Yearly Archives: 2011

News and Articles, February 14 – 20, 2011

Posted on February 14, 2011 by anafaya

AJC, February 20: Still no layoffs in Cuba 5 months after announced http://m.ajc.com/business/still-no-layoffs-in-845615.html

Juventud Rebelde, 20 de febrero: Elegidos Fidel y Raúl delegados al VI Congreso del Partido, en Santiago de Cuba http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2011-02-19/elegidos-fidel-y-raul-delegados-al-vi-congreso-del-partido-en-santiago-de-cuba/

Sify News, February 20: Cuba to host international cigar festival http://www.sify.com/news/cuba-to-host-international-cigar-festival-news-international-lculkgddcac.html

El Nuevo Herald, 19 de febrero: Crece la ansiedad por la espera de despidos http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2011/02/19/889485/crece-la-ansiedad-por-la-espera.html

Cuba Standard.Com, February 18: Habanos announces growth amid crisis, appoints new co-president http://www.cubastandard.com/2011/02/18/habanos-announces-growth-amid-crisis-appoints-new-co-president/

América Económica, 18 de febrero: La salud de Fidel http://www.americaeconomica.com/index.php?noticia=5643&name=MERCADOS%20Y%20FINANZAS

Cubanet, 18 de febrero: Entre la culpa y el miedo http://www.cubanet.org/articulos/entre-la-culpa-y-el-miedo/

EFE, 18 de febrero: Diario oficial llama a tomar conciencia de los gastos de la salud pública en Cuba http://es.noticias.yahoo.com/9/20110218/tsc-diario-oficial-llama-a-tomar-concien-539a483.html

AFP, 18 de febrero: El crudo enviado a Cuba es un negocio rentable para Venezuela http://es.noticias.yahoo.com/12/20110218/tbs-el-crudo-enviado-a-cuba-es-un-negoci-5268574.html

EFE, 17 de febrero: Cuba registró 106 accidentes ferroviarios con 19 fallecidos en 2010 http://es.noticias.yahoo.com/9/20110217/twl-cuba-registro-106-accidentes-ferrovi-6aad12c.html

The Miami Herald, February 17: Communist Party is reportedly telling its members not to shun the self-employment http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2011/02/communist-party-is-reportedly-telling-its-members-not-to-shun-the-self-employed.html

El Nuevo Herald, 17 de febrero: Cubanos dudan de cambios en la agricultura http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2011/02/17/888121/cubanos-dudan-de-cambios-en-agricultura.html

Diario de Cuba, 17 de febrero: Experto oficialista pide menos planificación y más mercado http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/3177-experto-oficialista-pide-menos-planificacion-y-mas-mercado

Espacio Laical, no. 123, febrero: Desarticular el monopolio de la centralización estatal http://espaciolaical.org/contens/esp/sd_123.pdf

Cubanet, 17 de febrero: Azúcar y arroz por las nubes http://www.cubanet.org/articulos/azucar-y-arroz-por-las-nubes/

Cuba Standard.Com, February 16: Minister scolds rice producers http://www.cubastandard.com/2011/02/16/minister-scolds-rice-producers/

Infolatam, 16 de febrero: Fidel Castro insta a explicar bien a la población el plan de ajustes económicos http://www.infolatam.com/2011/02/17/cuba-fidel-castro-insta-a-explicar-bien-a-la-poblacion-el-plan-de-ajustes-economicos/

El Mundo, 16 de febrero: Empresa británica manejará fibra óptica entre Cuba y Venezuela http://www.elmundo.com.ve/Default.aspx?id_portal=1&id_page=26&Id_Noticia=13232

LAHT, February 16: Cuban Dissidents Urge “Real” Economic Liberalization http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=387093&CategoryId=14510

Latin America News Dispatch, February 16: Obama Can Loosen Cuba Policy More, Experts Say http://latindispatch.com/2011/02/16/obama-can-loosen-cuba-policy-more-experts-say/

LAHT, February 16: Report: Obama Has Authority to Ease Cuba Embargo http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=387081&CategoryId=14510

Cubanet, 16 de febrero: Trabajadores por cuenta propia se niegan a negociar con el gobierno http://www.cubanet.org/noticias/trabajadores-por-cuenta-propia-se-niegan-a-negociar-con-el-gobierno/

