- Title: Castro's death prompts several days of celebration in Miami
- Date: 27th November 2016
- Summary: MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 27, 2016) (REUTERS) CARS HONKING AS PEOPLE WAVE FLAGS OUTSIDE VERSAILLES MEN SHOUTING, "LONG LIVE A FREE CUBA" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ORIGINALLY FROM SANTIAGO DE CUBA, JORGE RODRIGUEZ, SAYING: "Although many think he (Obama) ceded too much, now we will see what they will give up because Trump is a negotiator more than a politician and he knows how to negotiate with delinquents and they (Cuban government) are delinquents." WOMAN SERVING COFFEE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MIAMI PSYCHOLOGIST, MAYRA MIRO, SAYING: "First, we hope he (Trump) will not make the relations towards unity as the current President Obama when there was no type of change in Cuba's system. There are still political prisoners in jail, there was no change in that. The oppression is still being maintained. President Obama did not do anything for liberty in Cuba, which will not happen as long as Communism exists in Cuba." BABY WEARING CUBAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ELIANI SALAZAR CARRYING THREE MONTH OLD BABY CHRIS AND WHOSE FAMILY REMAINS IN CUBA "Hopefully because those people need a lot." WOMAN HOLDING SIGN READING, "We don't celebrate death, we celebrate freedom." PEOPLE WAVING FLAGS OUTSIDE VERSAILLES RESTAURANT PEOPLE CHANTING: "He's gone!" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN AMERICAN, WILBERT PEREZ, SAYING: "Trump has to do what the Cubans want. Give liberty to the Cubans. Get the Castros out of there taking things that are not theirs. Cuba needs to be free. And Trump is the one that is going to help us. Long live Trump! He's, He's gone!" PEOPLE WAVING FLAGS, CARS HONKING
- Embargoed: 12th December 2016 18:55
- Keywords: Castro Miami Versailles celebration
- Location: MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
- City: MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015A7Z3NR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Cuban-Americans celebrations over the passing of Cuban leader Fidel Castro moved into a second day on Sunday (November 27), near the Versailles restaurant in Miami, a famed spot for exiled Cubans.
Many honked horns while others cheered and danced to mark the Cuban leader's passing. Despite the festivities, questions loom about the future of U.S.-Cuban relations once President Barack Obama's term ends and President-elect Donald Trump assumes the office.
Some believe Obama ceded too much to Havana and are eager to see how his successor handles relations with the island nation.
"Trump is a negotiator more than a politician and he knows how to negotiate with delinquents and they (Cuban government) are delinquents," Jorge Rodriguez, who originally came from Santiago de Cuba, said.
The death of "El Comandante" has added to worries among some Cuban-Americans that Trump will slam the door shut on nascent trade and travel ties, undoing two years of detente between the estranged neighbors.
Trump has struck a very different tone from Obama, who reached an agreement two years ago with Castro's younger brother President Raul Castro to end half a century of hostilities.
Late in his election campaign, Trump sought to reassure the Cuban-American vote in Florida that he was firm in his opposition to the Castros, and pledged that, if elected, he would close down the newly re-opened U.S. embassy in Havana.
Wilbert Perez, a Cuban American, called on Trump to live up those promises.
"Trump has to do what the Cubans want. Give liberty to the Cubans. Get the Castros out of there, taking things that are not theirs. Cuba needs to be free. And Trump is the one that is going to help us. Long live Trump!"
During the primaries, Trump said he thought restoring diplomatic ties with Cuba was fine, but that Obama ought to have cut a better deal.
Outside Versailles on Sunday, Miami psychologist Mayra Miro criticized Obama's policies and looked to Trump to do more for Cubans on the island.
"First, we hope he (Trump) will not make the relations towards unity as the current President Obama when there was no type of change in Cuba's system. There are still political prisoners in jail, there was no change in that. The oppression is still being maintained. President Obama did not do anything for liberty in Cuba, which will not happen as long as Communism exists in Cuba."
Having won the presidency, it is hard to know what Trump's approach to Cuba will be.
Obama did not succeed in convincing Congress to lift the United States' tough economic embargo on Cuba, but he personally opposed the sanctions and used executive action to allow more contact and commerce.
The first U.S. commercial flight to Havana in about half a century is due to arrive on Monday (November 28).
Trump could easily review such measures. He has not been clear on his position, but has included Mauricio Claver-Carone, a leading advocate for maintaining a tough economic embargo, in his transition team.
Without giving any specifics, Trump said on Saturday (November 27) that his administration would "do all it can" once he takes office on Jan. 20 to help increase freedom and prosperity for Cuban people after the death Castro. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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