The Stay of Some Cubans in Costa Rica

The Stay of Some Cubans in Costa Rica / Ivan Garcia
Posted on December 6, 2015

Ivan Garcia, Costa Rica, 2 December 2015 — Just after 5:30 in the
afternoon, night falls on the Costa Rican village of La Cruz, some 12
miles from the Nicaraguan border.

It is a neighborhood of gentle slopes, clean streets and an agreeable
climate. Architecturally there's not much that stands out. One or
two-story houses and a central park right in the heart of the settlement.

Just to see the spectacular view from the restaurant-viewpoint of La
Cruz is worth the 160 mile trip from San Jose, the capital, to a town
where the news is the coming of more than 2,000 Cubans since the
beginning of November; Cubans who are camping out in half a dozen
shelters, hostels and private homes that rent their rooms to the
recently arrived.

"There is no doubt that it has revitalized the local economy. Now we
sell more bread, beer, food and cellphone lines. In addition, it has
enormously increased the Western Union bank transfers," says Sergio
Morales, who works at La Cruz town hall.

Starting at ten in the morning the Cubans wander through the park and
the shops. Or they line up at the tiny Western Union office to receive
remittances from their relatives in the United States.

The policy of the American financial company is paradoxical. In some
cities in Costa Rica they don't allow the Cubans to take out money. A
measure, Western Union in San Jose says by phone, that preceded the
current immigration crisis of 4,000 Cubans stranded in Costa Rica after
the decision by Daniel Ortega's government to close the border at Penas
Blancas.

In places like Paso Canoas, the Cuban "land rafters" cross into Panama
to collect the money transfers. In Liberia, the Western Union offices
pay in colones, the Costa Rican currency. Meanwhile, in other branches
they can only take out 100 dollars.

"It's a racist measure. If I get to the United States I'm going to sue
them. What differentiates a Cuban from another citizen of the world,"
says Yusdel Cueto, notably angry.

The inability to collect the transfers has created a network made up of
Cubans and Costa Ricans. Every morning, a venerable looking man who says
he's a lawyer puts his laptop on the table at the El Descanso hostel to
offer his services to Cubans in the Paso Canoas village, a stone's throw
from the border with Panama.

They call him 'the acceptance agent.' "For a 10% commission the man
takes care of paying the transfers," says Ruben, a Cuban who has spent
two weeks stranded in Costa Rica.

Consistent with the testimonies of the island's migrants, some villages
and towns with tiny economies have seen their businesses revive thanks
to money from Cubans trying to get to the United States.

"Puerto Obaldia, in Panama, is a miserable hamlet of fishermen where the
people are making money from the Cubans. The hotels in Paso Canoas, La
Cruz and Penas Blancas are 90% occupied by Cubans. Including charging us
higher prices, taking advantage of the moment and our needs," says
Ridel, a civil engineer who arrived in Costa Rica on 21 November.

While most Cubans count their pennies and anxiously await remittances
from the United States, others have sufficient capital to rent rooms,
pay for food, and live a dissipated life.

A hostel near the border can cost between 10 and 50 dollars a night. A
breakfast of gallo pinto (rice and black beans), scrambled eggs and
slices of bread, about two dollars. And the cheapest lunch is more than
three dollars.

However, in El Mirador restaurant, in La Cruz, a dozen Cubans are
drinking Costa Rican Imperial beer and paying for a dinner that costs
about 45 dollars.

"Aren't they worried about spending so much money in the midst of the
current immigration crisis?" asks Gregorio Justiz, a Cuban who is
drinking a double whiskey in a hostel, while watching the European
Champion League play soccer.

"Not all the Cubans here are paying for the trip with money from their
relatives in Florida. Some 60% to 70% have gotten the money by their own
efforts. There are those who sold their houses for 30,000 or 40,000
dollars. I, for example, had 5 cars and 2 jeeps that I rented as taxis
in Cuba. WIth the money from selling them I am paying for the trip,
Although as a precaution I gave the money to a cousin in New York and he
is sending it to me as I ask for it," he said.

After noon, while Costa Rican volunteers serve lunch in the crowded
shelters, a group of Cubans make a la carte food or rent cars to visit
nearby beaches.

When night falls, a bar glows dimly on one side of La Cruz village park,
and Cubans with ample wallets come to drink beer or rum with ice and
flirt with the girls. Cuban or Costa Rican. It's all the same.

Source: The Stay of Some Cubans in Costa Rica / Ivan Garcia |
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