How in the world can Miami-Dade’s first female mayor, a self-proclaimed progressive who fights for equality and champions immigrants, women and the LGBT community visit a country like Qatar for no good reason?
This is a country with an abysmal human rights record, according to Amnesty International. Women and gays are routinely discriminated against and persecuted by law and by society. Homesexuals and journalists routinely “disappear” and are jailed without trials. The government allows the abuse and exploitation of immigrants.
The answer is two words: Christian Ulvert.
The trip in late May to the arab Gulf nation was the political consultant’s baby. He works for the government of Qatar and he made it happen, inviting Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, who are both his clients. Las malas lenguas say Commissioner Eileen Higgins, another Ulvert special, declined.
That’s what Levine Cava should have done. Instead, she justified it with talk about a future World Cup — at a stadium that is not built and is not certain — and mass transit funding. But the idea that Miami-Dade is going to go into business with a government that is known for human rights abuses is just ridiculous. If the county doesn’t work with companies that have ties to Cuba or Venezuela, they’re not going to partner up with Qatar.
By the way, relations between Qatar and Cuba have grown stronger since the arab state opened a mission in Havana in 2001. More than 400 Cuban doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals work at “the Cuban Hospital” in Dukhan, which is part of the state run medical system. The doctors and their staff work under an agreement between the two governments since 2012. In other words, they are rented out by the Cuban government to Qatar. More doctors were sent by Cuba last year during the COVID-19 crisis.
In 2016, Qatar’s Emir signed a number of agreements with the Cuban regime that included a commitment to invest $2 billion in the Caribbean country over five years.
Ladra wonders if Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla knew that. Probably. That may be why he didn’t post any photos on his own social media. How did he end up on this trip with cookie-baking grandma mayor? Maybe he was invited by Miami Commissioner Christine King or former Miami commissioner and Miami-Dade Commissioner Keon Hardemon, who also went. Wonder what Ulvert wants in the city of Miami.
Diaz de la Portilla may just be scoping out countries where he can flee and not be extradited to the U.S. Plus he loves a free trip.
Read related: La Alcaldesa comes home from first trip abroad to Italy with Jose “Pepe” Diaz
The costs, estimated at $5,000 per person, were absorbed by the Qatar government. Which only goes to show they want something in return. Even if it’s just legitimizing them, which is bad enough. But that’s Ulvert’s job.
His other job, that is. Because Ulvert is almost full time the mayor’s most trusted advisor. He’s not a county employee, but he has her ear. Why else would she go out and endorse Sen. Annette Taddeo for governor during the state’s budgeting process while asking Gov. Ron DeSantis for funding? It was before Ulvert “left” Taddeo’s campaign. And before Taddeo left the race for the congressional contest in Florida’s 27th District.
County Hall insiders have told Ladra that they worry he has too much access and influence — and is probably making a boatload off it. Why else would the government of Qatar engage an openly gay man as a lobbyist?
Some might be surprised that Ulvert, who is married to Carlos Andrade, would lobby for a country where homosexuality is a crime punishable by up to seven years in prison. Gay muslims can be put to death. For the World Cup later this year, government officials have said gay couples shouldn’t act gay in public. Some hotels refuse to make reservations for same sex couples.
But this is the same guy who went to Cuba with then Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and talked with top regime officials about opening a consulate in the city.
Janelle Perez, who is both an LGBT activist and Cuban-American, wouldn’t tell Ladra if she was going to part ways with her consultant. Perez first told Ladra that she would call back with a statement. She didn’t. And hasn’t answered the phone or called back since.
Former Broward Mayor Barbara Sharief urged State Sens. Lauren Book, Janet Cruz and Jason Pizzo — as well as the Florida Democratic Party — to “immediately sever ties” with the “controversial chief strategist.
“Qatar is the Republican Party of the Middle East. They do not allow their one million migrant workers to organize into labor unions,” Sharief said in a statement. “This should trouble Ulvert’s other clients, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the Laborers International Union of North America.”
Read related: Miami Beach mayor invites Castros to open Cuban consulate
Of course, she is running for state senator against Book. But she’s right.
“Jewish groups in Broward County should also be horrified by Lauren Book’s decision to hire Ulvert as Qatar does not recognize Israel as a nation and will not allow direct flights into their country from Israel,” her statement said. Plus they have a lousy record with women’s rights.
La Alcaldes was very indignant about the Roe vs Wade developments and recent efforts to limit women’s rights to their own bodies. But women in Qatar cannot get an abortion without the approval of a panel of three doctors. They can only marry, travel, attend school and work in certain industries with a male guardian’s approval — her papi, or a husband or brother or uncle.
Sharief said Ulvert “has chosen money over our democratic values.
“We, as party leaders, must stand up for what is right, or we are no better than the Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party.”
Miami-Dade Qatar trip shows mayoral advisor Christian Ulvert’s pull, power added by Ladra on
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