Cuban Parliament Sessions Predict Somber Times / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya
14ymedio, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 28 December 2016 — On December 27th, at
the Havana Convention Center, the Eighth Session of the Eighth
Legislature of the Cuban Parliament opened, with a balance sheet on the
socio-economic results of the year ending and the proposed draft of the
National Budget Law for 2017.
This time, there is no good news or triumphant speeches. 2016 ended with
a 0.9% drop in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the report
presented by Ricardo Cabrisas, Minister of the Economy and
Vice-President of the Council of State, and there are no reasonable
grounds to date to believe that the forecast of a 2% growth of the GDP
for 2017 will be realized. In fact, that was the modest growth
prediction for the second half of this year, which finally failed.
Even more somber, Cubans will start the New Year with overdue payments
to suppliers. "It has not been possible to relieve the transitory
situation we are experiencing in the current payments to suppliers …",
indicated the general-president, Raúl Castro, in presenting the central
report, although he announced, without going into details, "a number of
measures that will alleviate the described scenario".
As for the 2017 budget plan, he cautioned: "I must warn that financial
tensions and challenges will persist that could even increase in certain
circumstances." The current difficulties related to the economic
downturn in 2016 will affect next year, the president stated, unless
three "permanent and decisive" objectives are met: guaranteeing exports
and working immediately to create the conditions to increase them in
successive years; identifying the possibilities in the national
production and substituting any level of imports; and reducing possible
non-essential expenses, among which he indicated trips abroad by the
cadres and leaders at different levels.
"We will have a definitive solution to these traditional deficits if we
produce more goods and services, both internally and externally, and
reduce expenses as much as possible," said Cabrisas. But the proposed
solutions revolve around the usual jingle of the last decades which is
never fulfilled, such as the one that proposes the substitution of
imports based on the development of national productions "with a
well-designed program" encompassing the entire national industry,
including the military, or a "greater requirement of the efficient use
of carriers to avoid purloining and theft," in addition to increased
controls in this area.
The Cuban president said that he attaches "great importance to the need
to boost foreign investment in Cuba" as an essential road for the
country's economic development. However, he made it clear that there are
forces opposing this solution, which are blocking this inflow: "I
recognize that we are not satisfied in this area and that excessive
delays in the negotiation process have been frequent. We need to
overcome, once and for all, the obsolete mentality of prejudices against
foreign investment and, to resolutely make strides in this direction, we
must shed false fears towards foreign capital."
The report by the Minister of the Economy detailed an opaque and
unpromising scenario for now and for the future, because of "the
persistence of existing financial constraints due to the non-fulfillment
of export earnings, the difficulties faced by some of our main partners
due to the fall in oil prices, and by the commercial and financial
blockade, strengthened by large fines to international banks that
transact business with our country."
In general, the budget plans for 2017 are similar to those of 2016,
except for lower fuel imports, which should stimulate the growth of
electric power generation from better utilization of the national
capabilities.
One confusing aspect is that, while figures on investments and imports
are expressed in dollars, the State's income and budget – including
so-called subsidies and other social benefits – are expressed in Cuban
pesos (CUP, that is the "national currency"). This creates a distortion
that masks the actual amount of profits and expenses.
For instance, it is stated that the State proposes to invest
$1,750,200,000 in food for the population ($82,000 more than in 2016),
although total imports in physical terms are similar to 2016. However,
we do not know the total amount of foreign exchange revenues generated
mainly from tourism, a sector that is controlled by the generalship.
The official reports remain mysteriously silent on this subject.
Something similar happens with the issue of monetary duality, an
insoluble distortion pending a solution and not mentioned among the
great problems that hinder foreign investment in Cuba.
Another problem of the domestic economy during 2016 was the positive
reaction of agricultural production, but the industry was unable to
respond to production, thus affecting the high level of imports to meet
the demand of the population. This is a situation that the Government
will try to reverse in the 2017 plans through an "accelerated
medium-term program to recover this industry and enable it to respond to
both domestic consumption and visitors."
The transportation sector is another old and pressing problem, although
it is officially acknowledged that "it is strategic for any of the
branches of social and economic development of the country", therefore,
its boost is projected for 2017.
In this sense, the State proposes 3% growth compared to 2016,
guaranteeing the essential services of national bus companies,
transportation for workers and for school children, as well as taxi and
cooperative services, in addition for guaranteeing necessary fuel "for
buses manufactured in 2017".
An interesting note was the Minister of the Economy's reference to
maintaining "the current production capacity of bicycles and spare
parts" as well as the importation of tires. In the present
circumstances, the mere mention of producing bicycles casts over the
Cuban population the lugubrious and counterproductive memory of the
hardest years of the Special Period.
Other figures for the 2017 plans were the program of 9,700 homes and the
start and development of an additional 4,890, similar indicators to
those in 2016, which were not met. This program will prioritize the
homes affected by Hurricane Matthew in Guantánamo and "those affected by
previous hurricanes in Pinar del Río and Santiago de Cuba".
But the most serious problem is that the solution to our economic ills,
foreign investment, remains extremely low at just 6.5% of the plan. In
other words, the provisions of Guideline 78, which gives an essential
role to this investment, are not fulfilled. Cabrisas stated: "These
projects need to be energized," starting with making a list of
investment projects for development that will guarantee the economic
development plan until 2030, "concentrating the efforts in strategic and
prioritized sectors."
Thus, 2017 investment takes into consideration supporting priority
tourism programs in Havana, Varadero, the Northern Keys, Holguín and in
the infrastructures of the Special Development Zone of Mariel (ZEDM) or
fuel storage, among others. Measures have also been developed to
increase salary systems in the development of tourism and ZEDM sectors.
