Circles Robinson, Author at Havana Times

No Chavez, No Fidel, No Raul Speech

The commemoration of the attack on the Moncada Garrison (July 26, 1953) is almost always the venue for the year’s most important speech by a Cuban president, setting the tone for the direction of the country. This year that was clearly not the case.

Cuba’s July 26 Event Live on Internet

Monday is National Rebellion Day in Cuba, commemorating attacks on two garrisons back in 1953 that sparked the Cuban revolution that toppled the dictator Batista five and a half years later. The Cuban press announced on Sunday that the keynote speech will be delivered by President Raul Castro. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Cubavision Internacional starting at 7:30 a.m. EST.

The Trap of Stifling Debate

In comments made by Cuban bureaucrats interested in maintaining the status quo and not “changing anything that must be changed,” it’s common to see in their “arguments” the assert that: “While we are under siege by imperialism, it is not the time to make sharp criticism of corruption, bureaucracy or deviations committed in the emancipatory, democratic and socialist advance of the Revolution.”

Cuba Comes Up Short vs. Brazil

The Cuban Men’s Volleyball Team won the first set Saturday in the semifinal match up against Brazil but fell in the next three at the World Volleyball League tournament taking place in Cordoba, Argentina. After Cuba plays Serbia in the bronze medal match Sunday, Russia takes on Brazil for the gold.

Chavez to Speak at Cuba’s July 26 Event

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will be one of the speakers at the official commemoration this Monday of a new anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Barracks, commemorated in Cuba as Day of National Rebellion on July 26.

Cuba’s Tourism Shows 1 Percent Growth

Cuba received during the first half of this year 13,519 more tourists than the same period in 2009, which confirms the upward tendency of one of the principal sources of financial resources of this Caribbean country. According to data of the National Office of Statistics (ONE), up to the close of June a total of 1,389,712 visitors arrived, for a one per cent growth.

Peace Caravan Reaches Cuba

The 21st Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan with humanitarian aid arrived in Havana on Friday. Traveling from Mexico after crisscrossing the US and Canada, the 85 accompanying members are from the United States, Canada, Ireland, Germany, England and Mexico.