Osmel Almaguer’s Diary

How is it that a family-owned business that’s starting up can do a better job than an operation owned by a government that practically monopolizes all the business on the island?

A self-employed friend of mine is visited daily by a tax collector who demands a small amount of money from him for the space he uses to set up his table.

Unfortunately I wasn’t there when all this happened. I only found out later that night, around 8:00 when I got home. Thanks to one of my uncles who has a car, I made it to the hospital.

A yell, a squawk, and then a bang, that’s all that was heard. Despite the speed which we made it to the back the thieves were no longer there, nor was the rooster in its cage.

Thalia is a seven-year-old girl who doesn’t live with her mother or her father. Nor does she stay with her grandparents, uncles or any other relatives. Her family members aren’t dead, which is why she’s never stepped foot into an orphanage.

For the majority of Cubans who live in this country, Havana is a chance to make an important change in their lives. Here one can make good money, get a good house and — and if it’s pertinent — they can find someone to help them leave the country; those are some of the ideas that emigrants to the city bring with them.

The only thing that could have been held against him was from his previous job, when he cared for the rides at the Children’s Amusement Park there in Alamar, and what happened was pure childishness.

Alfredo sells tennis shoes, socks, shorts and T-shirts, all at pretty high prices. Sure, their name brand goods, to be specific they’re all by Adidas.

Since the issuing of licenses was approved for anyone who wants to become a self-employed worker, many people have gotten busy putting together their own businesses.

My cousin was living in Holguin and worked at the provincial headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) as a maintenance attendant. One fine day a special meeting was organized for workers at that office who were having housing difficulties.