A new day, a new deal between the United States and Cuba.
Two of the main points of the new Trump policy:
- It prevents American companies from doing business with the Cuban military, but still allows US businesses and individuals to develop economic ties with the private, small business sector in Cuba.
- It also puts some of the travel restrictions back into place for non-cubans, while still allowing Cuban Americans to visit their family and send them money.
RELATED: President Trump unveils news Cuba policies in Miami speech
In West Tampa, the Cuban connection goes back before the revolution at a a time when Havana was the Las Vegas of the Caribbean.
But today, its become a political pawn in a modern day Game of Thrones.
"The previous administration easing of restrictions on travel and trade does not help the Cuban people they only enrich the Cuban regime," said President Trump.
President Trump signed a directive to roll back parts of President Obama's historic opening to Cuba, with all the Florida Republican power players by his side...from Governor Rick Scott to Senator Marco Rubio.
"A year and a half ago an American president landed in Havana and out stretched his hand to a regime. Today a new president lands in Miami to reach out his hand to the people of Cuba," said Rubio.
Bill Carlson is part of a Tampa coalition that's been trying to establish business connections in Cuba.
"Cuba is the biggest opportunity we have in the Tampa Bay area. There's gonna be, potentially, billions of dollars for investment in Cuban infrastructure, hotels, and other things. And the architects, the builders and the designers they should all be coming from Tampa Bay."
But in West Tampa the memories of Castro still burn.
"If it's going to help the military we don't want a deal, we do not want a deal. They need to make sure that whatever businesses they open its going to benefit the people of Cuba not the regime," says Raul Estrada, a Cuban America who served 6 years in the Marines.