An increase in the income levels of the population and the absorption
capacity of the State is projected in the plans. Productivity will grow
by 6.6% and the average wage by 3.5%. To accomplish this, it is
essential to avoid payments without productive results, the consistence
between the indicators, and taking into account added value, in order to
avoid monetary imbalance.
The preliminary draft of the 2017 budget foresees revenue growth of
1.525 million pesos, mainly from taxes on profits, an investment of the
state enterprise sector with 6.330 million pesos in increase in expenses
with respect to 2016, and an 11. 454 million fiscal deficit, 12% of the GDP.
The report of the Finance and Prices Minister, Lina Peraza, did not
offer much detail, other than that of the Minister of the Economy. It
seems that the "solution" for the Cuban economy has been reduced to a
simple list of elementary considerations, such as deepening the
country's financial obligations, assessing the impact on credit levels,
guaranteeing exports and substituting imports, making progress on
foreign investment projects, increasing controls in the use and
pilfering by energy carriers and stopping the decreasing trends in
production, among others. These are about the same solutions as in
previous years.
"The plan we are presenting to this Assembly is tense, (…) but we
believe we can meet it," Cabrisas said. "The above calls for willpower,
decision, organization, discipline and attention prioritized to all
these matters" especially by those responsible for enforcing them.
It has been a redundant day to announce the dark clouds that hang over
an unborn 2017, a somber gloomy Parliament on a somber Island. No one
expected an economic miracle, but perhaps the most candid were trying to
picture see some sign of change. For the time being, everything
indicates that Cuba is on its leaderless way, tottering towards some
enigmatic horizon.
Curiously, the greatest novelties now are what's missing: this is the
first session of Parliament without the shadow of a Fidel Castro -not
sufficiently alive or completely dead -vigilant and omniscient; there
was no Council of Ministers prior to the sessions, so that the last one,
held on July 25 of this year, was referred to; the full plenum of the
Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) was not held, and the former Minister of
the Economy, Mr. Marino Murillo, who accompanied the "Raúl reforms" for
a long time, was not seen at the sessions.
What these signals might mean would be material for another analysis.
Translated by Norma Whiting
Source: Cuban Parliament Sessions Predict Somber Times / 14ymedio,
Miriam Celaya – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/cuban-parliament-sessions-predict-somber-times-14ymedio-miriam-celaya/
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Legislative Proposal Would Grant Spanish Citizenship to More Cubans
Legislative Proposal Would Grant Spanish Citizenship to More Cubans /
Juan Juan Almeida
Juan Juan Almeida, 29 December 2017– On December 21 a leftist coalition
led by Spain's Podemos party introduced a legislative proposal that
could benefit thousands of Cubans, as well as people of other
nationalities, who are descendants of Spanish citizens born outside of
Spain.
If approved, the bill submitted to the Chamber of Deputies would grant
Spanish citizenship to descendants of Spaniards who had emigrated.
Spanish law had already made a person whose mother or father were
native-born Spaniards eligible for citizenship. Law 52/2007, also known
as the "Historical Memory Law" or the "Grandchildren's Law" expanded the
opportunity and, within two years and eleven months, some 446,277 people
had acquired citizenship under the law. 95.2% of them were from Latin
America, with more than half of the applications made through Spanish
consulates in Cuba and Argentina.
If approved, this legislation will greatly expand the number of
descendants eligible for Spanish citizenship. It would allow the mother
country to legally recognize, among others, grandchildren of Spanish
women born in Spain and married to a Spaniard before the adoption of the
1978 Spanish constitution and children of those who obtained citizenship
through Law 52/2007.
"Thousands of legislative proposals are made by various parliamentary
factions and not even 10% of them manage to get the necessary support in
the Spanish parliament. The Podemos proposal does not have this
support," says a source within the ruling party.
However, the proposal by the leftists comes at a significant as well as
opportune moment for thousands of Cubans of Spanish descent who were not
covered by the Historical Memory Law.
The year 2016, which is quickly coming to an end, was an important year
for the Cuban government. In terms of marketing, it was excellent.
President Barack Obama's visit at the end of March aroused people's hope
for a change. With the resumption of relations, they watched high-level
US officials parade through the Havana airport. The Old World's interest
in strengthening political-economic dialogue with the island culminated
in the repeal of the the EU's "Common Position" towards Cuba. And the
visit to Cuba by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan was the first by a
head of government from that country.
But in spite of all the publicity and the VIP visitors, the Cuban
people's prospects for development are obsolete and the arrival of much
anticipated changes is nowhere in sight.
This legislation would encourage many Cubans to look for an alternative
emigration route in light of the still ambiguous outlook for relations
between the United States and Cuba.
I personally am unaware how this law in the land of Serrano ham would
work. But I do know that, today, Spain is not prepared to handle an
influx of 100,000 new citizens, who will surely arrive seeking assistance.
Source: Legislative Proposal Would Grant Spanish Citizenship to More
Cubans / Juan Juan Almeida – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/legislative-proposal-would-grant-spanish-citizenship-to-more-cubans-juan-juan-almeida/
Juan Juan Almeida
Juan Juan Almeida, 29 December 2017– On December 21 a leftist coalition
led by Spain's Podemos party introduced a legislative proposal that
could benefit thousands of Cubans, as well as people of other
nationalities, who are descendants of Spanish citizens born outside of
Spain.
If approved, the bill submitted to the Chamber of Deputies would grant
Spanish citizenship to descendants of Spaniards who had emigrated.
