agreed, Cuba reiterated its decision to donate those funds to victims in the devastated gulf coast area of New Orleans," Alarcón reiterated.

He pointed to the more than one thousand people who are still missing in New Orleans. "In a clear example of what imperialist dictatorship is all about; the New Orleans victims, instead of getting White House support to find their missing relatives, were first denied Cuba's offer of health assistance and now the much needed resources donated by Havana," he stressed.

"Cuba holds the US government as thieves," said Alarcón and continued, "they steal from us, and they steal from poor Katrina victims in their own land," he stressed.

(From Radio Habana Cuba)