Prize-Winning Cuban Scientist Denied Visa HAVANA - A Cuban scientist who helped develop a low-cost synthetic vaccine that prevents meningitis and pneumonia in small children says he was offended the U.S. government denied his request to travel to the United States to receive an award. Vicente Verez-Bencomo was to accept the award recognizing his team's technological achievement during a Wednesday ceremony at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, Calif. He had also been invited to address a gathering of the Society for Glycobiology in Boston on Friday. Verez-Bencomo said the State Department denied him a visa because the visit would be "detrimental to the interests of the United States." "That is really offensive to me," the chemical engineer told The Associated Press as he sat on a stool inside the University of Havana's Synthetic Antigens Laboratory, where the vaccine was developed. "It's really a shame." The State Department said it has a policy prohibiting comment on individual visa cases. The switchboard rang unanswered at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, which evidently was closed Friday for Veterans Day. "It's incomprehensible that a civilized nation can confuse someone who has dedicated his life to saving the lives of children with someone who goes against the interests of the United States," Verez-Bencomo said with a sigh. "I wasn't going there to talk about politics, I was going to talk about science." Verez-Bencomo led a team that developed a vaccine for Haemophilus influenza type B, also known as Hib, a bacteria that causes meningitis and pneumonia. The diseases kill up to 700,000 children worldwide each year. Before the development of a similar vaccine more than a decade ago, Hib was the biggest cause of meningitis among infants in the United States. That earlier vaccine has all but stamped out the disease in the western world, but mass immunizations are too expensive for many poor countries. The synthetic vaccine created by Verez-Bencomo's team can be produced at a relatively low cost because antigens don't have to be grown in a bacterial culture, making it an attractive alternative for poorer nations. So far more than 1 million doses have been administered to Cubans. Science Magazine last month said the vaccine "may someday save millions of lives." Officials at the San Jose Tech Museum were disappointed the government blocked Verez-Bencomo's trip. The museum organizes the award ceremony every year to recognize individuals or groups who use technology to improve the environment, economy, education, equality and health. "We recognized them for cutting-edge technology and wish he could be here to accept this," museum spokesman Tony Santos said. "We wish that hadn't been the government's decision." An editorial in the San Jose Mercury News also expressed disappointment. "Verez-Bencomo won't be here to receive the award," it said, "because he's from Cuba. He's a scientist, not a terrorist, but our State Department nevertheless denies him entry. He brings ideas, not bombs, but we let ideology trump innovation." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051112/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cuba_visa_denied ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Does this not seem a little extreme? So, he was denied the visa to come here and accept a award, given by a group within our own country, simply because he is from Cuba? I think politics could have been ignored here so that he could be commended on his constribution towards a humane cause.
Maybe he is in a gay marriage? Maybe he thinks stem cell research is OK? Maybe a friend of his sister third cousin removed had coffee with a man who later considered joining Al Qaeda? Maybe he's got picture and video of Bush getting a BJ in oval office? Or is it maybe a positive, albeit fluff, Cuba press piece can not be tolerated?
Science is like a four letter word for the state department. They only issue visas in relation to intelligent design.
It is so past time to recognize Cuba. It is a country that played a large role in our own popular culture prior to Castro. It was a favorite destination for Americans wanting to vacation in the Caribbean, with superb beaches, cusine, culture, music... 90 miles from the United States. That it's the year 2005 and the embargo is still in place hurts America, and it hurts the Cuban people. Whatever sense it once made is so far behind us now that the Hubble couldn't locate a reason for the absurd behavior of this and previous American Presidents. This embargo is costing American business billions. We are the logical partner for Cuba as it reengages with the world. Instead, everyone else is jumping in and seizing the opportunities presenting themselves. The embargo is yet another American foreign policy that makes us look rediculous to the rest of the planet. Free America to enjoy and invest in Cuba, and in doing so, help the Cuban people, who so clearly love this country. End the embargo. In one stroke, George W. Bush could make his mark on history, improve his standing at home and abroad, and give a giant boost to American business, by simply doing what is right. Come on, George, surprise me. Keep D&D Civil.
well if they didnt let the buena vista social club come to america to play some concerts than they certianly werent going to let this guy in. that 90 year old ibrahim ferrer dude was a real troublemaker.
