NYC students face massive fine for going to Cuba; Kerik decides not to advise Carib countries

A group of New York City public high school students and their teacher were detained by U.S. customs officials after taking a trip to Cuba during spring break. Though the Beacon School had planned a trip to Cuba since last year, the U.S government forbids granting high schools educational licenses for travel abroad. Each student risks being fined $65,000 (!) for going to Cuba if U.S. government officials deemed their trip as “illegal.”

In the meantime, troubled ex-New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik withdrew his contracts to advise the governments of Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. Mounting opposition against Kerik in those countries over Kerik’s scandal-plagued past may have been a key factor in his decision.

Links- Newsday, Strabroek News, Gothamist

Image- Georgia State University (Georgia State University students visiting Havana, Cuba in 2002)