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RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE REPUBLIC OF COSTA RICA AND THE REPUBLIC OF ECUADOR FOR THEIR RECENT ACTIONS TO SEVER DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH CUBA; AND URGING OTHER NATIONS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TO TAKE SIMILAR STEPS TO SEVER DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH CUBA

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WHEREAS, for over half a century, the Cuban people have lived under a repressive communist regime that has failed to respect fundamental freedoms, crushed political opposition, and denied the people of their right to self-government; and
WHEREAS, the Cuban government functions as a one-party political system, with all power wielded by the Communist Party of Cuba (�PCC�); and
WHEREAS, a significant number of Miami-Dade County residents are refugees from Cuba or the descendants of refugees who fled the communist regime; and
WHEREAS, in recent years, Cuba has faced increasingly serious shortages of food, fuel, and other resources; and
WHEREAS, the progressively dire situation has led to greater instability within the island nation; and
WHEREAS, there is now a substantial likelihood that, given the mismanagement by the Cuban regime and the rapidly deteriorating situation in the country, the Cuban people will successfully take back power from the PCC; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding the alleged efforts by the Cuban government to limit the flow of information, the worsening conditions within the country have become evident to the global community; and
WHEREAS, as a result of foreign policy decisions by the Trump administration as well as recent global events, it is reported that Cuba is receiving substantially reduced support from oil-producing countries that had previously aided the regime; and
WHEREAS, in light of this opportunity for change, on March 3, 2026, the Ecuadorian government reportedly cancelled the diplomatic duties of Jos� Mar�a Borja, the nation�s ambassador to Cuba; and
WHEREAS, furthermore, it has been reported that on March 4, 2026, the government of Ecuador declared Cuba�s ambassador, Basilio Antonio Guti�rrez, and his diplomatic staff as �persona non grata� and gave them 48 hours to leave the country; and
WHEREAS, similarly, according to multiple news sources, on March 18, 2026, the government of Costa Rica boldly announced the closure of the nation�s embassy in Havana and the downgrade of ties with Cuba to a strictly consular level; and
WHEREAS, it has been further reported that the government of Costa Rica announced that Cuban diplomats would be expelled from the embassy in San Jos�, Costa Rica�s capital, and must leave by the end of March; and
WHEREAS, this Board desires that other nations in the Western Hemisphere take similar measures in order to increase the likelihood of much-needed change in Cuba and to cease the legitimization of the PCC; and
WHEREAS, the Board wholeheartedly supports the Cuban people�s struggle for freedom and democracy,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Congratulates the Republic of Costa Rica and the Republic of Ecuador for their recent actions to sever diplomatic ties with Cuba.
Section 2. Urges other nations in the Western Hemisphere to take similar steps to sever diplomatic ties with Cuba.