By JAIME HERNANDEZ
Associated Press Writer

 MIAMI -- (AP) -- Former Cuban-American National Foundation spokeswoman Ninoska Perez Castellon today criticized the exile group, saying she resigned because of "lies'' by the organization's leaders and her disapproval of the group's direction.

 Perez Castellon, on her radio show on WQBA-AM, said CANF leader Jorge Mas Santos slowly alienated her from the decision-making, adding
 that he and a select few are the only ones who dictate policy.

 Perez Castellon, who said she considered resigning for more than a year, said her breaking point was the group's support of the Latin Grammys,
 which will be hosted by Miami later this year.

 ``I heard about the Grammys through the press,'' she said. ``No one was consulted about that decision. I am not upset about the Grammys but
 how the decision making was handled.''

 Perez Castellon also criticized CANF spokesman Joe Garcia for saying the group would continue funding a radio show beamed at Cuba after
 officials said the show would be discontinued.

 ``I won't be part of these lies,'' she said. ``If the group won't agree with (former CANF leader) Jorge Mas Canosa's policies then it should have the
 political courage to say so.''

 Mas Canosa, Mas Santos' father, died in 1997.

 Perez Castellon said she also disapproved of a Cuban exile festival at Miami's Freedom Tower in May, calling it ``a waste of half a million
 dollars.''

 When asked if she would either help form or join a new exile group, Perez Castellon said she had ``no reason to join another organization.''

 Perez Castellon served as a fiery and highly visible anti-Castro voice for the powerful exile group for 15 years.

                                    © 2001