Spanish law had already made a person whose mother or father were
native-born Spaniards eligible for citizenship. Law 52/2007, also known
as the "Historical Memory Law" or the "Grandchildren's Law" expanded the
opportunity and, within two years and eleven months, some 446,277 people
had acquired citizenship under the law. 95.2% of them were from Latin
America, with more than half of the applications made through Spanish
consulates in Cuba and Argentina.
If approved, this legislation will greatly expand the number of
descendants eligible for Spanish citizenship. It would allow the mother
country to legally recognize, among others, grandchildren of Spanish
women born in Spain and married to a Spaniard before the adoption of the
1978 Spanish constitution and children of those who obtained citizenship
through Law 52/2007.
"Thousands of legislative proposals are made by various parliamentary
factions and not even 10% of them manage to get the necessary support in
the Spanish parliament. The Podemos proposal does not have this
support," says a source within the ruling party.
However, the proposal by the leftists comes at a significant as well as
opportune moment for thousands of Cubans of Spanish descent who were not
covered by the Historical Memory Law.
The year 2016, which is quickly coming to an end, was an important year
for the Cuban government. In terms of marketing, it was excellent.
President Barack Obama's visit at the end of March aroused people's hope
for a change. With the resumption of relations, they watched high-level
US officials parade through the Havana airport. The Old World's interest
in strengthening political-economic dialogue with the island culminated
in the repeal of the the EU's "Common Position" towards Cuba. And the
visit to Cuba by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan was the first by a
head of government from that country.
But in spite of all the publicity and the VIP visitors, the Cuban
people's prospects for development are obsolete and the arrival of much
anticipated changes is nowhere in sight.
This legislation would encourage many Cubans to look for an alternative
emigration route in light of the still ambiguous outlook for relations
between the United States and Cuba.
I personally am unaware how this law in the land of Serrano ham would
work. But I do know that, today, Spain is not prepared to handle an
influx of 100,000 new citizens, who will surely arrive seeking assistance.
Source: Legislative Proposal Would Grant Spanish Citizenship to More
Cubans / Juan Juan Almeida – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/legislative-proposal-would-grant-spanish-citizenship-to-more-cubans-juan-juan-almeida/
Inter-American Press Association Names Henry Constantin Vice President for Cuba
Inter-American Press Association Names Henry Constantin Vice President
for Cuba / 14ymedio
14ymedio, 30 December 2016 — The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA)
has named independent journalist Henry Constantín Ferreiro as regional
vice president for Cuba. Director of the magazine La Hora de Cuba and a
resident of the city of Camagüey, the reporter told 14ymedio that he
intends to defend and spread "the reality of journalism" on the island
from his new responsibility.
A few hours after the announcement, Constantín told this newspaper via
phone that he received the news with a mixture of "surprise and pride"
and said he was grateful to be part of an organization that "has engaged
in numerous battles over the freedom of the press in the region."
Born in 1984, Constantín is a contributor to several independent media,
including the magazine Coexistence. He studied journalism for several
semester as an undergraduate and also the specialty of film direction at
the Higher Institute of Art (ISA).
The reporter feels that the journalism in Cuba is going through "a
special moment" marked by "an increasing plurality, although still
restrained by the government." On the island there are "media that cover
almost the entire political spectrum," says the new vice president of
the IAPA.
"In this new year we will have to defend the national press because
although the context is new, the threats are the same and some of them
are even growing," Constantín points out.
Upon his appointment, the reporter will be responsible for reporting the
violations of press freedom that occur in the country and for drafting
the report that is published each semester by IAPA.
Previously, the vice president for Cuba was occupied by journalist and
director of 14ymedio Yoani Sanchez, who assumed the responsibility in 2012.
Last November, Henry Constantín was detained at Customs at the Ignacio
Agramonte International Airport in Camaguey, on his arrival from
Miami. The dissident was taken to a police station where his mobile
phone and his laptop were confiscated.
Source: Inter-American Press Association Names Henry Constantin Vice
President for Cuba / 14ymedio – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/inter-american-press-association-names-henry-constantin-vice-president-for-cuba-14ymedio/
for Cuba / 14ymedio
14ymedio, 30 December 2016 — The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA)
has named independent journalist Henry Constantín Ferreiro as regional
vice president for Cuba. Director of the magazine La Hora de Cuba and a
resident of the city of Camagüey, the reporter told 14ymedio that he
intends to defend and spread "the reality of journalism" on the island
from his new responsibility.
A few hours after the announcement, Constantín told this newspaper via
phone that he received the news with a mixture of "surprise and pride"
and said he was grateful to be part of an organization that "has engaged
in numerous battles over the freedom of the press in the region."
Born in 1984, Constantín is a contributor to several independent media,
including the magazine Coexistence. He studied journalism for several
semester as an undergraduate and also the specialty of film direction at
the Higher Institute of Art (ISA).
The reporter feels that the journalism in Cuba is going through "a
special moment" marked by "an increasing plurality, although still
restrained by the government." On the island there are "media that cover
almost the entire political spectrum," says the new vice president of
the IAPA.
"In this new year we will have to defend the national press because
although the context is new, the threats are the same and some of them
are even growing," Constantín points out.
Upon his appointment, the reporter will be responsible for reporting the
violations of press freedom that occur in the country and for drafting
the report that is published each semester by IAPA.
Previously, the vice president for Cuba was occupied by journalist and
director of 14ymedio Yoani Sanchez, who assumed the responsibility in 2012.
