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Port board member, councilwoman back Cuba trade

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: August 19, 2009

TAMPA - Tampa Port Authority board member Carl Lindell on Tuesday encouraged fellow members to push Congress to ease the five decade Cuba trade embargo, and Tampa Councilwoman Mary Mulhern encouraged the board to visit Cuba as she and Lindell did on their own initiative in July.

However, neither proposal drew direct support from the remaining six members of the port authority board at its monthly meeting, although board member and Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita said community sentiment is growing for change in Cuba trade policy.

Lindell and Mulhern described their five-day visit, part of a fact-finding delegation, as productive. They learned that Cuban trade officials and citizens they met casually were hopeful of changes in the U.S. embargo policy.

"We need to send a signal to Washington," Lindell said, citing a strategy of focusing on Congress to improve Tampa's chances of gaining a foothold on Cuba trade.

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, also a port board member, said she encouraged those in the business community interested in trade to visit the nation, but "as a collective effort on the part of the port, it is not appropriate."

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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