Café Fuerte, 16 de febrero: Compañía de EEUU promueve viajes de norteamericanos a Cuba http://cafefuerte.com/2011/02/15/compania-de-eeuu-promueve-viajes-de-norteamericanos-a-cuba/

Diario de Cuba, 16 de febrero: La producción de café repunta ligeramente, según cifras oficiales http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/3160-la-produccion-de-cafe-repunta-ligeramente-segun-cifras-oficiales

Reuters, February 15: Analysis: Cuba fights latest U.S. “invasión—on the Internet http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/15/us-cuba-internet-idUSTRE71E6D720110215

St. Petersburg Times, February 15: TIA would face barrier to Cuba flights with Rubio amendment http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/tia-would-face-barrier-to-cuba-flights-with-rubio-amendment/1151592

Cuba Standard.Com, February 15: Deregulation of food distribution taking place http://www.cubastandard.com/2011/02/15/deregulation-of-food-distribution-taking-shape/

Notimex, 14 de febrero: Prevé Cuba recibir a 100 mil visitantes mexicanos en 2011 http://espanol.news.yahoo.com/s/14022011/4/n-latam-prev-eacute-cuba-recibir-100.html

Canadian Press, February 14: Cuban government and union leaders point to problems implementing mass lay off plan  http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5irKlHxA4qhP_77IAve5OHouHCAVw?docId=5949171

Business Wire, February 14: American Tours International Makes Cuba Travel Easy http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110214005490/en/AmericanTours-International-Cuba-Travel-Easy

Posted in News on the Cuban Economy | 1 Comment

Hosni Mubarak, February 11, 2011: The “Writing on the Wall”

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Arch Ritter

Marcos Perez Jimenez (Venezuela)            1958         √

Fulgencio Batista (Cuba)                               1959         √

Francisco Franco (Spain)                              1959           √

Anastasio Somoza (Nicaragua)                    1979          √

Idi Amin Dada (Uganda)                               1979          √

Jean-Bedel Bokassa (Central Af. Rep.)       1979          √

Augusto Pinochet (Chile)                               1989         √

“Baby Doc” Duvalier (Haiti)                          1989         √

Alfredo Stroessner (Paraguay)                     1989          √

The Junta (Argentina)                                    1983         √

Joao Figuieirado (Brazil)                                1985         √

President Leonid Brezhnev (USSR )            1989         √

Erich Honecker (East Germany)                   1989         √

Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski (Poland)             1989          √

Gustav Hudek (Czechoslovakia)                     1989          √

Janis Kadar (Hungary)                                     1988          √

Nicolae Ceausescu (Rumania)                         1989          √

Todor Zhivkov (Bulgaria )                              1989          √

Adil Carcani (Albania)                                     1989           √

Mobutu Sese Seko IZaire / Congo)               1997            √

Charles Taylor (Liberia)                                 2003           √

Fidel Castro (Cuba)                                         2006       Retired

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (Tunisia)                  2011            √

Hosni Mubarak (Egypt)                                  2011            √

Bashir al-Assad (Syria)                                   20__

Ali Abdullah Saleh (Yemen)                           2011             √

Muammar Al-Gaddafi (Libya)                       2011              √

Raul Castro (Cuba)                                        20__

With Wojciech Jaruzelski

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“The Economist” on Cuba’s Housing Market

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Arch Ritter

Swap shop: Where a beach-front house can be (almost) yours for a snip

Feb 3rd 2011 | HAVANA

CUBA’S government likes to crow that over 85% of Cubans own their homes. The claim is technically correct. However, there is a catch: holding title to a property does not give you the right to sell it. The only legal way to move in Cuba is by swapping residences—a slow, bureaucratic and often corrupt process known as the permuta (“exchange”), which requires finding two roughly similar properties and getting state approval. To avoid this hassle, some Cubans prefer to marry the owner of a property, transfer the deed, and divorce.

Because there is no incentive to build new homes, Cuba suffers from a dire housing shortage. Many buildings have been repeatedly subdivided. In some families three generations share one bedroom.

After replacing his brother as president in 2008, Raúl Castro has legalised and taxed bits of Cuba’s informal economy, like pirated DVDs and used furniture. Now he has turned to housing. In 2010 the government relaxed rules on forming building companies and buying building materials. It is preparing to let foreigners buy property in tourist zones. And in April the Communist Party Congress is expected to allow Cubans to “buy, sell, or swap” their homes.

