The steps are part of President Barack Obama's effort to make his historic opening to Cuba "irreversible" by the time he leaves office in January. Republican critics say Obama is making too many concessions to Cuba for too little in return, especially on human rights issues. "After two years of President Obama's Cuba policy, the Castro regime has made out like bandits," said US Senator Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American lawmaker from Florida. "Today, I approved a Presidential Policy Directive that takes another major step forward in our efforts to normalize relations with Cuba," Obama said in a statement. Since the opening, Obama has repeatedly used his executive powers to relax trade and travel restrictions, while pushing Cuba to accelerate market-style reforms and boost political and economic freedom.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 14, 2016 20:03 UTC