Another option for the American Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay had been suggested over a year ago. It has gotten attention again at the February 18th meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting panel; Protecting the Crown Jewel of the Caribbean: Cuba’s Marine Ecosystems. Turn Guantanamo base into a marine life reserve.
Guantanamo Bay (“Gitmo”) is a huge naval base at the southeast end of Cuba. It is a bone of contention with the Cubans because it is “occupied” by the US with only a minimal rent negotiated back in 1934. This, and the embargo continually remind Cubans of our government’s disregard of their country.
It is not something we Americans like to think about either, sine it is now known mainly as a terrorist detention camp.
“Turning Gitmo into a research center and peace park offers a solution to a major impasse in U.S.-Cuba relations,” says Roman, who co-authored the proposal with James Kraska of the U.S. Naval War College. Read more here.
This “third route” seems better than shutting down the Guantanamo base, or keeping it open as an open sore in our relationship. We have to eventually reach an agreement with our close neighbor. Why not make this an area of mutual use and an example to the world.
See more Cuba News in my blog.