The situation brought a kind of relief for the rest of us. We even cracked jokes about the circumstances, perhaps because we’ve become used to these after such a long time. In fact, it was during that Special Period —which has spanned a good part of my adolescence and my adult life— that I heard, “You’re not allowed in here,” and I didn’t expect any explanation. I didn’t even think we were owed explanations.
Read MoreThe Cuban government has now begun the process of expelling hundreds of thousands of workers from the labor market and is organizing the country in agreement with the rules of the private marketplace.
Read MoreWe applaud the fact that actions are being taken to free us from stagnation and that at least basic issues are being addressed. However, contrary to the official line, the content, form and order of what has begun demonstrate signs of improvisation, a lack of foresight, the absence of transparency, contempt for revolutionary theory, pressuring and imposition.
Read MoreA few days ago a man with an intense stare and a heavy walk showed up on my doorstep. “Do you want to buy meat?” he asked, looking around cautiously. “Meat? What kind of meat?” I immediately asked.
Read More“Two Who Love Each Other” is the new television program of Cuba’s self-proclaimed artistic vanguard. The airing of the program relates to the personal interests of its host and director, singer-songwriter Amaury Perez, who is attempting to exhibit to the public a select list of “cultured” Cubans.
Read MorePeople told me but I found it difficult to believe that the ministry of Basic Industry had lost millions due to a simple oversight in the signing of mining contracts. It surprised me that with so many well-trained specialists such monumental “deficiencies” could have come to play.
Read MoreA few days ago I went shopping in a small supermarket in a neighborhood here in Havana. It’s a storefront that’s barely 25 steps wide and 20 steps deep. Since the issue of impending mass layoffs across Cuba was fresh on everyone’s mind, I counted the number of workers there and observed how they worked.
Read MoreI still don’t know who the “good guys” are – the Catholics, Protestants or the atheists, or the communists or social-democrats. I still don’t know if there is a right side. I only feel more and more fearful of those who are able to come to power – the fanatics and even the leaders.
Read MoreIt must be incredible to come back from the dead. That’s what Fidel has done, one more entry in his book of innumerable combats. I have a journalist friend in California, an expert in all things Cuban, who has been waiting four years for Fidel to die just so she can despair.
Read MoreThe bureaucracy has two paths: merge with the people by sharing power with the workers, or try to swim with the sharks of foreign capital, which in our case —since we’re not big fish like in China or Russia— would mean our being devoured. I refuse to believe that this latter is what Fidel and Raul want.
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