At a waterfront estate overlooking Biscayne Bay, some of Florida’s wealthiest Cuban-American families convened for the fourth meeting of the newly formed Cuban‑American National Chamber of Commerce (CANCC). Hosted by prominent plastic surgeon and CANCC president Juan Omar Sixto, the gathering aimed to align the diaspora’s most influential entrepreneurs around a shared vision: to be ready to invest and operate in Cuba the moment the current government falls. Over rum and Rolexes, attendees debated the island’s dire economic state, exchanged gossip about political shifts, and outlined concrete proposals ranging from a Cuban stock exchange to committees on energy, food security and infrastructure.
The CANCC Meeting and Its Ambitions
Sixto opened the evening by stating that the purpose of the event was to “gather under one roof the most prominent Cuban‑American entrepreneurs in Miami‑Dade County” and that the objective was to be “in Cuba once the regime falls”. He told guests that the moment they have long awaited is now “nigh”. The meeting took place on 2 October 2026, amid a series of severe power outages that have left millions without electricity across the island. Sixto, a real‑estate developer in his early 80s who fled Cuba as a teenager, explained that CANCC has already drafted a blueprint for what he calls “the day after”, including a proposal for a Cuban stock exchange and working groups covering everything from power generation to agricultural output.
Proposals for a Post‑Communist Cuba
The chamber’s plan is far from abstract. Committees have been formed to design a new energy infrastructure capable of ending the chronic blackouts that have plagued Cuba since the US‑led oil blockade tightened in January 2026. Another committee focuses on food security, seeking to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on imports. Sixto highlighted that, alongside deliveries of humanitarian aid and medical supplies, the diaspora intends to “go and do business in Cuba right away” should the political situation change. He added that the group enjoys access to high‑level contacts in Washington, including individuals close to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a claim he attributes to the Trump administration’s aggressive push for total change on the island.
Scepticism and Challenges on the Island
Inside Cuba, the announcements have been met with doubt. President Miguel Díaz‑Canel recently unveiled 176 economic liberalisation measures, describing them as steps to “advance the defence of socialism, to support and widen social justice”. Critics argue the reforms resemble a wholesale embrace of capitalism: they lift caps on private‑sector employment, allow direct hiring and firing, and permit ownership of multiple enterprises, including by Cuban Americans. Nevertheless, CANCC members dismissed the moves as cosmetic, insisting they offer no meaningful guarantees to foreign investors. Sixto said they would “not put a foot into Cuba” while the current administration remains in place.
Historian Mike Bustamante of the University of Miami warned that the optimism in Miami may be premature. He noted that, with the November mid‑term elections approaching and the Trump administration entrenched in the Iran conflict, there is little appetite for further foreign adventures. Bustamante argued that the ongoing sanctions, while severe, have not yet created the conditions for a political inflection point in Cuba. He added that the effective shut‑off of the island’s oil supply since January 2026 already represents a significant escalation, but it falls short of triggering a rapid collapse.
Historical Land Claims and Restitution
Land titles emerged as a recurring theme during the discussions. Sixto recounted how his father lost five properties and a farm in Pinar del Río province to the revolutionary government in 1959. He said he seeks compensation, even if it amounts to only a fraction of the original value, describing it as a matter of “moral justice”. Nicolás Gutiérrez, president of the National Association of Sugar Mill Owners of Cuba – an exile organisation championing similar claims – echoed the sentiment, suggesting the reclaimed land could be repurposed for ethanol, co‑generation, solar panels or water‑purification facilities. He stressed that putting the land back into production would create a multiplier effect across the Cuban economy and provide real wages for workers.
Why it Matters
The deliberations of Miami’s Cuban‑American elite illustrate how diaspora capital and political influence could shape Cuba’s future should a transition occur. Their detailed plans for a stock exchange, energy overhaul and agricultural revival signal readiness to deploy billions of dollars in investment the moment barriers fall. Yet the gap between these aspirations and the lived reality on the island – marked by persistent blackouts, scarcity of basics and deep scepticism toward external actors – underscores the complexity of any reconstruction effort. If the diaspora’s ambitions are to succeed, they will need to navigate not only the technical challenges of rebuilding infrastructure but also the delicate question of restitution for properties seized decades ago, a issue that remains deeply polarising on both sides of the Florida Straits.
