‘Beyonce Cuba visit had US treasury nod’

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US singer Beyonce and her husband, rapper Jay-Z, in Old Havana recently—AP

A visit by American pop starBeyonce and rapper husband Jay-Z to Havana last week was acultural trip that was fully licensed by the US treasury department, a source familiar with the itinerary said on Monday.

The longstanding US Trade embargo against Cuba prevents most Americans from traveling to the communist-led island without a license granted by the US government. Three Cuban-American members of Congress, all Republi-cans from Miami and supporters of a firm stance on Cuba, have asked the treasury department to look into the licensing of the trip, prompting officials to seek more information from the organisers.
Beyonce and Jay-Z celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in Havana and were greeted by big crowds as they strolled through the Cuban capital. The music industry power couple were instantly recognised as celebrities despite the pasthalf-century of ideological conflict that separates the two countries.
The source told Reuters that the trip included visits with Cuban artists and musicians, as well as several nightclubs where live music was performed, and some of the city’s best privately run restaurants, known as “paladares.” The visit was planned as a “people-to-people” cultural visit and involved no meetings with Cuban officials, or typical tourist activity such as trips to the beach, the source said.