FOUNDER
Dr. Rafael Diaz-Balart.
Dr. Diaz-Balart envisioned formation of Global Justice Group, a charitable foundation dedicated to assisting victims of torture and crimes against humanity fight for their dignity and rights. He coined the motto “Restoring Dignity through Restorative Justice”. Throughout his life, Dr. Diaz-Balart fought heart and soul for democracy and liberation of his people, the people of Cuba, suffering under the tyranny of the Castro dictatorship. Dr. Diaz-Balart founded the international freedom foundation La Rosa Blanca, which led the struggle for freedom for Cuba and represented millions of Cuban exiles. Dr. Diaz-Balart served as the Majority Leader of the Cuban House of Representative (prior to the Castro junta), Under Secretary of Government and Minister of Education designee by President-elect Andres Rivero Ageuro. After his forced exile, Dr. Diaz-Balart served the Government of Costa Rica as an advisor to the President, and in numerous diplomatic appointments in Spain, Brazil, Paraguay and Venezuela. Dr. Diaz-Balart is survived by his four sons, who continue his fight for justice, human rights and democracy. His eldest son, Rafael Diaz-Balart serves as President and Director of Global Justice Group. Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart have been elected to the United States House of Representatives and Jose Diaz-Balart is an award winning journalist. Dr. Diaz-Balart held a PhD in Law from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain; a Post-Doctorate in Comparative Law, from University of Strasbourg, France and a Juris Doctor from University of North Oriente, Cuba.
Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart: My father was a visionary. He always fought for justice, often confronting public opinion and what we would today call “political correctness.” His was the first voice to oppose the dictatorship of Fidel Castro in Cuba. In fact, as Majority Leader of the Cuban House of Representatives, four years before Castro took power, Dr. Diaz-Balart tried to alert his countrymen regarding the extreme dangers for Cuba of a Castro take-over. Dr. Diaz-Balart deeply admired the 12th Century physician, jurist and theologian, Rabbi Moses Ben Maimón
(Maimonides). He believed the following maimonides passage is of ultimate wisdom and importance:
“In the world there are no perfect men or women, all humans are composed of merits and sins. Likewise there can be no perfect or infallible states or governments.The means to identify perversity and justice is the same in the individual and in the community. He is called just who possesses more merits than sins, and in the perverse the terms are inverted. The same occurs in the state and government. If in the conduct of its members merits exceed sins, justice reigns in that state or government, and if sins exceed merits, there reigns corruption."
DIRECTORS
Rafael Diaz-Balart (son of Dr. Diaz-Balart) President and Director. Rafael Diaz-Balart has over 30 years experience in consulting, international banking and investment. Mr. Diaz-Balart is CEO and Founder of Miami-based
Vestec International Corporation, which, among other activities, serves as the Latin American Coordinator for the American Association of Port Authorities AAPA. Vestec advises U.S., Latin American and Spanish companies in their international operations, including companies in the maritime, financial, educational and energy sectors. Prior to forming Vestec, Mr. Diaz-Balart served in executive capacities with international banks. He also served as Consultant to the Office of the Special Advisor to the President of Venezuela. Mr. Diaz-Balart holds a Bachelors of Arts (Government) degree from Cornell University and a Masters of Business Administration from The American University. Mr. Diaz-Balart’s community involvement is considerable. In addition to serving as President of Global Justice Group, Mr. Diaz-Balart is Chairman of the Miami Symphony Orchestra and is an Honorary Board Member of the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Florida Foundation. He has been active in international trade and commerce development organizations such as the Jay Malina International Trade Consortium of Miami-Dade County, the International Trade Board of the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County’s Sister Cities Program. He was also Chairman of the Board of the Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services.
Bernard E. Sendlin, Treasurer/Secretary and Director.
Bernard Sendlin has extensive experience, on a domestic and international level, in marketing, trade, finance, textiles, construction materials, shipping and hospitalities industries. Mr. Sendlin served as Managing Director of the real estate development and hospitality conglomerate LaSalle International Group. He has also served as a Director on the Board of Directors of numerous companies including YKK (USA) Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of YKK (Japan); Express Financial Corporation, Research Analysts Ltd. and was a founder and Director of American Bancshares Inc., Ltd., a bank shares holding company. Mr. Sendlin, an accomplished jazz pianist, also composes jazz and sponsors young jazz artists. Mr. Sendlin was a founder and Director of Around the Coyote organization, a not-for-profit charity that sponsored emerging and experimental artists in Chicago, IL USA and promoted the largest scattered-site art fair in the USA, attracting over 100,000 visitors over a 4-day annual event, and hosting over 600 emerging artists.
Daniel Kessler, Director.
Daniel Kessler is the Managing Director of the London-based Met Capital Management LLP (which includes numerous subsidiaries including Met Traders, Met Brokers, Met Asset Management, and Kinsley Asset Management, all licensed under the Financial Services Authority UK). Prior to joining the Met Capital Management Group Mr. Kessler held various sales/business development positions with Dow Jones Newswires. Mr. Kessler has served various philanthropic enterprises, such as serving as a Trustee of E S & R Fairweather Charitable Foundation. He also served as a non-executive Director of Jewish Chronicle Newspapers Ltd.