India offers buses for Cuban transport system

[Judi Lynn]

India offers buses for Cuban transport system
By ANI | ANI – 18 hours ago.

New Delhi, July 13 (ANI): Pointing out that India is a major producer of world-class automobile products, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya M. Scindia conveyed India's desire to collaborate with Cuba in this sector including possible supply of buses for facilitating urban transport in Cuba.

Scindia, who led an official delegation to Havana, Cuba, from July 11-13 for bilateral discussions with Cuba for strengthening trade and investment ties between the two countries, also offered support in setting up railway and airport projects in Cuba as Indian companies have acquired considerable experience in these areas.

Scindia, who was accompanied by a business delegation, had bilateral delegation level talks with the Cuban acting Minister of Foreign Relations Marcelino Medino during which the entire spectrum of India- Cuba relations was reviewed with the objective of adding more economic content to existing strong political and cultural ties.

Scindia stated that the economic complementarities between the two countries, if exploited properly, would enable manifold growth trade and economic relations and this, in turn, would promote inclusive growth in both countries and provide innumerable benefits to our people.

More:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/india-offers-buses-cuban-transport-system-121425135.html

[center]~~~~~[/center]
This is a different story from the situation during the _{George W. Bush} administration, when Bermuda had agreed to sell its used buses to Cuba, then was blocked from that project by interference from the U.S.:

U.S. watching Bermuda, Cuba relations
Wednesday, October 1, 2003

HAMILTON, Bermuda: The Bermudan government's decision to sign a cultural exchange program with Cuba has U.S. officials concerned, the Royal Gazette is reporting.

US Consul General Denis Coleman said recently, that the United States had not changed its position with regard to Cuba and that the Alex Scott administration's moves towards Cuba were "not constructive."

But he acknowledged that it wasn't really his business what the Bermuda Government decided to do."

Last week the Bermuda government announced that it had signed a cultural exchange agreement with Cuba. Government's agreement with Cuba promotes cultural and artistic exchanges.

Premier Scott, currently off the Island, indicated last week that plans to sell old buses and ferries to Cuba were no longer being floated.

http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/caribnet/2003/10/01/bermuda.htm

[Judi Lynn]

1. Tell me, did US Consul General Denis Coleman have anything else to tell Bermuda? Why, yes!

From an earlier post:

Friday, March 12, 2004 Contact us
Last modified: March 12. 2004 10:03AM

US Consul hits out at Cuba links
By Ayo Johnson

United States Consul General Denis Coleman yesterday accused Government of fostering economic relations with Cuba and warned it could lead to a deterioration of relations between Bermuda and his country.

Mr. Coleman accused Government in a television interview of breaking a promise last year that its relations with Cuba would only cultural when it agreed to allow a regular charter flight to the Communist Caribbean island.

But Community Affairs Minister Dale Butler maintained last night that Government's dealings with Cuba were strictly cultural and there was nothing Government could do - short of an outright ban - that would stop individual citizens engaging in business with the Caribbean nation.

And Transport Minister and Deputy Premier Ewart Brown said Mr. Coleman should talk to the Governor.
In an interview with VSB TV last night, Mr. Coleman said relations between Bermuda and the US were “not as good as they used to be”.

More:
http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040312/NEWS/103120070

[Judi Lynn]

2. How does the US Consul General handle his job in Bermuda, you ask.

The US Consul in Bermuda is expressing displeasure
against Cuba-Bermuda cultural ties. He's not saying
it so explicitly, but Bermudians understand that the
US could make life very hard for Bermuda. Bermuda is
dependant on the US for goods and services as it is
not self sufficient.

***********************************************
Premier miffed Coleman did not make comments to him
(The Royal Gazette - April 2, 2004)

THE airline link between Bermuda and Cuba is a private
enterprise, as opposed to a Government move to do
business with the Castro regime, Premier Alex Scott
told departing US Consul General Denis Coleman this
week.

Mr. Scott said yesterday he had met with Mr. Coleman
on Tuesday to discuss concerns made public by the US
Government representative on the island's relations
with Cuba.

The Premier also emphasised that he "did not
appreciate" learning of Mr. Coleman's comments through
the media rather than directly from him.

United Bermuda Party leader Dr. Grant Gibbons said
communications had been poor between the Government
and the US Consulate. As a result, Mr. Coleman's only
way of attracting the Government's attention had been
through making strong statements via the media.

More:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/message/24580

But I digress.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Photo of Bush's strong arm specialist to Bermuda:

[center]http://palmbeachcivic.org/Portals/0/images/Coleman,Denis.jpg

click for photo. [/center]

Mr. Coleman is the former executive vice president of the Bear Stearns Companies. He retired from Wall Street as vice chairman of Discount Corporation of New York in 1993. He was a board member and chairman of the board (1993-99) of Covenant House, a Catholic charity whose scope has expanded to serve and rescue street children in six countries. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Coleman was US Consul General to Bermuda. In Palm Beach he was a member of the Town Council from 2005 to 2009, serving as Council president (2006-07) and president pro tem (2007-08). His personal and community activities include the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews, the Norton Museum of Art, Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, and the Society of the Four Arts. He earned his BSBA from Georgetown University and an MTS from John Paul II Institute for Studies of Marriage and Family. He is a member of the Georgetown University Board of Regents and a trustee of the Quantum Foundation.

http://palmbeachcivic.org/tabid/67/default.aspx