Havana’s Housing Market, circa 2002: Arranging “Permutas” on Paseo del Prado, Photo by Arch Ritter

The effect of these measures may be limited. Most permutas already involve money under the table—ranging from a few thousand dollars to $40,000 for a smart three-bedroom flat. The market will be heavily regulated: officials say they will ban the (as yet undefined) “accumulation” of property. And buyers may be discouraged if they have to prove that their money did not come from the vast black market.

Even so, allowing selling is risky. It will raise tax revenues, but could belie Cuba’s myth of material equality. If too many luxury homes pop up, the poor may further doubt that America’s trade embargo is the cause of their misery. Already a cluster of sea-front houses west of Havana, acquired via permuta by pop stars and foreigners, is getting its first lick of paint in decades.

The market will probably benefit from Barack Obama’s loosening of the embargo. He has relaxed most limits on visits and remittances, which should increase demand for Cuban homes and the amount buyers can pay. Some Cuban-Americans are even considering returning for retirement. “Now is the time to move”, says Ada Fuentes, who recently came back to Havana after 49 years in New Jersey. “If you have money, life’s good here”.

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News and Articles, February 7 – 13, 2011

Posted on February 7, 2011 by anafaya

Diario de Cuba, 13 de febrero: El gobierno aumenta un 43% el precio del arroz y ‘libera’ la venta de azúcar http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/3103-el-gobierno-aumenta-un-43-el-precio-del-arroz-y-libera-la-venta-de-azucar

BBC, February 12: Cuba cuts sugar price subsidies http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12441487

Juventud Rebelde, 12 de febrero: En venta libre azúcar refino y crudo http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2011-02-12/en-venta-libre-azucar-refino-y-crudo/

The Windsor Star, February 12: Free enterprise gets chance http://www.windsorstar.com/business/Free+enterprise+gets+chance/4270547/story.html

Reuters, February 12: Group says US exports to Cuba down 31 percent http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/11/cuba-usa-food-idUSN1110412620110211

Diario de Cuba, febrero 11: Entramado empresarial: cifras pesimistas http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/3090-entramado-empresarial-cifras-pesimistas

Telecommunications Insight, February 2011: Will Cuba Ring The Changes? http://www.telecomsinsight.com/file/96251/will-cuba-ring-the-changes.html

TERRA, 11 de febrero: Cuba abre portal online para potenciar comercio electrónico de sus empresas http://entretenimiento.terra.com.ar/cuba-abre-portal-online-para-potenciar-comercio-electronico-de-sus-empresas,25550077f711e210VgnVCM4000009bf154d0RCRD.html

Cubanet, 11 de febrero: Siguen los despidos http://www.cubanet.org/noticias/siguen-los-despidos/

Diario de Cuba, 11 de febrero: Consenso Cubano propone ‘cooperar solidariamente’ con los trabajadores privados http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/3076-consenso-cubano-propone-cooperar-solidariamente-con-los-trabajadores-privados

Consenso Cubano, Declaración http://www.diariodecuba.com/sites/default/files/pdf/DECLARACION%20DE%20CONSENSO%20CUBANO.pdf

Radio Cadena Agramonte, February 11: Cuba and Angola to Increase Cooperation http://www.cadenagramonte.cu/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4317:cuba-and-angola-to-increase-cooperation&catid=2:cuba&Itemid=14

IPS, 11 de febrero: Cae producción de camarones en Cuba http://cubaalamano.net/sitio/client/brief.php?id=8791

Reuters, February 10: Canadian firm offers sea, sun, and … reform in Cuba http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCATRE7197YQ20110210

Cuba Standard.Com, February 10: Cuba presents Linux-based operating system http://www.cubastandard.com/2011/02/10/cuba-presents-linux-based-operating-system/

Cuba Standard.Com, February 10: Repsol abandons New York Stock Exchange http://www.cubastandard.com/2011/02/10/repsol-abandons-new-york-stock-exchange/

LAHT, February 10: Cuba-China Trade Recovers in 2010 http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=386604&CategoryId=14510

AFP, February 10: US intel report highlights Cuba, Venezuela woes http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iuXBSWUp3lN8rC968zX97sV-e-VQ?docId=CNG.6b096ac0cdcfce7a0f599fbbb1c85c27.b21

