Tell Lloyds TSB: Hands Off Cuba!

To:  Lloyds TSB

We, the undersigned, are extremely concerned that Lloyds TSB has written to its business customers who deal with Cuba telling them they can no longer use their accounts to trade with Cuba. The letter states ‘I must advise you to find alternative ways of making payments to your suppliers with Cuban connections.’

One example of this is when the Queenswood Natural Foods company in Somerset, which was selling Cuban sugar, received a letter from Lloyds TSB saying that the bank had "recently reviewed its approach to dealing with countries and entities that are subject to government and international sanctions across the globe in order to best protect its customers, its businesses, its people and its reputation". It was no longer prepared to authorise payments from the company to buy sugar from Cuba.

The Cuban embassy was critical of the bank's move, saying the Bush administration, in continuing the US's "illegal, worldwide economic warfare against Cuba", had been increasingly resorting to pressure through business and finance.

Rock Around the Blockade (an organisation that campaigns in solidarity with Cuba) is calling on the public to put pressure on Lloyds TSB until they state in writing that they will not discriminate against British companies who legitimately trade with Cuba. We oppose these bullying tactics against British companies who legitimately trade with Cuba and we stand in solidarity with the Cuban people, against attacks and attempts to isolate them.

About the US blockade
For almost 50 years the US has imposed an illegal blockade of Cuba. The Helms Burton Act, 1996, the latest addition to the blockade legislation, makes foreign companies who invest in Cuba liable to prosecution in the US. This followed legislation making it illegal under US law for US-owned subsidiaries in third countries to trade with Cuba. The US blockade of Cuba has been condemned by 17 consecutive votes in the United Nations General Assembly. In 2008, 185 countries (including Britain) voted against the US Blockade of Cuba and only three in favour, however the US overturned this vote with their veto on the Security Council.

Contact RATB for more details of these actions and other events:
northeast@ratb.org.uk 078583 46276 and visit our website www.ratb.org.uk

Lloyds TSB customers and shareholders should write to:

Phil Markey
Relationships Manager, Lloyds Bank, 25 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7HN

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Tell Lloyds TSB: Hands Off Cuba! Petition to Lloyds TSB was created by Rock Around the Blockade and written by Mark Moncada (northeast@ratb.org.uk).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.