Cuban influencer and government critic Alexander Otaola expressed his disapproval on Sunday of the U.S. government's decision to route humanitarian assistance for victims of Hurricane Melissa in Cuba through the Catholic Church. He argued that this approach could inadvertently aid the communist regime.
In a Facebook post, Otaola remarked, “Sending aid to the Cuban people through the Catholic Church is akin to giving it to the Department of Religious Affairs of the Communist Party. Money in hand. We must avoid repeating past mistakes. #lostaid U.S. Department of State.”
The post sparked a heated debate on social media, with hundreds of comments divided between those who supported his viewpoint and others who accused him of “politicizing” humanitarian relief.
Some users echoed Otaola's sentiment, claiming that “the Catholic Church in Cuba is under regime control” and insisting that “aid should be delivered directly to the people.” Conversely, others defended the clergy’s role in distributing donations, criticizing the host for “discrediting institutions that have long supported the community.”
Otaola’s comments followed closely on the heels of an announcement by the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA), which allocated three million dollars in humanitarian aid for Cubans affected by Hurricane Melissa. The distribution is planned in coordination with the Catholic Church.
The WHA emphasized that the aid aims to reach “those most affected in eastern Cuba by the devastation of Hurricane Melissa,” reinforcing Washington’s commitment to supporting the Cuban populace without regime interference.
The day before his post, during his show, Otaola urged that aid should be delivered directly by opposition groups within Cuba, such as members of Cuba Decide or UNPACU, to ensure it reaches the intended recipients.
“Aid should be channeled through the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, Guantanamo Naval Base, and religious organizations, though I have reservations about the latter. Remember, we once sent five containers of aid through Christian churches, and those institutions were unable to safeguard the shipments,” the broadcaster explained.
Otaola recalled that during that instance, the donations were held at the Port of Mariel and “their whereabouts were never discovered.” He also alleged that “the aid is later sold in dollar stores, forcing Cuban families to purchase what was meant to be a donation.”
He believes the core issue is not the logistics of distribution, but the lack of freedom on the island. “Cubans don't need a new mattress; they need freedom, and we must blame the dictatorship that exploits and oppresses the people in Cuba for these damages,” he asserted.
Hurricane Melissa struck eastern Cuba on October 29, causing thousands of displacements and significant damage to homes, crops, and electrical networks in the provinces of Guantanamo, Granma, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba.
Understanding the Controversy Over U.S. Aid to Cuba
Why does Otaola oppose the aid being sent through the Catholic Church?
Otaola argues that channeling aid through the Catholic Church could inadvertently benefit the Cuban communist regime, as he believes the Church is under its control.
What alternative methods does Otaola suggest for delivering aid?
He suggests that aid should be delivered directly by opposition groups within Cuba or through the U.S. Embassy and Guantanamo Naval Base to ensure it reaches the intended recipients.
What are the concerns about previous aid shipments to Cuba?
Otaola mentions that past aid shipments sent through Christian churches were not successfully delivered to the people, as they were allegedly retained and possibly sold by the regime.