The day-to-day life of Cubans is very tough, uncertain, stressful and monotonous. Luckily, there’s not much violence in the country and one doesn’t have to pay for schools or hospitals, for that would make it a true, living hell.
Read MoreThe great Cuban novelist and journalist Lisandro Otero used to say that, while one can never be certain of what comes next under capitalism, one is oblivious as to what came before under socialism. It sounds like a joke, but, in Cuba, people know this is gospel truth.
Read MoreFour developments and a survey conducted by a public US radio station this week revealed that, despite the embargo (still in place), bilateral relations between the United States and Cuba are making progress.
Read MoreWhat Latin American government would be upset if the USA offered financing to its private sector and encouraged the growth of small and mid-sized enterprises? However, Raul Castro wants all financing for the State and considers the growth of those sectors not under its supervision a threat.
Read MoreFor the vast majority of Cubans, being able to leave the island legally has long been – and continues to be – a pipe dream, an unattainable goal. This is especially so for those who live in the interior. Some have achieved this through sacrifice and tenacity…
Read MoreIt’s striking to see the images of a successful revolution, aired on television and sold to the world: smiling children being vaccinated or heading to school in colorful uniforms, hospitals and clinics offering free services, full of apparently satisfied patients, athletes leaping, running or batting a homerun and thrilling fragments of passionate speeches.
Read MoreThe online platform Reflejos (“Reflections”) is one of the Cuban government’s maneuvers aimed at offering local citizens a substitute for the Internet. It claims to be a space aimed at bringing together blogs authored by Cuban Internet users and making these more visible, so that they can reach more people in cyberspace.
Read MoreCuban-American dissidents, activists and legislators continue to make contradictory statements which the press eats up and amplifies without questioning: they speak of strengthening or fostering Cuban civil society while referring to the regime’s totalitarian nature, calling the changes implemented mere “cosmetic” touchups.
Read MoreWe’re now more than accustomed to losing many of the luminaries of our decimated baseball teams. Before and until recently, we were taught to label these players traitors. We would never find out what had become of them, in their careers abroad or personal lives.
Read MoreI often ask myself how far the stupidity of Cuban leaders can go, but I can never quite predict those limits – they always end up surprising me. One case in point is the recent measures taken against street vendors to try and control the price of farm products. As is customary, their solution was to restrict and limit…rather than socialize.
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