Circles Robinson, Author at Havana Times

New Customs Law to Promote Oil Drilling

The Cuban Customs Office will soon begin enforcing a new law aimed at streamlining the paperwork involved in the exploration and exploitation of oil in Cuba’s Gulf of Mexico Economic Zone.

Landmark Havana Building Evacuated as Hazardous

The landmark Sarra Building, located at the centrally located corner of 23rd and 12th streets in Havana, was evacuated this past weekend due to its “deplorable physical condition.

US-Cuba Agreement Against Drug Trafficking Appears in the Works

The 2012 International Narcotics Control Strategy report, presented by the United States government last week, proposes promoting a bilateral agreement with Cuba in the fight against drug trafficking.

Twitters Respond to Fidel Castro’s Call

Cuban activists on the Twitter social network have called for a massive “twittazo” (Twitter session) today with the tag “#SavetheWorld,” in response to the call by former Cuban President Fidel Castro to save the planet.

Havana Cardinal Addresses Cubans on TV

Cardinal Jaime Ortega spoke Tuesday on national television to encourage Cubans to give the warmest welcome to Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of the upcoming papal visit to the Caribbean nation.

Cuba Film Director Protests Censorship

Institutional censorship of a documentary about a Cuban rapper compelled filmmaker Fernando Perez to quit his position as director of the Eleventh Youth Film Festival, to be held in Cuba from April to 3 to 8.

Vatican Sends Cuba the “Pope’s Crocodile”

The reptile is being returned to its natural habitat in Cuba later this month – a journey coinciding with the pontiff’s own visit to the island nation scheduled for March 26-28.

Soviets in Cuba, a Documentary

This is a film that delves into people’s recollections of the more than thirty years of Soviet presence in Cuba. The bulk of the comments in “The ‘Bolos’ in Cuba: An Eternal Friendship” come from Cubans on the street who remember the great epoch of canned Russian meat, Raqueta and Poljov watches, tough Russian boots, matrioshka dolls, Aurika washing machines, Soviet apple sauce and cans of powdered milk.

Cuba Baseball: Holguin No-Hits Camaguey

Holguin pitchers Raimar Navarro Mendoz and Pablo Millan Fernandez Rojas made it into the record books on Tuesday throwing a combined no-run, no-hit game against Camaguey.

The Cuban Ration Book Turns 50

Cuba’s ration book had, and still has, its supporters and detractors. Citizens are divided between those who fear that its disappearance will result in hunger among the poor and those who believe that it is cheaper to subsidize people than products.