The head of the United States diplomatic mission in Havana, who recently completed one year on the island, has made numerous tours of Cuban provinces, communities and homes during that period.
MADRID, Spain.- The head of the United States diplomatic mission in Cuba, Mike Hammer, shared a message this Thursday in the social networks of the American Embassy in Havana, in which he thanked the congratulations received after recently completing his first year of work on the Island and renewed his invitation to citizens to share their daily experiences with him.
“I want to thank the thousands of Cubans who have sent me congratulations for having already completed one year here. And recognizing the good work that our United States embassy does in Havana,” he expressed.
Hammer took advantage of the message to announce the beginning of his second year of mission and reiterate his interest in learning first-hand about the daily reality of the population. “As I begin my second year of mission, I would like ordinary Cubans to continue sending me suggestions of places I should visit to truly know the reality that you live every day,” he added.
The official also once again invited citizens to receive him in their homes. “If you want to invite me to come inside your homes or have a coffee with you, please send us an email to: [email protected]. See you soon!” he concluded.
During these 12 months, Hammer has traveled much of the country. These visits to Cuban homes have allowed him to see first-hand the precariousness that marks daily life on the Island.
Hammer arrived in Havana in mid-November 2024 as Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Cuba. He has more than three decades of diplomatic career and previous experience as ambassador to Chile and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in addition to other high-level positions in the State Department and the White House.
Since its arrival, the diplomatic headquarters has documented on its social networks an intense agenda of trips to almost all the provinces, visits to vulnerable communities and meetings with believers, private entrepreneurs, artists and families affected by the crisis. He has also held meetings with activists, opponents and relatives of political prisoners in their homes, as well as constant use of digital platforms to disseminate these activities, which has generated criticism from Cuban officials, who accuse him of “inciting action against the State.”
After Hurricane Melissa passed through the Island, Hammer met with bishops of the eastern region to evaluate the needs of the population and coordinate the three million dollars in humanitarian assistance announced by the United States Government.
Last August, the diplomat also received representatives of civil society, the opposition, independent journalists, relatives of 9/11 prisoners, human rights activists, artists, religious people and diplomats from other countries at his residence. Among those attending were Berta Soler, leader of the Ladies in White, her husband Ángel Moya, as well as independent journalists Henry Constantín and Reinaldo Escobar, and the parents of political prisoners Jenny Taboada and Wilber Aguilar.