Last November, Henry Constantín was detained at Customs at the Ignacio
Agramonte International Airport in Camaguey, on his arrival from
Miami. The dissident was taken to a police station where his mobile
phone and his laptop were confiscated.
Source: Inter-American Press Association Names Henry Constantin Vice
President for Cuba / 14ymedio – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/inter-american-press-association-names-henry-constantin-vice-president-for-cuba-14ymedio/
What Will Become of Cuba?
What Will Become of Cuba? / Paulina Alfonso
Cubanet, Paulina Alfonso, 26 December 2016 — What will become of Cuba in
the new year now that Fidel Castro is gone? This is a question only
foreigners ask. It is of no interest to most Cubans. They have other
concerns: how to get out, how to survive and what number to bet on in
the Florida lottery.
The ten years since the Comandante retired have been a period of
transition during which his successor, Raul Castro propped up the regime
and tested new economic methods.
Some political analysts believe that Raul Castro will now feel less
pressured if he were to make attempts to alleviate the difficult
economic situation threatening his government.
Although Raúl Castro has made a commendable effort in the last ten years
to improve the Cuban economy, his reforms — he refuses to label them as
such — have not gone much beyond changes in land distribution,
emigration laws, and the freedom to buy and sell cars and homes. An
expansion of the private sector has not had a significant impact or led
to a vital economic turnaround.
The main goal, the lifting of the US embargo, was not achieved despite
President Obama's policy toward Cuba. There is still no realistic
possibility of the embargo being lifted, at least for the next four years.
Thus, Raúl Castro's only option is try to improve Cubans' standard of
living, which might allow him to at least regain some of their respect
and discourage young people, for whom the current situation offers
nothing, from emigrating.
Raúl Castro has publicly indicated he plans to retire from government in
2018. Most analysts agree that he will not be able to accomplish
anything he set out to do in the time remaining.
All indications are that Raúl Castro has run out of ideas and has chosen
to broaden the current economic reforms — he refers to them as "updates"
— as much as he can to at least maintain the status quo.
Will Miguel Díaz-Canel be the means by Raúl Castro maintains this status
quo? The fifty-six-year-old politician appointed to succeed the general
appears to be a new and improved version of his predecessor, José Ramón
Machado Ventura.
For example, Díaz-Canel is never without his smart phone, communicates
through Facebook and has a Twitter account. His speeches, though far
from eloquent, are more realistic and down-to-earth. He increasingly
announces policies that appeal to young people, especially when they
pertain to things such as internet access, though nothing that could be
called transformative.
They do not include constitutional changes that would codify separation
of powers or ten-year term limits. That is yet to be seen. And let's not
forget that none of this has anything to do with political power.
As has been the case since 1975, the first secretary of the Cuban
Communist Party (PCC) presides over the Coucil of State and the Council
of Ministers and is the country's highest office. The post will go to
the the person who is elected by the next Communist Party congress.
Miguel Díaz-Canel is not the second party secretary; that is Machado
Ventura. Getting to be second party secretary will be Díaz-Canel's main
task, even though he is widely known to have been chosen as the successor.
The PCC has a large inventory of veteran cadres with their own ideas and
more experience than Diaz-Canel. If they accept him — and this is
especially true of members of the military — it will be out of
discipline and not because they see him as a leader to be followed.
In reality, the Council of State and Council of Ministers posts are
strictly formalities. If Raúl Castro were to disappear tomorrow, the
real power would revert to the PCC and whoever is its leader.
Nevertheless, all the regime can do now is wait until Donald Trump takes
office and see if he maintains the process of normalization of relations
with Cuba or deals it a fatal blow.
Author contact: palfonso44es@gmail.com
Source: What Will Become of Cuba? / Paulina Alfonso – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/what-will-become-of-cuba-paulina-alfonso/
Cubanet, Paulina Alfonso, 26 December 2016 — What will become of Cuba in
the new year now that Fidel Castro is gone? This is a question only
foreigners ask. It is of no interest to most Cubans. They have other
concerns: how to get out, how to survive and what number to bet on in
the Florida lottery.
The ten years since the Comandante retired have been a period of
transition during which his successor, Raul Castro propped up the regime
and tested new economic methods.
Some political analysts believe that Raul Castro will now feel less
pressured if he were to make attempts to alleviate the difficult
economic situation threatening his government.
Although Raúl Castro has made a commendable effort in the last ten years
to improve the Cuban economy, his reforms — he refuses to label them as
such — have not gone much beyond changes in land distribution,
emigration laws, and the freedom to buy and sell cars and homes. An
expansion of the private sector has not had a significant impact or led
to a vital economic turnaround.
The main goal, the lifting of the US embargo, was not achieved despite
President Obama's policy toward Cuba. There is still no realistic
possibility of the embargo being lifted, at least for the next four years.
Thus, Raúl Castro's only option is try to improve Cubans' standard of
living, which might allow him to at least regain some of their respect
and discourage young people, for whom the current situation offers
nothing, from emigrating.
Raúl Castro has publicly indicated he plans to retire from government in
2018. Most analysts agree that he will not be able to accomplish
anything he set out to do in the time remaining.
All indications are that Raúl Castro has run out of ideas and has chosen
to broaden the current economic reforms — he refers to them as "updates"
— as much as he can to at least maintain the status quo.
Will Miguel Díaz-Canel be the means by Raúl Castro maintains this status
quo? The fifty-six-year-old politician appointed to succeed the general
appears to be a new and improved version of his predecessor, José Ramón
Machado Ventura.
For example, Díaz-Canel is never without his smart phone, communicates
through Facebook and has a Twitter account. His speeches, though far
from eloquent, are more realistic and down-to-earth. He increasingly
announces policies that appeal to young people, especially when they
pertain to things such as internet access, though nothing that could be
called transformative.
