In the luxurious mansions overlooking Biscayne Bay, within the law firms and private clubs of Miami, affluent Cuban-American entrepreneurs have been meticulously planning the economic and institutional future of a post-communist Cuba, as detailed in a report by The Wall Street Journal this Monday.
Their plans are nothing short of bold: establishing a stock exchange in Havana, hosting an investment summit in the Cuban capital, modernizing eight airports with an $8 billion investment, and setting up a provisional transitional government alongside a law to guide Cuba towards democracy.
Renovating Cuba's Airports
Willy Bermello, a 75-year-old architect known for his proposal of Trump's presidential library in Miami, is spearheading efforts to revamp eight Cuban airports. He conducts bi-weekly video calls with airline executives, airport managers, and investment funds to refine these plans. "We've got our team on speed dial," he told the American newspaper.
The airports targeted for renovation include José Martí in Havana, Varadero, Holguín, and Cayo Coco as top priorities, with Manzanillo-Sierra Maestra, Santiago de Cuba, Santa Clara, and Camagüey also on the list. Bermello asserts that the project would be self-financed and has already informed the State Department of his intentions.
Drafting a New Political Framework
Jorge Mas Santos, head of the Cuban American National Foundation and part-owner of Inter Miami, is working with Miami's Cuban-American Bar Association on a 28-page transitional law project. This plan proposes a provisional government lasting up to two years to organize free elections. Mas reportedly told President Trump that raising the $90 billion needed for the first three years of transition would be "a piece of cake" for exiled entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, another group is debating whether to temporarily restore the 1940 Cuban Constitution during the transition period while drafting a new one. Experts gathered in July at the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora estimate that rebuilding Cuba could cost between $275 billion and $375 billion and take 10 to 15 years, figures that far exceed those proposed by Mas.
Political Change: The Uncontrolled Variable
The driving force behind these activities is a statement often repeated by Trump since the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January: "Cuba is next." The administration has imposed an oil blockade on the island and suggested a "friendly takeover," prompting preparations among the exile community.
Juan Omar Sixto, an 82-year-old former tobacco grower and president of the recently established Cuban American National Chamber of Commerce, encapsulated the group's spirit in June: "We've waited 67 years. We need to start."
However, the Cuban regime remains defiant. With Trump's focus diverted by the conflict in Iran, timelines have been extended. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed any fixed schedule in July, stating, "We're not a miniseries where everything gets resolved in three episodes. These are complex issues that take time," he told reporters in Manila.
Tony Costa, 86, a former owner of one of the world's largest ornamental plant companies, expressed the frustration among some exiles: "The goal hasn't changed, but they've moved the goalposts."
Cuba's Current Struggles
Meanwhile, conditions in Cuba continue to deteriorate. On September 18, the power grid experienced its eighth collapse of the year, with outages lasting over 30 hours in certain areas. "The country is completely paralyzed. People walk around like zombies. There's no electricity for days, you can't sleep, food spoils," described Havana economist Omar Everleny Pérez Villanueva, who is working on plans to restructure the island's economy.
Notably absent from these discussions is the Cuban populace itself. Over a million people, mostly young, have fled the island since 2021, and there are no legally recognized opposition organizations within Cuba capable of contributing to the transition design.
"This is our Berlin Wall moment," declared Marcell Felipe, president of the Cuban Diaspora Museum in Miami. All the plans conceived in Miami—the stock exchange, airports, provisional government, transitional law—hinge on a political shift in Havana, a factor beyond the control of any of its proponents.
Questions About Cuba's Future Plans
What are the key infrastructure projects planned for a post-communist Cuba?
The main projects include the establishment of a stock exchange in Havana, an investment summit, and the renovation of eight major airports across the island.
Who is leading the airport renovation efforts in Cuba?
Architect Willy Bermello is leading the efforts to revamp eight Cuban airports, coordinating with airline executives and investment funds.
What challenges face the proposed transition to democracy in Cuba?
The major challenge is the need for a political shift in Havana, which remains under the control of the current regime. Additionally, the Cuban population has not been actively involved in these discussions.