Author: Dariela Aquique

With their arms held high, waving flags, they loudly and clearly shouted phrases reaffirming that if the party or the revolution calls, the people will respond. This was how the International Workers Day March took place in “the second city” of the island.

It was a wise strategy in terms of politics; a little food and amusement would conceal the heated atmosphere and the image would always be presented of a happy people with no problems.

Never has the issue of international politics been at the center of my writings, but I believe that now an exception is forcing me to do so because the subject I am going to write on cannot be avoided.

Since he assumed power, Raul Castro has demonstrated on several occasions his great concern for turning around (or at least trying to) the precarious conditions of the island’s economy.

It’s common for people to cite biblical proverbs when confronted by certain situations. This happened yesterday, for example, in a small ward at the oncological hospital.

A few days ago I was talking with a friend and colleague, who also writes for this website, and we discussed whether a more intellectual or a more popular approach would have greater effectiveness in communicating our ideas.

Distances on an island are as limited as the possibility of changing things on an island. That’s why on islands, we inhabitants find sex, food and politics to be obligatory topics.

Attempting to read a comment concerning one of my posts in the English edition of Havana Times, I discovered a phrase that translates into Spanish as something like “en un valle de sombras” (in a valley of shadows).

For some time — especially in places that feature comedy — people have been mocking a ridiculous and worn-out Cuban custom.