(EFE).- A group of Republican and Democratic legislators asked the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) on Tuesday to reconsider the plan that would involve the reduction of personnel in the media that groupsamong them, Radio and Television Martí.
In a “bipartisan letter,” the eight congressmen and senators asked USAGM Acting Executive Director Kelu Chao to reconsider plans to implement a reduction in personnel (RIF) at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. Broadcasting, OCB), responsible for Radio and Television Martí.
It would be “a plan that would result in layoffs just before the holidays” at the end of the year, said Republican legislator Mario Díaz-Balart, one of the signatories along with fellow Republicans Carlos Giménez, María Elvira Salazar and Nicole Malliotakis, as well as the Florida senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, also Republicans.
In the letter, the congressmen, who also include Democrats Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Albio Sires, highlighted the importance of Radio and Television Martí as a means of information for the Cuban people, especially after the protests of July 11, 2021.
Legislator Salazar pointed out that when they are most needed, it is “unacceptable” to plan a cut “of almost a third of the personnel” of the OCB, whose director is Sylvia Rosabal
Legislator Salazar pointed out that when they are most needed, it is “unacceptable” to plan a cut “of almost a third of the staff” of the OCB, whose director is Sylvia Rosabal, who according to local media last month shared with the staff of Radio and Television Martí the staff reduction plans.
According to the Miami Herald, the USAGM plans to apply these “necessary cuts” by the end of November.
“In terms of funding, Congress has yet to receive an adequate explanation as to why USAGM repeatedly requested drastic cuts in OCB of more than 50% beginning in FY 2019, and why it continues to do so despite requesting static funding or increases. for the rest of its entities,” the legislators stated in their letter.
“We believe that USAGM has been unable to justify to Congress how these changes will advance OCB’s mission of supporting the right of the Cuban people to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas,” they added.
In addition to Radio Martí, which began operating in 1985, the US Agency for Global Media groups, among others, VOA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia.
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