Scott: A Free Cuba Means 'A Big Opportunity for Florida'

Gov. Rick Scott hopes Cuba will be a free nation within seven years.

Sitting down for an interview at News Radio 970-AM WFLA in Tampa on Wednesday morning, Scott said once the nation 90 miles south of Florida moves to a more democratized government and the U.S. embargo is lifted, the Port of Tampa and all of Florida should benefit.

I think probably in the next seven years, were probably going to see, hopefully were going to see a free Cuba, Scott said. And when that happens its going to be an unbelievable growth opportunity.

Scott, who has been a proponent of preparing Floridas ports to capture business when the widening of the Panama Canal is completed in 2014, was asked for his thoughts on what a reopened Havana would mean for freight and passenger cruises.

It will be nice there when you have freedom there, freedom of political views. And that is what is going to flourish, Scott said. It will be a big opportunity for Florida.