Fancy yourself as a part time journalist? Open a business in Cuba… In April 2012 my colleagues here wrote an extensive report on fraud in Cuba, revealed by a foreign blogger based in Cuba. However, it occurred to me that the ramifications of this article were not entirely analyzed and some important issues […]
This all started with Senator Marco Rubio who recently slammed the Obama administrations travel openings in the United States senate. Here is an excerpt of his floor speech: “When I look at this stuff, you know what I want to say? Come on, man! This is about promoting democracy and freedom in Cuba? […]
Behind the polished image of Cuba´s MINTUR (ministry of tourism) and their recent Autentica Cuba campaign lurks a sinister black market, or so we are told. Seldom do professionals from the travel industry in Cuba speak out and, less so when they are foreign travel professionals located on the island. Historically, fearful of […]
After a frenzied government hyped rush to become self employed the interest is waning and many Cubans have returned the coveted licenses which cost between 10 and 30 CUC (10-30$) per month to maintain. Recent visitors to Havana claim that things have reverted back to normal in the dusty streets of the city […]
This case has received a great amount of press over the past year, reaching fever pitch this week. With the trial now over, there are certain points worth taking note of that will probably decide the outcome for Mr. Gross. Both Governor Bill Richardson and Hillary Rodham Clinton have stated that they would consider […]
A decision by Cuban authorities to open up the island’s state-controlled economy to some private enterprise has seen many line up for a new business license. The fiscal overhaul was announced in September last year by president Raul Castro as a way to reinvigorate the economy, but is only now starting to show signs […]
As Cuba moves away from its 5 decade old ration book, many are still asking questions. Is this all just a cost cutting measure propped up by propaganda of greater freedoms? What is the average Cuban getting “new” these days? Well he can request to start a business in a pathetic array of vocations for […]
Close to death and probably to obvert further international outrage of jailed regime opposition, Cuba released Ariel Sigler Amaya, 46, who had been in prison for more than six years. “He is already home, they brought him by ambulance and carried him in on a stretcher because his health has greatly deteriorated,” his brother Juan […]
The system that allows islanders to buy food at deeply subsidized prices each month has long been one of the central building blocks of the country’s socialist system, providing everyone from surgeons to street-sweepers the same allotment of basic foods like rice, beans and a bit of chicken. Now, state-run media are suggesting the […]
Conceptually some guy who happens to be a Singer is holding a concert right? I can´t help but wonder what all the hoopla is about. But, then again maybe I can. If the concert was in any other city we´d learn little about it unless we lived there. It’s a bit like Sun City, Moscow […]
In yet another sign that Cuba is impatient to heel to the US and, probably more related to financial needs than actual desire, Raul Castro repeated with and air of impatience on Saturday that he is ready and willing to talk to the US….Again. It is now common knowledge that Cuba´s finances may not […]