Southeast Farm Press, February 10: Cuba represents missed wheat marketing opportunity http://southeastfarmpress.com/grains/cuba-represents-missed-wheat-marketing-opportunity

IPS, 10 de febrero: Cae construcción estatal de viviendas http://cubaalamano.net/sitio/client/brief.php?id=8788

Juventud Rebelde, 10 de febrero: Miles de núcleos familiares cubanos accedieron a nuevas viviendas en 2010 http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2011-02-10/miles-de-nucleos-familiares-cubanos-accedieron-a-nuevas-viviendas-en-2010/

Cubanet, 10 de febrero: A pagar el doble http://www.cubanet.org/noticias/a-pagar-el-doble/

Reuters, February 10: Cuba gets fiber-optic cable link to Venezuela http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/10/us-cuba-cable-idUSTRE7193DP20110210

Cuba Standard.Com, February 10: Undersea cable to Jamaica underway http://www.cubastandard.com/2011/02/10/undersea-cable-to-jamaica-underway/

The Miami Herald, February 9: Cuban government unblocks critical sites http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/09/2058892/cuban-government-unblocks-critical.html

Global Post, February 9: Cuba: Bread running short at bakeries http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/cuba/110208/bread-rations-flour-prices-food

Pravda, February 9: Cuba and the updating of socialism http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/09-02-2011/116826-Cuba_and_the_updating_of_socialism-0/

Visalia Times-Delta, February 9: Panel: Cuban market could be enticing to Tulare County growers http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20110209/NEWS01/102090308/Panel++Cuban+market+could+be+enticing+to+Tulare+County+growers

IPS, 9 de febrero: Sector privado salva producción de piña en Cuba http://cubaalamano.net/sitio/client/brief.php?id=8783

Reuters, February 8: Cuban state company reform looks to be a tough job http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/08/cuba-reform-business-idUSN085183720110208

Havana Times, February 8: Supply & Demand Transport in Guantanamo http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=37398

AFP, February 8: For Communist Cuba, more Internet, greater risk http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110208/tc_afp/cubaitpoliticsunrestinternet_20110208213217

Steptoe & Johnson, February 8: United States: OFAC Promulgates General Licenses And Special Licenses To Authorize Certain Activities, Transactions, And Dealings In Support Of The Cuban People http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/article.asp?articleid=122098

Cuba Standard. Com, February 8: Cuba still looking for foreign partner in ETECSA http://www.cubastandard.com/2011/02/08/cuba-still-looking-for-foreign-partner-in-etecsa/

ACN, February 8: United Nations to Assist Cuba in Preserving Agricultural Biodiversity http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2011/0207united-nations-assist-cuba-preserving-agricultural-biodiversity.htm

El Nuevo Herald, 8 de febrero: Llega cable submarino, pero no será ‘vara mágica’ http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2011/02/08/883169/llega-el-cable-submarino-pero.html

Havana Times, February 8: Cuba to Have Telecommunications Law http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=37378

Diario de Cuba, 7 de febrero: Una propuesta de modelo estable http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/3025-una-propuesta-de-modelo-estable

Diario de Cuba, 7 de febrero: Rodríguez Rivera critica los altos impuestos del trabajo por cuenta propia http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/3027-rodriguez-rivera-critica-los-altos-impuestos-del-trabajo-por-cuenta-propia

St. Petersburg Times, February 7: Misguided effort on Cuba oil drilling http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/misguided-effort-on-cuba-oil-drilling/1149686

Reuters, February 7: Cuba says nickel recovering from bad year http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFN078255420110207

13 News, February 7: Airlines want permission to fly to Cuba from Florida http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/february/205150/Airlines-want-permission-to-fly-to-Cuba-from-Florida

Cubanet, 7 de febrero: El país que los Jefes quieren que queramos http://www.cubanet.org/articulos/el-pais-que-los-jefes-quieren-que-queramos/

Cubaencuentro, 7 de febrero: Las reformas de Raúl Castro podrían acentuar la brecha social en Cuba http://www.cubaencuentro.com/cuba/noticias/las-reformas-de-raul-castro-podrian-acentuar-la-brecha-social-en-cuba-255305

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Cuba’s Standings in Social, Political, Economic and Environmental Indices in Comparative International Perspective

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Arch Ritter

By Arch Ritter

In the last week of January 2011, the Heritage Foundation (HF), a conservative US “Think Tank”. published its 2011 Report on Economic Freedom. No surprise: Cuba ranks #175 of the 177 countries included in that report, ahead only of North Korea and Zimbabwe.

