System
Parliamentary Karaoke
Parliamentary Karaoke
14ymedio, Generation y, Yoani Sanchez, 14 July 2017 — Wednesday
night. The neighborhood of Nuevo Vedado is sliding into the
darkness. Catchy music resonates in the Hotel Tulipán where
parliamentarians are staying during the current regular session. They
dance, drink under the sparkling lights of the disco ball and sing
karaoke. They add their voices to a programmed… Continue reading
Cuba says GDP recovers, up about 1 percent so far in 2017
Cuba says GDP recovers, up about 1 percent so far in 2017
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HAVANA — Jul 14, 2017, 5:59 PM ET
The Cuban government said Friday that the economy is growing again
following a decline last year that was the first drop reported in two
decades.
Economy Minister Ricardo Cabrisas said at the opening session of the… Continue reading
Higher Taxes
Higher Taxes / Fernando Dámaso
Fernando Damaso, 6 July 2017 — It is no secret among Cubans that their
government is inept and inefficient. Fifty-eight years of failure attest
to this.
With the emergence of self-employment, however, officials have found a
way to fill the state’s coffers without having to devote resources or
effort to it. It’s called taxes.
They… Continue reading
How Cubans See the Crisis in Venezuela
How Cubans See the Crisis in Venezuela / Iván García
Iván García, 11 July 2017 — After painting the facades of several
buildings along 10 de Octobre street, the workers of the brigade shelter
from the terrifying heat in doorways, eating lunch, having a smoke or
simply chatting.
These days, in Havana’s La Vibora neighborhood, in the area between Red… Continue reading
Raul Castro Apparently Decided to Change His Personal Image
Raul Castro Apparently Decided to Change His Personal Image / Juan Juan
Almeida
Juan Juan Almeida, 11 July 2017 — The President of the Councils of State
and of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba recently underwent cosmetic
surgery to improve his chin. The chief of Cuban communists wants to be
rejuvenated so that young people won’t feel they are… Continue reading
Work Accident Takes The Lives Of Two Cuban Builders In Caibarién
Work Accident Takes The Lives Of Two Cuban Builders In Caibarién
14ymedio, Havana, 11 July 2017 — The collapse of a wall during the
reconstruction of the Hotel Commercio in Caibarién, in the province
of Villa Clara, cost two workers their lives on Tuesday and left eight
others injured. The crew was working on rehabilitating the property, as
confirmed to… Continue reading
Trafficking in Goods, a Strategy to Survive in Cuba
Trafficking in Goods, a Strategy to Survive in Cuba / Iván García
Iván García, 28 June 2017 — On Havana there are illegal stores for all
tastes. Pirated jeans at 20 CUC, copies of Nike shoes at 40 CUC and
imitation Swiss watches at 50 CUC. People with higher purchasing power
mark the difference. By catalog, they buy fashions, smartphones,… Continue reading
Cavities and Abscesses in the Oral Health System
Cuba: Cavities and Abscesses in the Oral Health System / Juan Juan Almeida
Juan Juan Almeida, 23 June 2017 — Located in the stately building with
its exquisite art-deco style, at the Havana intersection of Salvador
Allende Avenue (formerly Carlos III) and G Street, is the Cuban symbol
of the oral health system. Officially known as the Raúl González
Sánchez… Continue reading
Bread In Cuba’s Rationed Market Is An Unsolved Problem
Bread In Cuba’s Rationed Market Is An Unsolved Problem
14ymedio, Zunilda Mata, Havana, 9 July 2017 — With a sharp knife and the
skill of a surgeon, Luis Garmendia, 68, slices the bread from the
rationed market into six small slices. Like so many Cubans, this retiree
cannot afford to buy from the liberated (unsubsidized) bakeries and
considers that, every… Continue reading
Cuban Government Extends Land Lease Period to 20 Years
Cuban Government Extends Land Lease Period to 20 Years
14ymedio, Havana, 30 June 2017 — The latest Council of Ministers,
chaired by Raul Castro, has extended the term of the country’s land
leases under the usufruct system to 20 years, but the leases can be
cancelled if the beneficiaries use illicit funds, according to an
announcement today in the official… Continue reading
Drugs Play Increasing Role in the Battle for Cuban Teenagers’ Leisure Time
Drugs Play Increasing Role in the Battle for Cuban Teenagers’ Leisure Time
14ymedio, Marcelo Hernandez, Havana, 7 July 2017 — He dries his sweat
and takes a drink of water from a bottle he carries in his backpack. “In
my time the young people spent the holidays in front of the television,”
says Ignacio, the father of two teenagers. As… Continue reading
The National Council of the Performing Arts under Scrutiny
The National Council of the Performing Arts under Scrutiny / Juan Juan
Almeida
Juan Juan Almeida, 26 June 2017 — Another legal trial is threatening the
invulnerability of the Ministry of Culture. This time the prosecutorial
gaze is focused on officials at the National Council of the Performing
Arts (CNAE) while overlooking the culpability of Cuban leaders who, were
they… Continue reading
Venezuela oil exports to Cuba drop, energy shortages worsen
Venezuela oil exports to Cuba drop, energy shortages worsen
Marianna Parraga and Marc Frank
HOUSTON/HAVANA (Reuters) – Venezuela’s crude and fuel deliveries to Cuba
have slid almost 13 percent in the first half this year, according to
documents from state-run oil company PDVSA viewed by Reuters,
threatening to worsen gasoline and power shortages in the communist-run
island.
