Peace Convoy to Cuba?

Bradenton Herald

Monday, Jan. 12, 2009

Key West sending convoy to Cuba?

Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson says the time is right to extend an olive branch to Cuba, and says he’s working with people in Key West who are close to president-elect Barack Obama to see if representatives from Key West can’t make an olive-branch-carrying trip to Havana this spring.

“I want to establish a diplomatic convoy to go over,” McPherson told the Keynoter on Friday, describing that convoy as a mix of city officials, community leaders and other residents.

“It’s a new day,” said McPherson, adding that although he doesn’t share many of Obama’s political beliefs, he is in sympathy with the position on Cuba that the soon-to-be president voiced on the campaign trail.

And McPherson says the City of Key West is in the best spot to represent the U.S. diplomatically.

“We are hoping to have a formal conversation before the end of February. That’s our goal. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be met. But that’s our goal,” McPherson said.

“We’re in a perfect position to act,” he says.

McPherson says he first began talking to people in Key West about going to Cuba at the time of the hurricanes in the late summer and fall. The Keys were spared in the 2008 hurricane season, while some of the storms traveled over the spine of Cuba, causing massive destruction.

“We should have been the individuals ready to send them aid,” says McPherson, noting that he tried to “get some movement through Bush” but was unsuccessful.

McPherson says he’s been working on the plan for a convoy to Cuba with residents of Key West who enjoy a friendship with the Obamas. But he declined to share names of those involved, calling them “very private” people.