They do not include constitutional changes that would codify separation
of powers or ten-year term limits. That is yet to be seen. And let's not
forget that none of this has anything to do with political power.
As has been the case since 1975, the first secretary of the Cuban
Communist Party (PCC) presides over the Coucil of State and the Council
of Ministers and is the country's highest office. The post will go to
the the person who is elected by the next Communist Party congress.
Miguel Díaz-Canel is not the second party secretary; that is Machado
Ventura. Getting to be second party secretary will be Díaz-Canel's main
task, even though he is widely known to have been chosen as the successor.
The PCC has a large inventory of veteran cadres with their own ideas and
more experience than Diaz-Canel. If they accept him — and this is
especially true of members of the military — it will be out of
discipline and not because they see him as a leader to be followed.
In reality, the Council of State and Council of Ministers posts are
strictly formalities. If Raúl Castro were to disappear tomorrow, the
real power would revert to the PCC and whoever is its leader.
Nevertheless, all the regime can do now is wait until Donald Trump takes
office and see if he maintains the process of normalization of relations
with Cuba or deals it a fatal blow.
Author contact: palfonso44es@gmail.com
Source: What Will Become of Cuba? / Paulina Alfonso – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/what-will-become-of-cuba-paulina-alfonso/
It’s Time For Politics To Stop Separating Families And Friends
It's Time For Politics To Stop Separating Families And Friends /
14ymedio, Pedro Campos
14ymedio, Pedro Campos, Havana, 29 December 2016 — The model imposed in
Cuba in the name of a socialism that never existed had, among its worst
results, the politicization of everything. Families fought over
politics. Friends became enemies. This was one of the most disastrous
consequences of the "revolutionary intransigence" in which several
generations of Cubans were (badly) educated.
This intransigence, generated by the group in power, facilitated the
development of others.
The phenomenon affected practically every family and friendship, which
according to tradition had always remained very united. The divisions
began in 1959, when the provisional government that was intended to give
way to the restoration of institutionalized democracy, failed to do so
and turned itself into a permanent revolutionary government that began
to apply justice in its own way.
Immediately, more than a few began to see how to advance the centralized
and anti-democratic policies, traditionally identified with communism,
that had done so much damage in Europe and which, in the island's past,
had been linked to Batista, the tyrant who was expelled from power.
Disagreement in democracy is normal, but when there is none and dissent
is considered treason and is not accepted, as in Cuba in the early days
after the triumph of the Revolution, thinking differently is identified
as "counterrevolutionary."
With the first "counterrevolutionaries" began the first great exodus and
many families stopped seeing each other or even communicating for many
years. Then came other waves. In the early 80's, some of those who had
gone into exile began to return to visit and that began to break the ice.
It was not easy for families to welcome "worms" and "traitors" who now
returned with gifts and greater incomes, from a country with another
language, culture, climate and traditions. People were afraid that they
could lose their membership in the Communist Party or a government job.
Some of those who remained in Cuba would not receive their relatives at
that time. Or old friends would not visit with them.
With time and new waves of migration, many of those who had refused to
receive their relatives or friends also went into exile. During the
Mariel Boatlift, some had participated in the repudiation rallies and
shouted, "Let the scum go." They threw eggs. And later, more than a few
them took the same path.
The intransigents insist on continuing to confront families and friends
over politics, and they still reject friendships between people who
think differently, but there are also people who feel individuals are
separate from their ideas and they leave them alone, considering them
friends. Pope Francis comes to mind when he talked about "social
friendship."
In Miami, on the other side, there are also intransigents. Both sides
make it all the more difficult.
Now, in the aftermath of the former leader's death, we hear again about
"revolutionaries" who did not make friendships carry the weight of
politics and did not accept judgments about the consequences of their
imprint on democracy and socialism. Intolerance is necessary for nothing
to change.
There are many people who do not lend themselves to politics destroying
families and friendships. They are fundamental pillars of the future Cuba.
Today, because of the wide exchanges among all Cubans, despite the
intolerance expressed from the rulers, there is more tolerance. This is
part of the preparation necessary to live in a democracy, which will
come sooner rather than later.
It is time for politics to stop separating families and friends. We are
in a good moment for it. Cuba, to advance, needs to leave behind so much
confrontation, so much stubbornness, so much stupidity. Perhaps all
that, on both sides, reached the highest possible point in recent days,
and now, like all that rises, it must descend.
It must be understood that, regardless of the political differences, we
Cubans will one day have to talk to each other and sit together in a
democratic parliament leaving behind grudges and the difficult and
dramatic moments of our history, leading with the future and looking for
a way to accept ourselves in our diversity.
There will have to be apologies and pardons, difficult encounters. If
not men, history will punish crimes and abuses. There will have to be
changes in political power, it will have to be peaceful and democratic,
but blood must be avoided in order not to resume the cycle of violence,
if we really want to see Cuba as a great nation with its international
economic and political weight. Politics will have to give way to family
and friendship. A divided country is easily made a victim of national
and global hegemonies.
Source: It's Time For Politics To Stop Separating Families And Friends /
14ymedio, Pedro Campos – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/its-time-for-politics-to-stop-separating-families-and-friends-14ymedio-pedro-campos/
14ymedio, Pedro Campos
14ymedio, Pedro Campos, Havana, 29 December 2016 — The model imposed in
Cuba in the name of a socialism that never existed had, among its worst
results, the politicization of everything. Families fought over
politics. Friends became enemies. This was one of the most disastrous
consequences of the "revolutionary intransigence" in which several
generations of Cubans were (badly) educated.