The concept or definition used for “Economic Freedom” is:

“Economic freedom is the fundamental right of every human to control his or her own labor and property. In an economically free society, individuals are free to work, produce, consume, and invest in any way they please, with that freedom both protected by the state and unconstrained by the state. In economically free societies, governments allow labor, capital and goods to move freely, and refrain from coercion or constraint of liberty beyond the extent necessary to protect and maintain liberty itself.”

The components of economic freedom in the Heritage Foundation’s definition include business freedom, trade freedom; fiscal freedom, government spending, monetary freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom, property rights, freedom from corruption, and labor freedom.

What the HF definition misses is the capability to utilize one’s freedom, such as good health, a useful education, and a reasonable income. Presumably the HF types of freedom are more effective when people live longer, have good health so that they can work and appreciate life, and are not mired in poverty. Cuba would score better if life expectancy, health, education and income distributional measures were included in the concept and the index.

Other Measures of Human Achievement or Performance

The HF’s Economic Freedom Index brought to mind some other measures of social, economic, environmental and political performance. A listing of these and Cuba’s place therein is presented in Table 1 and hyperlinks to some basic definitions and methodological sources are summarized in the next section.

Again, it is no surprise that Cuba fares badly on the political and economic freedom rankings, coming at the very bottom in Latin America on the “democracy” and “freedom of the press” rankings.

Cuba’s high ranking for the EIU Political Instability Index – second only to Costa Rica- is unexpected. Cuba would have scored well on “ethnic fragmentation”, labor unrest (no strikes, collective bargaining or independent unions), economic growth in 2009, income inequality (as officially measured), unemployment (at least the official rate) and “status of minorities”.

Cuba’s standing in the “corruption perceptions” listing does not seem unreasonable.

Cuba’s high standing in the Environmental Performance rankings – again second only to Costa Rica-  will be a surprise to those who have spent time inhaling the exhaust of urban traffic in Havana or observing the fumes of the Havana’s thermal electric plant, pictured below.  Indeed, a close study of the Yale-Columbia-World Economic Forum calculations for Cuba would be worthwhile. One suspects some statistical creativity such as has been employed in the area of basic economic measures such as GDP, unemployment and the Consumer price Index.

Data Sources and Methodology

The full sources of the information are hyperlinked below. The methodologies can also be found at these web sites.

UNDP Measures

1, 2, 3, and 4: Human Development Index 2009, HDR 2009 Statistical Tables

Democracy Measures

5.      The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Index of Democracy 2010,  This index is based on electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture.

6.      The Economist Intelligence Unit’s “Political Instability Index”. This measure is based on   I. Underlying vulnerability: 1.Inequality Measured by Gini coefficient; 2.State history; 3.Corruption; 4.Ethnic fragmentation; 5.Trust in institutions; 6. Status of minorities; 7.History of political instability; 8.Proclivity to labor unrest; 9.Level of social provision; 10.A country’s neighborhood; 11.Regime type; 12.Regime type and factionalism and II. Economic distress: 1.Growth in incomes Growth in real GDP per head in 2009; 2.Unemployment; 3.Level of income per head

7.      Freedom House, Freedom of the Press index an annual survey of media independence in 195 countries and territories. “The index asesses the degree of print, broadcast, and internet freedom in every country in the world, provides numerical rankings and rates each country’s media as “Free,” “Partly Free,” or “Not Free.””  Freedom House, Freedom of the Press, 2010

8. Press Freedom Index 2010, Reporters Without Borders

9. Freedom House, Freedom in the World, 2010, Tables and Graphs measures freedom according to political rights and civil liberties.

(See also Wikipedia’s list of freedom indices.)

10. The 2010 ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDEX, of the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, Yale University and Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia University and the World Economic Forum. This measure includes some 25 indicators in 10 categories including Environmental Health. Air Pollution (effects on humans), Water (effects on humans), Air Pollution (effects on ecosystems), Water (effects on ecosystems), Biodiversity and Habitat, Forestry, Fisheries, Agriculture and Climate Change

11. “Index of Economic Freedom” The Heritage Foundation. (See discussion above.)

