Interviews

An American Friend of Cuba

“My hope is that Cuba will continue following its own pragmatic path in making progress towards a better standard of living for its citizens while at the same time increasing the participation of all of its citizens in governing themselves,” said Michael Landis in an interview with HT.

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Carlos Diaz Soto and Qva Libre

The band Qva Libra took home an award in the fusion category at the recently concluded annual music industry event “Cubadisco.” We were able to speak with Carlos Diaz Soto, who is the manager of this group that plays alternative Cuban music with shades of many musical styles.

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Cuba’s Renting Barbers: No Boss, High Taxes

“They say that in the future it’s possible that the taxes will be reduced, but for this to happen three ministers have to get together: the ministers of Finances and Prices, the one from Domestic Trade…and…well I don’t remember the other one.

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A Cuban Puppeteer who Acts

Yerandi Basart Ramos is one of the most outstanding young exponents of children’s theater and puppetry currently active in Cuba. As he stated during our interview, “What started out as an adventure later became a problem for me.”

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An Unorthodox Look at Haiti & Cuba (Part Two)

Color does not ensure anything more than image, that is, the image of a race and gender composition that resembles the make-up of the country. In ancient Greece, which was where the term Democracy emerged, there were no elections and women, slaves and foreigners were excluded from governance.

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Venezuela: A Tense Democracy

Measured and reflective, Leonardo Bracamonte contrasts with the simplicities and opportunism of some who call themselves “intellectuals of the Bolivarian Revolution” since he believes that criticism and commitment can only go hand in hand. Today I’m sharing his opinions with the readers of Havana Times.

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Tony Avila: Philosopher, Romantic, Chronicler

“I approach serious themes that can be rough, even issues that often make us Cubans bitter in day to day life. Seen in a positive way these are understood, or are at least assimilated by people,” says trova musician Tony Avila in an interview with HT.

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A View of Today’s Venezuela

“The present government is continuing to commit the same errors that the governments of the past committed – but with a different style,” says Thais Maingon, who I spoke with at the Central University of Venezuela.

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The Creative Madness of “Jorgito”

“The youth are coming on strong, with lots of maturity, with a lot of conviction around what they want. I believe that it’s necessary to give them space, real space, not just saying that it exists when it really doesn’t,” says Jorge Lian Garica Diaz.

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