This intransigence, generated by the group in power, facilitated the
development of others.
The phenomenon affected practically every family and friendship, which
according to tradition had always remained very united. The divisions
began in 1959, when the provisional government that was intended to give
way to the restoration of institutionalized democracy, failed to do so
and turned itself into a permanent revolutionary government that began
to apply justice in its own way.
Immediately, more than a few began to see how to advance the centralized
and anti-democratic policies, traditionally identified with communism,
that had done so much damage in Europe and which, in the island's past,
had been linked to Batista, the tyrant who was expelled from power.
Disagreement in democracy is normal, but when there is none and dissent
is considered treason and is not accepted, as in Cuba in the early days
after the triumph of the Revolution, thinking differently is identified
as "counterrevolutionary."
With the first "counterrevolutionaries" began the first great exodus and
many families stopped seeing each other or even communicating for many
years. Then came other waves. In the early 80's, some of those who had
gone into exile began to return to visit and that began to break the ice.
It was not easy for families to welcome "worms" and "traitors" who now
returned with gifts and greater incomes, from a country with another
language, culture, climate and traditions. People were afraid that they
could lose their membership in the Communist Party or a government job.
Some of those who remained in Cuba would not receive their relatives at
that time. Or old friends would not visit with them.
With time and new waves of migration, many of those who had refused to
receive their relatives or friends also went into exile. During the
Mariel Boatlift, some had participated in the repudiation rallies and
shouted, "Let the scum go." They threw eggs. And later, more than a few
them took the same path.
The intransigents insist on continuing to confront families and friends
over politics, and they still reject friendships between people who
think differently, but there are also people who feel individuals are
separate from their ideas and they leave them alone, considering them
friends. Pope Francis comes to mind when he talked about "social
friendship."
In Miami, on the other side, there are also intransigents. Both sides
make it all the more difficult.
Now, in the aftermath of the former leader's death, we hear again about
"revolutionaries" who did not make friendships carry the weight of
politics and did not accept judgments about the consequences of their
imprint on democracy and socialism. Intolerance is necessary for nothing
to change.
There are many people who do not lend themselves to politics destroying
families and friendships. They are fundamental pillars of the future Cuba.
Today, because of the wide exchanges among all Cubans, despite the
intolerance expressed from the rulers, there is more tolerance. This is
part of the preparation necessary to live in a democracy, which will
come sooner rather than later.
It is time for politics to stop separating families and friends. We are
in a good moment for it. Cuba, to advance, needs to leave behind so much
confrontation, so much stubbornness, so much stupidity. Perhaps all
that, on both sides, reached the highest possible point in recent days,
and now, like all that rises, it must descend.
It must be understood that, regardless of the political differences, we
Cubans will one day have to talk to each other and sit together in a
democratic parliament leaving behind grudges and the difficult and
dramatic moments of our history, leading with the future and looking for
a way to accept ourselves in our diversity.
There will have to be apologies and pardons, difficult encounters. If
not men, history will punish crimes and abuses. There will have to be
changes in political power, it will have to be peaceful and democratic,
but blood must be avoided in order not to resume the cycle of violence,
if we really want to see Cuba as a great nation with its international
economic and political weight. Politics will have to give way to family
and friendship. A divided country is easily made a victim of national
and global hegemonies.
Source: It's Time For Politics To Stop Separating Families And Friends /
14ymedio, Pedro Campos – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/its-time-for-politics-to-stop-separating-families-and-friends-14ymedio-pedro-campos/
Citizens… Time To Tighten Your Belts
Citizens… Time To Tighten Your Belts / 14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez
14ymedio, Generation Y, Yoani Sanchez, 29 December 2016 – My generation
knows no good news. We grew up with the grey subsidies of the rationed
market, we reached puberty amid the rigors of the Special Period, we
raised our children in a country with two currencies, and now they warn
us that times of economic stress are coming. It appears there is no
respite from this long sequence of disasters, collapses and cuts that we
have suffered for decades.
This December the National Assembly of People's Power acknowledged the
negative numbers that reality made clear long ago: Cuba is not growing,
production is not recovering, and the so-call Raulist reforms have not
given citizens a better life. The island is heading toward the abyss of
defaults, cuts in vital sectors of the economy, and continued stagnation.
In other places, the rulers would resign before the panorama facing this
nation, due – in great measure – to bad management. However, since the
general president did not win office by a popular vote, no one can
punish him at the ballot boxes in the next elections. To the opposition
that has demanded his departure, the iron fist of repression and
punishment is always applied.
Instead of a mea culpa, the officials who, on Tuesday, detailed the
economic debacle and in somber tones said it will continue in the coming
year, have called for greater productivity, a reduction in superfluous
expenses, and using the so-called "efficiency reserves," the final
official euphemism used to explain what little remains in the national
treasury.
However, a few hours after concluding the parliamentary session in which
such bad omens were unveiled, the second of the three planned test runs
began – Friday will be the third – for the huge military parade that
will be staged in Havana's Plaza of the Revolution on 2 January. A mass
gathering, with parades of war tanks and soldiers marching in lockstep,
that will cost Cuba hundreds of thousands of pesos, if not millions.
The traffic on the capital's most important arteries has been paralyzed
as of the early morning hours of yesterday, Wednesday. Thousands of
state employees didn't have to complete their workday, and a long line
of buses had to travel from various municipalities to the parade
grounds. Countless snacks were distributed among the most faithful
participants in what is coming to be seen as a "Raulist coronation." The
younger brother has planned his own investiture in power, now on his
own, after the death of the former president Fidel Castro.
