Circles Robinson, Author at Havana Times

Racism in Cuba: An Unresolved Issue

“Whites came here of their own will, as settlers, with life goals that were often realized. Blacks were brought here by force and turned into slaves. These are different points of departure that cannot be forgotten, nor can they be avoided, and their weight is still felt today… What affects us politically from the point of view of our international and national image is to have a discourse that doesn’t correspond to reality, because until very recently we said there were no racial problems in Cuba.”

Fidel’s Take on Haiti Disaster

Fidel Castro published a column last night on the events in Haiti since the major earthquake on Tuesday and of the participation of Cuban doctors in aiding the population. Fidel, who hasn’t made a public appearance since he underwent surgery July, 2006, is considered the senior advisor to the government of his brother Raul Castro.

Cuba OKs US Flyovers to Haiti

The Cuban government has authorized the US military to fly over Cuban territory during their aid operations to Haiti and evacuation of victims. White House spokesperson Tommy Vietor was quoted by IPS as saying the permission will greatly reduce the duration of the flights. The US occupies a portion of Cuban territory at Guantanamo Bay, where it maintains a naval base and prison camp.

Haitians Rely on Each Other, Aid Slow

“Only in the movies have I seen this,” said 33-year-old Jacques Nicholas, who jumped over a wall as the house where he was playing dominoes tumbled. “When Americans send missiles to Iraq, that’s what I see. When Israel do that to Gaza, that’s what I see here.”

Cuban Cardinal Starts Drive for Haiti

Cardinal, Jaime Ortega, put out a call Thursday to Cuban catholics “to carry out a national drive” to help the Haitian people, hard hit by the earthquake that devastated the capital Port au Prince on January 12. Ortega said the money raised through the initiative would be sent to the neighboring country by way of Catholic Relief Services.

Cuba to Show at German Tourism Fair

Cuba will promote its tourist offerings including the opening of new hotels during the upcoming IMEX trade show that takes place in Frankfurt, Germany from May 25-27, 2010. Since the fall of the Socialist Camp back in the early 1990s, Cuba has turned to its vast tourism potential as a key pillar to recover its economy.

Cincinnati Blur over Cuba’s Chapman

Two Cincinnati sportswriters have recently picked up on the Havana Times posting (although not on the original www.BaseballdeCuba.com story) and have subsequently added links to my Chapman story. Those links were accompanied with their own editorial observations on the legitimacy of my opinions about the $30-million Cuban fastball hurler.

Haiti: Race Against the Clock

The enormous relief effort being mounted in Haiti since a 7.0-magnitude earthquake leveled most of Port-au-Prince is facing a host of difficulties, including bottlenecks at the main airport and lack of heavy equipment to clear debris from streets and roads.

Cuba Warms Slightly After Cold Front

Temperatures in Cuba have warmed a little after a cold front brought down thermometers in some communities to one digit Celsius and brought out jackets and blankets across the island.

US & Cuba Could Bond for Haiti

The Guardian online is currently featuring an article suggesting that the United States and Cuba should put their never ending Cold War aside and work together to help mitigate the crisis situation in the pummeled Haitian capital Port au Prince, hit by a major earthquake on Tuesday.