12. Transparency International. Corruption Perceptions Index Report, 2010

Havana Thermal-Electric Plant, from Edificio Fochsa, Hotel Capri on the left, 1997, Photo by Arch Ritter

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Has the US Tourism Tsunami to Cuba Already Begun?

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Arch Ritter

By Arch Ritter

The Economist noted recently that the number of US tourists to Cuba in 2010 reached about 400,000 (January 20, 2011). Surprisingly, the Cuban Oficina Nacional de Estadisticas did not include the United States in its tourism statistics for 2010. (See Oficina Nacional de Estadisticas, Llegada de visitantes internacionales, Diciembre 2010). If the Economist’s number is correct, it represents a huge increase over the 2009 figure of 52,455 tourist arrivals from the United States. The US already appears to be the second source of tourists to Cuba, well ahead of every other country except Canada for 2010.

With the latest easing of travel restrictions for US citizens, one might expect a further large increase in US tourism to Cuba. In 2010, the increase in tourism was likely mainly of a family-reunification character. But in 2011, curiosity tourism will increase dramatically under the new travel rules. Much of this tourism will be in the cities and in Havana in particular – and not in the isolated beach areas where Canadians tend to go. One indeed can expect a surge in tourist services and activities in both the public sector and the reviving private sector. The  Paladares. Casas Particulares and other activities should be in expansion mode and should contribute – along with remittances – to a reconstruction boom in Cuba.

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News and Articles, January 31 – February 6, 2011

Posted on January 31, 2011 by anafaya

Generation Y, February 6: The Rebirth of Flavors http://www.desdecuba.com/generationy/?p=2302

Cuba Standard.Com, February 5: Japan meeting hints at debt renegotiation http://www.cubastandard.com/2011/02/05/japan-meeting-hinting-at-debt-renegotiation/

The Miami Herald, February 5: Cuba fears Internet, secret video attests http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/04/2051703/cuba-fears-internet-secret-video.html

Cubanet, 4 de febrero: ¡A consumir para salvar el socialismo! http://www.cubanet.org/noticias/%c2%a1a-consumir-para-salvar-el-socialismo/

Diario de Cuba, 4 de febrero: ‘Raúl Fidel Inversiones’, el nombre real de la empresa que compró el 27% de ETECSA http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/2989-raul-fidel-inversiones-el-nombre-real-de-la-empresa-que-compro-el-27-de-etecsa

Cubanet, 4 de febrero: Asunto de seguridad nacional http://www.cubanet.org/articulos/asunto-de-seguridad-nacional/

St. Petersburg Times, February 4: Oil drilling off Cuba coast draws U.S. foes http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/oil-drilling-off-cuba-coast-draws-us-foes/1149385

Diario de Cuba, 4 de febrero: No hay reformas sin derechos http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/2967-no-hay-reformas-sin-derechos

La Vanguardia, 4 de febrero: Turismo político en Cuba http://www.lavanguardia.es/internacional/20110204/54110549684/turismo-politico-en-cuba.html
 
The New York Times, February 4: Cubans warily become entrepreneurs
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41421802/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/

Diario de Cuba, 4 de febrero: La Habana robó la marca a su dueño, pero “la acción para recuperarla ha prescrito” http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/2968-la-habana-robo-la-marca-su-dueno-pero-la-accion-para-recuperarla-ha-prescrito

Dallas News, February 3: D/FW Airport could add charter flights to Cuba http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20110203-dfw-airport-could-add-charter-flights-to-cuba.ece

Reuters, February 3: Cuba says sugar harvest off to good start http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/03/idUKN0326967520110203

El Universal, 3 de febrero: Cuba entrega 80.000 permisos para ejercer trabajo privado http://www.eluniversal.com/2011/02/03/int_ava_cuba-entrega-80.000_03A5102491.shtml

Diario de Cuba, 3 de febrero: La masa, ¿la mueven o la empujan? http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/2950-la-masa-la-mueven-o-la-empujan

The Wall Street Journal, February 3: Spain Rules For Pernod, Cuba in Havana Club Suit http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110203-709500.html

Granma, 3 de febero: Abogan juristas por eficiencia en contratos económicos http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2011/02/03/nacional/artic05.html

