By Tina Davis Seeley Dec. 12 (Bloomberg) — An American citizen was detained by the Cuban government last week and the U.S. government is seeking access to the person “as soon as possible,” State Department spokeswoman Megan Mattson said. “The U.S. Interests Section in Havana has requested consular access to meet with the American citizen,” Mattson said in an e-mail today. She declined to name the individual, who was detained Dec. 5, because the citizen hasn’t waived privacy protections. The citizen isn’t a U.S. government employee, according to Mattson. The New York Times reported today the person is a U.S. government contract worker who was distributing cell phones, laptops and communications equipment in Cuba on behalf of the Obama administration. President Barack Obama ’s administration is working to resume more direct contact with Cuba as part of a U.S. effort to establish dialogue with foes from Iran to North Korea to Burma. Obama in April loosened restrictions on travel for Cuban- Americans visiting family members in the Caribbean nation and lifted caps on how much money they may send relatives on the island. Obama also said he would allow U.S. telecommunications companies such as AT&T Inc. to get licenses to do business in Cuba. Still, on Sept. 11, he signed a one-year extension of the Trading With the Enemy Act, which restricts trade with Cuba. The detainee was employed by Development Alternatives Inc., which had at least $391,000 in government contracts last year, the Times reported, citing unidentified officials. Based in Bethesda, Maryland, the company focuses “on market-based approaches to economic development,” according to its Web site. Company officials didn’t respond to requests for comment from the Times or Bloomberg News. On its Web site , the company says its clients include the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Japan Bank for International Development, the World Bank and companies such as Abbott Laboratories and Chevron Corp. To contact the reporter on this story: Tina Davis Seeley in Washington at tseeley@bloomberg.net .
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U.S. State Department Seeks Access to American Citizen Detained by Cuba
