Martinez said he told port officials last week he would not participate in the Cuban summit. Martinez, who is also chairman of a Greater Houston Partnership committee, will be in Washington, D.C., today and Thursday. Officials with the partnership meet with politicians every year and that trip was originally scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, he said. Port officials said they would likely recoup the money it spent on the Continental Airlines fare to Cancun. Because trade with Cuba is prohibited, there are no commercial flights from the United States to Cuba.
Many people fly to Mexico and take a flight from there to the island nation.
Officials from Alamar Associates, the U.S. group that helps arrange the summit, did not return telephone calls. But its Web site said there are no refunds up to a week prior to the conference. Port officials said they would try to get their money back. Return to top Click on banner for more information Sunday, October 14th.