Why this waste of military resources in the middle of the crisis that
the country is going through? Such delusions of grandeur are not
consistent with the 0.9% decline in GDP this year. This military parade,
with its boasts of strength and a "baring of teeth," will squander some
of the resources needed to repair the deteriorated roads of the island,
to give just one example.
In this city that has suffered serious cuts in public lighting, where
the last-hour bus terminal have been overwhelmed before the lack of
interprovincial transport, and where a pound of pork costs up to two
day's wages, what will take place this coming Monday is far beyond
wastefulness, it is a sign of lack of respect.
And so, there are certain politicians. They call – for the umpteenth
time – for a tightening of belts and a reduction in the expectations for
a better life, while they waste enormous quantities of national
resources playing at war.
Source: Citizens… Time To Tighten Your Belts / 14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez –
Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/citizens-time-to-tighten-your-belts-14ymedio-yoani-sanchez/
14ymedio, Generation Y, Yoani Sanchez, 29 December 2016 – My generation
knows no good news. We grew up with the grey subsidies of the rationed
market, we reached puberty amid the rigors of the Special Period, we
raised our children in a country with two currencies, and now they warn
us that times of economic stress are coming. It appears there is no
respite from this long sequence of disasters, collapses and cuts that we
have suffered for decades.
This December the National Assembly of People's Power acknowledged the
negative numbers that reality made clear long ago: Cuba is not growing,
production is not recovering, and the so-call Raulist reforms have not
given citizens a better life. The island is heading toward the abyss of
defaults, cuts in vital sectors of the economy, and continued stagnation.
In other places, the rulers would resign before the panorama facing this
nation, due – in great measure – to bad management. However, since the
general president did not win office by a popular vote, no one can
punish him at the ballot boxes in the next elections. To the opposition
that has demanded his departure, the iron fist of repression and
punishment is always applied.
Instead of a mea culpa, the officials who, on Tuesday, detailed the
economic debacle and in somber tones said it will continue in the coming
year, have called for greater productivity, a reduction in superfluous
expenses, and using the so-called "efficiency reserves," the final
official euphemism used to explain what little remains in the national
treasury.
However, a few hours after concluding the parliamentary session in which
such bad omens were unveiled, the second of the three planned test runs
began – Friday will be the third – for the huge military parade that
will be staged in Havana's Plaza of the Revolution on 2 January. A mass
gathering, with parades of war tanks and soldiers marching in lockstep,
that will cost Cuba hundreds of thousands of pesos, if not millions.
The traffic on the capital's most important arteries has been paralyzed
as of the early morning hours of yesterday, Wednesday. Thousands of
state employees didn't have to complete their workday, and a long line
of buses had to travel from various municipalities to the parade
grounds. Countless snacks were distributed among the most faithful
participants in what is coming to be seen as a "Raulist coronation." The
younger brother has planned his own investiture in power, now on his
own, after the death of the former president Fidel Castro.
Why this waste of military resources in the middle of the crisis that
the country is going through? Such delusions of grandeur are not
consistent with the 0.9% decline in GDP this year. This military parade,
with its boasts of strength and a "baring of teeth," will squander some
of the resources needed to repair the deteriorated roads of the island,
to give just one example.
In this city that has suffered serious cuts in public lighting, where
the last-hour bus terminal have been overwhelmed before the lack of
interprovincial transport, and where a pound of pork costs up to two
day's wages, what will take place this coming Monday is far beyond
wastefulness, it is a sign of lack of respect.
And so, there are certain politicians. They call – for the umpteenth
time – for a tightening of belts and a reduction in the expectations for
a better life, while they waste enormous quantities of national
resources playing at war.
Source: Citizens… Time To Tighten Your Belts / 14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez –
Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/citizens-time-to-tighten-your-belts-14ymedio-yoani-sanchez/
Hola Ola Technology Park Rush to Open Leaves Some Users Disappointed
Hola Ola Technology Park Rush to Open Leaves Some Users Disappointed /
14ymedio, Zunilda Mata
14ymedio, Zunilda Mata, Havana, 29 December 2016 — The long-awaited
installation of an internet connection area on Havana's Malecon has
taken its first step. The opening of the Hola Ola Technology Park last
weekend was welcomed with great enthusiasm by the state media that
described the infrastructure as "the architecture of high technology."
The center, managed by the Youth Computer and Electronics Club (JCCE),
has two rooms, one of them with 15 computers and 32-inch TVs for playing
computer games, and another with 15 more machines and electronic games,
among them several simulators, as announced by the provincial director
of the capital's Youth Club, Brigida Baeza Bravo. In practice, a visit
to the center is enough to confirm that there are about 20 computers
that lack access to the internet.
It is clear that the Technology Park was opened in haste and its first
breakdowns are already visible. Tuesday, the simulators for flying,
driving and shooting, installed by the Ministry of the Armed Forces
(Minfar), were having software problems and were unusable, pending the
necessary fixes.
The end-of-year school holidays have stimulated people's interest in
bringing their children to Hola Ola (Hello Wave) to better fill their
time. One employee tried to give them hope, this Tuesday, in the face of
the mishap that caused the breakdown. "The machines will be repaired
very soon, but the FAR (Revolutionary Armed Forces) will have to do it,"
she explained.
The explanation did not seem to improve the mood of the frustrated
visitors who demanded their time in at the controls or with the toy gun
and, to ease the situation, the employee reminded them of the air
conditioned room with video games. The line began to extend beyond the
compound, where the use of a computer costs two Cuban pesos (CUP) an
hour (about 8 cents US).