Ottawa Citizen, February 2: Tourists feed on Cuba reforms http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/Tourists+feed+Cuba+reforms/4207600/story.html

Diario de Cuba, 2 de febrero: ¿Paternalismo del Estado? http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/2926-paternalismo-del-estado

Reuters, February 1: FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in Cuba http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFRISKCU20110201

ISN, February 1: Neither Socialism Nor Muerte—Cuba Moves Beyond Defunct Adage http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Current-Affairs/ISN-Insights/Detail?lng=en&id=126515&contextid734=126515&contextid735=126513&tabid=126513

AP, 1 de febrero: Ecuador y Cuba buscan entablar comercio http://es.noticias.yahoo.com/11/20110131/twl-ams-gen-ecuador-cuba-cabeza-c6d32d2.html

Cubanet, 1 de febrero: El turismo en Cuba http://www.cubanet.org/articulos/el-turismo-en-cuba/

EFE, 1 de febrero: Raúl Castro pide al Gobierno acabar con el derroche y dar servicios de calidad http://es.finance.yahoo.com/news/Ra%C3%BAl-Castro-pide-al-Gobierno-efenews-1925503166.html?x=0

Granma, 1 de febrero: El mayor aporte a la economía en estos momentos es eliminar el derroche http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2011/02/01/nacional/artic01.html

VOA, 31 de enero: Cambios en Cuba son intrascendentes http://www.voanews.com/spanish/news/cuba-reforma-castro-empleo-114967679.html

AFP, January 31: Cuba jails 13 in grisly hospital abuse case http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/8754261/cuba-jails-13-in-grisly-hospital-abuse-case/

The Wall Street Journal, January 31: Telecom Italia Sold Stake In Cuban ETECSA For $706 Mln –CEO http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110131-705976.html

Vern Buchanam Congressman: Buchanam Bill Blocks Cuba from Drilling Off Florida Coast http://buchanan.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4217:buchanan-bill-blocks-cuba-from-drilling-off-florida-coast-&catid=92:fp-press-releases

Diario de Cuba, 31 de enero: Los límites del socialismo http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/2879-los-limites-del-socialismo

Posted in News on the Cuban Economy | 1 Comment

Ana Julia Faya: Nosotros tampoco viajamos libremente a Cuba

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Arch Ritter

Los permisos de entrada y salida del país son una violación de los derechos de los cubanos.

Published originally on January 26, 2011 in  Diario de Cuba

Jose marti International Airport, Photo by A. Ritter, 1966

Primero fue en la Declaración del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores en respuesta a las medidas de Obama sobre los viajes a Cuba. Después fue la subdirectora de América del Norte de la cancillería cubana, Johana Tablada, en entrevista publicada en Cubadebate. Y más recientemente Fidel Castro en una de sus Reflexiones, o quizás Castro primero y Johana después. Para el caso, no importa. Repiten el mismo desaguisado: que los estadounidenses son los únicos ciudadanos de este mundo que no pueden viajar libremente a Cuba. Craso error.

Los ciudadanos cubanos que vivimos fuera del territorio nacional tampoco viajamos libremente a nuestro propio país, no solo desde Estados Unidos, sino desde Canadá, España, o cualquier otro de los cientos que ocupan el globo terráqueo. Y no es por voluntad del “imperio”, sino por las restricciones impuestas en Cuba por cubanos sobre viajes de cubanos, medidas que ya suman tantas décadas que si no somos especialistas en la materia no sabemos cuándo fue que empezaron, en qué período de la historia antigua de los Castro se decidió cerrarnos las puertas para salir y para entrar.

En la cancillería cubana se sabe muy bien que los cubanos que residimos en segundos países y no le pagamos al MINREX por un Permiso de Residencia en el Exterior, si queremos visitar a nuestra familia en Cuba debemos solicitar antes a las autoridades de la embajada cubana correspondiente que se nos “habilite” el pasaporte cubano. Porque para viajar a Cuba no se nos admite el del país donde tenemos segunda ciudadanía. Y en ese pasaporte se nos estampará un cuño que nos abrirá las puertas del Aeropuerto Internacional José Martí, si los funcionarios encargados de esa gestión no se oponen y no nos incluyen en un largo listado que el defenestrado ministro de Exteriores Felipe Pérez Roque denominara de “personas repugnantes”, y que hasta el momento no tenemos noticia de que Bruno Parrilla haya desechado.

