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 Last year Barclays Bank asked the London branches of two Cuban organisations to take their accounts elsewhere, in a clear demonstration of US pressure exerted on a British company to enforce its blockade of the island.
The Guardian newspaper reported that "The long-standing accounts held by Havana International Bank and Cubanacan, a state-owned travel organisation, are understood to be healthy. But they have been told to take their accounts elsewhere.
Hot on the heels of the Hilton Hotels attempt to ban Cuban nationals, MPs, Trade Unions and friends of Cuba responded swiftly to this action.
Early Day Motion 1408 was tabled by Ian Gibson MP and has now been signed by 160 MPs from across all parties.
WRITING CAMPAIGN CONTINUES
Most important to this campaign have been the hundreds of letters written by CSC members and friends to their MPs, to Barclays itself and to the UK Government demanding that the policy be reversed.
Government and Barclays responses continue to illustrate the pernicious nature of the US blockade and the failure of the UK Government to respond adequately.
A huge thanks to all of those who have written. Please keep writing if you have not already. It’s vital that you continue to take action on this important campaign and keep the issue alive. Below are details on what you can do to help.
MINISTER AGREES TO MEETING
The Government Minister with responsibility in this area, the Rt Hon. Gareth Thomas MP, has now agreed to meet a delegation from the Cuba Solidarity Campaign to discuss the extraterritorial effects of the US legislation on UK companies and we will be pressing hard for the Government to take action.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. Write to the Minister for Trade and Industry calling on them to make representations to the US authorities and to penalise companies that comply with US blockade legislation over UK laws.
Please write today to:
Sir Digby Jones,
Minister of State for Trade and Investment
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET
or email: enquiries@berr.gsi.gov.uk
2. If you are a Barclays bank customer or shareholder write to the Chairman to raise your concerns and ask that they state in writing that they will accept Cuban business and individual accounts.
Please write today to:
Marcus Agius,
Chairman
Customer Relations
Barclays Bank PLC
1 Churchill Place
FREEPOST LON13542
London
E14 5HP
or email: https://ibank.barclays.co.uk/olb/x/FeedbackForm.do?action=FeedbackForm
Please don’t forget to send CSC a copy of any letters you send and any response you receive.
Contact CSC on office@cuba-solidarity.org.uk or 020 7263 6452 for further details.
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