One mother with two small children waited her turn in the cafeteria. "No
one can eat this croquette, it's dry and they didn't even use
breadcrumbs to make it go down better," the woman complained, having
paid two Cuban pesos for the product.
Another of the services announced in the official press by Brigida Baeza
is the rental of tablets, who use was intended to be free during the
opening days until a reasonable fee was approved. But the option, for
now, is not available to the public.
But the biggest attraction of the site, for the users of Hola Ola, is
the wifi access area installed around the perimeter. The network,
managed by the Telecommunications Company of Cuba (Etecsa), is also not
working to its full capacity, because the antennas are not operational
in the back, where the barbecue is located.
There is also no place on site to buy the Nauta cards needed to connect
to the internet, which also limits the experience of would-be net
surfers, a problem that will be solved "very soon," according to several
employees consulted by this newspaper.
"It's the wifi area closest to me," said Amarilys, a Havanan of 34 who
lives in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood, although she complains that "the
price to connect is still very high," despite Etecsa's recent drop from
2 Cuban Convertible pesos (CUC) an hour (roughly $2 US) to 1.50 CUC.
The infrastructure problems affecting Hola Ola also affected its
bathrooms this Tuesday, which were flooded by a water leak.
Nevertheless, the desire of many citizens to connect to the internet is
huge and the web surfers didn't let any of these inconveniences ruin the
kilobyte party.
Cuba is one of the countries with the least internet connectivity in the
world. In the last couple of years about 1,100 internet connection
points have been enabled on the island, both in navigation rooms with
computers provided, and in outdoor wifi zones, but many websites
critical of the government remain censored and cannot be accessed from
the island, the connection speed is low, and the service suffers from
frequent outages.
Source: Hola Ola Technology Park Rush to Open Leaves Some Users
Disappointed / 14ymedio, Zunilda Mata – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/hola-ola-technology-park-rush-to-open-leaves-some-users-disappointed-14ymedio-zunilda-mata/
14ymedio, Zunilda Mata
14ymedio, Zunilda Mata, Havana, 29 December 2016 — The long-awaited
installation of an internet connection area on Havana's Malecon has
taken its first step. The opening of the Hola Ola Technology Park last
weekend was welcomed with great enthusiasm by the state media that
described the infrastructure as "the architecture of high technology."
The center, managed by the Youth Computer and Electronics Club (JCCE),
has two rooms, one of them with 15 computers and 32-inch TVs for playing
computer games, and another with 15 more machines and electronic games,
among them several simulators, as announced by the provincial director
of the capital's Youth Club, Brigida Baeza Bravo. In practice, a visit
to the center is enough to confirm that there are about 20 computers
that lack access to the internet.
It is clear that the Technology Park was opened in haste and its first
breakdowns are already visible. Tuesday, the simulators for flying,
driving and shooting, installed by the Ministry of the Armed Forces
(Minfar), were having software problems and were unusable, pending the
necessary fixes.
The end-of-year school holidays have stimulated people's interest in
bringing their children to Hola Ola (Hello Wave) to better fill their
time. One employee tried to give them hope, this Tuesday, in the face of
the mishap that caused the breakdown. "The machines will be repaired
very soon, but the FAR (Revolutionary Armed Forces) will have to do it,"
she explained.
The explanation did not seem to improve the mood of the frustrated
visitors who demanded their time in at the controls or with the toy gun
and, to ease the situation, the employee reminded them of the air
conditioned room with video games. The line began to extend beyond the
compound, where the use of a computer costs two Cuban pesos (CUP) an
hour (about 8 cents US).
One mother with two small children waited her turn in the cafeteria. "No
one can eat this croquette, it's dry and they didn't even use
breadcrumbs to make it go down better," the woman complained, having
paid two Cuban pesos for the product.
Another of the services announced in the official press by Brigida Baeza
is the rental of tablets, who use was intended to be free during the
opening days until a reasonable fee was approved. But the option, for
now, is not available to the public.
But the biggest attraction of the site, for the users of Hola Ola, is
the wifi access area installed around the perimeter. The network,
managed by the Telecommunications Company of Cuba (Etecsa), is also not
working to its full capacity, because the antennas are not operational
in the back, where the barbecue is located.
There is also no place on site to buy the Nauta cards needed to connect
to the internet, which also limits the experience of would-be net
surfers, a problem that will be solved "very soon," according to several
employees consulted by this newspaper.
"It's the wifi area closest to me," said Amarilys, a Havanan of 34 who
lives in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood, although she complains that "the
price to connect is still very high," despite Etecsa's recent drop from
2 Cuban Convertible pesos (CUC) an hour (roughly $2 US) to 1.50 CUC.
The infrastructure problems affecting Hola Ola also affected its
bathrooms this Tuesday, which were flooded by a water leak.
Nevertheless, the desire of many citizens to connect to the internet is
huge and the web surfers didn't let any of these inconveniences ruin the
kilobyte party.
Cuba is one of the countries with the least internet connectivity in the
world. In the last couple of years about 1,100 internet connection
points have been enabled on the island, both in navigation rooms with
computers provided, and in outdoor wifi zones, but many websites
critical of the government remain censored and cannot be accessed from
the island, the connection speed is low, and the service suffers from
frequent outages.
Source: Hola Ola Technology Park Rush to Open Leaves Some Users
Disappointed / 14ymedio, Zunilda Mata – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/hola-ola-technology-park-rush-to-open-leaves-some-users-disappointed-14ymedio-zunilda-mata/
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