PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
FORMER HEAD OF USAID JOHN BARSA NAMED AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOUNDATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CUBA
Miami, May 30. The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC) has announced that John Barsa has been named as its new Executive Director.
The Chairman of the Board of the FHRC, Tony Costa, announced this new appointment to FHRC staff and the Board of Directors with the following statement: “John Barsa has demonstrated genuine commitment to the cause of liberty for Cuba. John brings a wealth of administrative experience and the solid principles of a defender of essential liberties and democracy.”
A Cuban American born in Miami, Barsa has extensive government and private sector experience specifically suited to the FHRC mission of promoting a non-violent transition to a free and democratic Cuba through the empowerment of independent civil society in Cuba.
“It is an honor to serve as the new Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba – not to join the chorus of those who just complain about the Cuban dictatorship – but to join the ranks of those who are actively working to bring an end to the suffering of the Cuban people” said Barsa.
Previously, Barsa was unanimously confirmed by the US Senate to serve as the Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for Latin America and the Caribbean. The White House later appointed him as the Acting Administrator of all of USAID, the world’s premier development agency with a worldwide staff of over 10,000 and an annual budget in excess of $25 billion. Prior to his service at USAID, Barsa held a variety of other US government positions such as Acting Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, Congressional staff for former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and member of Special Forces and Civil Affairs units of the US Army Reserve.
Barsa has commenced his duties as Executive Director and will be jointly based out of Miami, Florida and the Washington D.C. area.
ABOUT FHRC
The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1992 to promote the nonviolent transition to a democratic Cuba.
For more information:
Maite Luna
maiteluna@fhrcuba.org