Cuba’s government since… Continue reading
Cuba’s ‘elections’: asking the man on the street
Cuba’s ‘elections’: asking the man on the street
OSMEL RAMÍREZ ÁLVAREZ | Holguín | 13 de Julio de 2017 – 11:51 CEST.
On June 14 the Council of State announced general elections. In this
first stage (September 2017) only partial elections will be held, in
which district delegates are to be elected.
It is obvious that the “elections” are not… Continue reading
With materials scarce, Cuban designers master recycling chic
With materials scarce, Cuban designers master recycling chic
Sarah Marsh
HAVANA (Reuters) – Olaff Alejo’s salt lamps are eerily beautiful and
designed to purify the air.
Yet the Cuban designer must rummage through trash bins and scour the
sidewalks of Havana for scraps of wood and obsolete electrical devices
to manufacture them.
In Communist-run Cuba, designers of clothes and household… Continue reading
The Cuban regime and the Venezuelan transition
The Cuban regime and the Venezuelan transition
ARMANDO CHAGUACEDA | Ciudad de México | 12 de Julio de 2017 – 11:16
CEST.
In a recent interview Venezuelan analyst Rocío San Miguel, an expert on
military affairs, masterfully defined the role of Cuba in his country.
In this respect he stated: “The situation room where the most important
strategic decisions are… Continue reading
Food scarcity, another Castroist crime
Food scarcity, another Castroist crime
ROBERTO ÁLVAREZ QUIÑONES | Los Ángeles | 10 de Julio de 2017 – 10:40 CEST.
If you were told that in a Latin American country almost 60% of the
fertile land available for agriculture is not even cultivated, producing
nothing at all, you would think they were pulling your leg, because in
the 21st century… Continue reading
The “Undead” Market: Long-Dormant U.S.-Cuba Air Travel Market Still Isn’t Alive
The “Undead” Market: Long-Dormant U.S.-Cuba Air Travel Market Still
Isn’t Alive
Dan Reed , CONTRIBUTOR
I write about airlines, the travel biz, and related industries
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
When you shoot a zombie, does it count as murder, or at least attempted
murder?
That question actually is of some epistemological importance in the
context of… Continue reading
Cuba: More Implicated in the Interior Ministry’s Stolen Documents Case
Cuba: More Implicated in the Interior Ministry’s Stolen Documents Case /
Juan Juan Almeida
Juan Juan Almeida, 5 July 2017 — The case is notable for its strict
secrecy and a degree of coercion. The highly irregular trial and
mystifying plight of those already found guilty and sentenced make “the
top secret theft from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT)… Continue reading
School Diplomas
School Diplomas
14ymedio, Marcelo Hernandez, Havana, 5 July 2017 — They arrived,
enthusiastic and happy, to their party for the end of the school
year. One mother brought a macaroni salad with mayonnaise, another
brought from home some disposable plates and a third took on providing
the croquettes. The celebration was ready in no time, while the horns
played an… Continue reading
Cuban Convertible Peso Can’t Keep Up With The Dollar
Cuban Convertible Peso Can’t Keep Up With The Dollar
14ymedio, Marcelo Hernandez, Havana, 4 July 2017 – Cuba’s dual currency
system has been in existence for such a long time that many young people
never lived under a system with a single national peso. The rumors of
possible unification of the two currencies are no longer listened to and
people… Continue reading
Perverse Uchronia
Perverse Uchronia* / Regina Coyula
Miguel Coyula: So after editing it in Miami [the novel Red Sea, Blue
Sea] I sent it out to Union Publishers and also ICAIC Publishers, but
this is already four years ago.
The universe of this novel, post-apocalyptic, with genetic manipulation,
strongly influenced by the science-fiction anime, later became Red
Cockroaches and right now Blue… Continue reading
