Circles Robinson, Author at Havana Times

Cuba’s Stuck ‘Transmission Belt’

“It looks like you want to get yourself into trouble, friend,” a Cuban official warned me when he learned about the article I’m working on for the beginning of next year. The truth is that he left me reflecting on that philosophy of life that is so widespread.

“Not getting into trouble” is a goal that’s much more difficult than it seems. For this to happen it’s not enough to sell your soul to the devil, you also have to sell it to God and end up becoming a kind of spiritual merchant.

Maximum Security

Spot eight differences: Maximum Security

Cuba Docs Save 250,000 Lives in Haiti

The Cuban medical brigade in Haiti has saved 250,000 persons in Haiti since the start of its mission in 1998, Deputy Minister of Public Health Marcia Cobas affirmed. The island heads the efforts to reconstruct the health system in the neighboring country, devastated by last January 12’s earthquake and facing a serious cholera outbreak.

Soaps, Toothpaste Off Cuba Ration Cards

Cubans who don’t receive remittances from abroad, tips, bonuses or black market dollars were dealt another blow to their family economies as the government announced that soap, detergent and toothpaste would be removed from the rationed items starting the first of the New Year.

Cuba Faces Taxing New Year 2011

The public understands perfectly well the need for many of the economic measures that will be implemented but “People remain skeptical because while they’ve heard a lot of speeches, they don’t have complete confidence in the government’s ability to solve the problems.”

What’s the transportation from Varadero Airport to the hotels?

There are four main options for getting from the Varadero Airport to a particular hotel in Varadero.

Valley of the Sugar Mills in Trinidad, Cuba

In the Valle de los Ingenios still remain the ruins of the numerous sugar refineries that once gave such splendor to the area but which today constitute little more than archaeological artifacts of that industry. (13 photos)

Cuba Supreme Court Commutes Death Sentence

The Supreme Court of Cuba decided to commute for a 30-year sentence Humberto Eladio Real Suárez’ death sentence. He was tried in 1994 for landing on the island with the aim of carrying out subversive actions against the government. This was the last of the maximum sentences that still remained in the Caribbean island nation, whose authorities have not applied it since 2003.

December Could Be Coldest Since 1951

The current month of December could end as the coldest reported in Cuba since 1951, Ramón Pérez, researcher with the Climate Centre of the Institute of Meteorology, announced. However, the year 2010 will also conclude as the third hottest in the planet’s history, after 1997 and 2005.

Threats on the Nicaragua/Costa Rica Border

The San Juan River, center of discord and diplomatic conflicts between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, is seeing its riverbanks fill up with economic projects that scientists and environmentalists say will irreversibly alter its course.