(credit: wikipedia)  The Western Union Company is an American worldwide financial services and communications company.

By Gary  Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

Giant money transfer service Western Union is suspending Dollar remittances to Cuba following crippling economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. Trump administration. The Cuban government said the 407 Western Union payment offices in the Caribbean nation will cease operations as of Thursday November 26. 

“Today we informed our customers they have limited time to send money to their loved ones from the U.S. to Cuba, due to a new U.S. Government rule that will take effect on November 26, 2020. We have been working around the clock to explore every possible option to keep our services open between the U.S. and Cuba as we recognize this is a vital channel for our customers. The U.S. Government published the new rule on October 27, 2020, and provided 30 days for technical implementation of the new restrictions. Unfortunately, we have not found a solution in the limited time frame.”

-Western Union statement 

The closures will affect millions of people who depend on money sent by relatives for daily expenses if no alternatives are found.  In Cuba, where the average monthly salary is about $35, remittances from families in the U.S. are a vital lifeline particularly amid the  COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the Cuban economy.   In June, the U.S. announced the addition of seven new subentities including  financial institution FINCIMEX  to the Cuba Restricted List.  FINCIMEX processes much of the remittance money, billions of dollars a year that accounts for a sizable portion of the Cuban economy. 

“For more than 20 years, Western Union has been moving money to Cuba on behalf of our customers, to family and loved ones to pay for food, rent, and other expenses including micro-businesses. We sincerely regret this situation and its impact on our customers.”

-Western Union 

• REFUNDS: If your money transfer transaction to Cuba is not picked up by your receiver you can request a refund at any time. You will be refunded in full through your original payment method, according to Western Union

8 GROUPS DENOUNCE CUBA REMITTANCE RESTRICTIONS

The following organizations denounce the Trump administration’s sanctions on Cuba remittances, which have resulted in Western Union, Cuba’s main remittance sender, announcing the closure of its Cuba operations:  The Center for Democracy in the Americas, Cuba Educational Travel, Cuba Study Group, Engage Cuba, Latin America Working Group, National Council of Churches, Oxfam America, the Washington Office on Latin America.

“We condemn the Trump administration’s sanctions on remittances to Cuba, which has led to the imminent shutdown of Western Union’s operations in Cuba and could soon result in the closure of all formal remittance channels. This inhumane policy effectively cuts off a lifeline for the Cuban people as they face a pandemic and an economic crisis, and limits Cuban Americans’ ability to support their loved ones on the island.  This regulation is the latest in the Trump administration’s systematic attack on remittances to Cuba which have accomplished little other than stirring fear, anxiety, and uncertainty in the Cuban and Cuban American communities on both sides of the Florida.”

U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said at that the time that,  in particular, the addition of financial institution FINCIMEX to the Cuba Restricted List  “will help address the regime’s attempts to control the flow of hard currency that belongs to the Cuban people.”  Pompeo said “the bulk of Cuba’s tourism industry is owned and operated by the Cuban military.” Western Union has monopolized the cash reception service in Cuba  since 2016 through a partnership with Fincimex, linked to the military conglomerate GAESA.