Cuban-American former Lincoln Díaz-Balart dies

Former congressman Lincoln Díaz-Balart died on Monday, March 3, in Miami after a long disease.

«His love for the United States, and his tireless commitment to the cause of a free Cuba, guided Lincoln throughout his life and his 24 years of elected public service, including 18 years in the United States Representatives House,» said his brother, congressman Mario Díaz-Balart.

Born in Havana in 1954, Lincoln represented the Cuban and immigrant community in the Florida Legislature and the Federal Congress.

«As a congressman in the United States and his life as a public servant demonstrated his decency, firmness and compassion,» said Ninoska Pérez-Castellón, a Cuban American journalist. “He honored Cuba’s name at all times. It is a great loss for exile but greater loss for Cuba who lost one of his best children. «

From 1986 to 1989 Lincoln served in the House of Representatives of Florida and in the Senate of La Florida from 1989 to 1992. He was elected in 1993 to the Federal Congress. During his performance in Congress he advocated political refugees and legal immigrants, the maintenance of sanctions against the Cuba regime and for freedom and democracy on the island.

He sponsored the 1996 law that codified the existing commercial embargo on the regime of Havana. His voice was key in causes and issues related to Cuba, such as radio and television financing Martí, the denunciation of the demolition by Cuban military of civil planes of brothers to the rescue in 1996 and in the case of the Balsero Niño Elián González in 1999.

«His love for the Cuban people and his freedom were constant and abundant from the coding of freedom measures that demand democracy and freedom for Cuba to their commitment to helping Cubans who played soil of freedom,» said Ana Carbonell, who was in charge of Lincoln’s office for 20 years.

After his retirement as a congressman in 2011 he gave impulse to the Institute La Rosa Blanca organization, founded by his father in 1959 to fight for the freedom of Cuba.

Lincoln is survived by his 48 -year -old wife, Cristina, his son Daniel and his daughter -in -law Estefanía, his dear grandchildren Lincoln Daniel and Edwin Rafael, his brothers Rafael, José and Mario, and his wives, Elba, Brenda and Aunt. Lincoln was preceded in death by his beloved first child, Lincoln Gabriel.

Soon a public remembrance mass will be announced.

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