Que Fidel Castro asegure que solo los estadounidenses no viajan libremente a Cuba, bueno, él predijo una guerra nuclear por los días del campeonato mundial de fútbol, el año pasado, y ahora, en medio de su senilidad, se regocija con la bondad de los delfines mientras sobre el modelo cubano dice lo mismo y lo contrario. Pero que el tema de los viajes se especifique en una Nota Oficial del MINREX y que una inteligente funcionaria lo asegure también, da que pensar. Porque si seguimos al pie de la letra lo declarado últimamente por el régimen, en esta nueva era inaugurada por el general Castro con Lineamientos, Congreso y sesiones en la Asamblea Nacional, rigen los llamados a que los funcionarios cambien la “mentalidad”, se enfatiza en la necesidad de eliminar “prohibiciones obsoletas justificadas en el pasado”, y sobre todo se exige actuar con disciplina. Quizás los funcionarios del MINREX se han salido del modelo de conducta exigido por el liderato del régimen y no han cambiado su mentalidad, quizás se debe a que en Cuba hay tantas cosas obsoletas que se confunden al dirigir los tiros, o quizás es ahora el general Castro el que dice lo mismo y lo contrario.

La abolición de los permisos de entrada y salida fue pedida en muchas de las asambleas celebradas en el país convocadas por Raúl Castro de 2007 a 2008, dizque para conocer qué pensaban los cubanos de la isla. “El permiso de salida y de entrada, eso debería abolirse completamente (…) se hizo con otro destino, por otras razones, y ha sobrevivido durante demasiados años en Cuba, y yo no creo que tenga razón de ser”, dijo Silvio Rodríguez entonces. Fueron tantas las declaraciones públicas en ese sentido de conocidos seguidores del régimen, y tantos los rumores de que “ahora sí”, que incluso el corresponsal de El País en La Habana aseguró haber visto el documento donde se levantaban las prohibiciones sobre viajes y que su presentación era cuestión de días. Pero, seguimos esperando.

Ahora pudiera ser un buen reclamo de los delegados al VI Congreso del Partido Comunista, aunque tengan que ser indisciplinados y salirse de la agenda prevista solo para los Lineamientos económicos. En definitivas, ¿no es el Congreso “el órgano supremo del partido y decide sobre todas las cuestiones más importante de la política”? Si es así, la discusión en abril no debiera circunscribirse a las reformas sobre los cuentapropistas, o la compra y venta de casas, sino ampliarse hacia otras cuestiones importantes reclamadas por la población desde hace rato, como los permisos de entrada y salida.

Soy de las que piensa que Obama debiera levantar todas las restricciones de viaje en su país, para que no sean violados los derechos de sus ciudadanos. Los permisos de entrada y salida en Cuba debieran levantarse por lo mismo. No en reciprocidad por las decisiones de Obama, sino por elemental respeto, para que no se sigan violando los derechos de los cubanos.

Playas del Este, Summer 1994 Preparing to Leave

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Cuba’s Best Friend: the Canadian Winter

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Arch Ritter

Winter in Ottawa

By Arch Ritter

As I trudge through the snow to the University here in Ottawa with the temperature below minus 30 degrees Celsius (or about minus 25 Fahrenheit) in a Canadian “cold snap”, my thoughts turn towards the Tropics and Cuba and also to global warming. This is a characteristic shared by many Canadians in winter- though I also must confess that I am always thinking about Cuba. .

As everyone knows, Cuba has regained its position as a foremost tropical tourist destination. Canada has been the largest single national source of tourists consistently from 1990 to 2009. (See Chart 1) By 2009, Canadian citizens were by far the most numerous with about 915,000 tourist “arrivals”, or 37.6% of total (see Table1). Tourism is of course a major source of foreign exchange earnings for Cuba, larger than any single merchandise export but also smaller than other service exports (mainly medical and educational services.)

Most Canadian tourists head to the beach with a package tour – seldom making it to Havana or another city.  For this reason, they have been sometimes derided as “el cheapo” tourists who spend as little as they can in the Cuban economy.  There may be some truth in this, but most other tourists also are in similar package tours. Foreign exchange earnings from Canadian tourism were likely in the area of US$ 882 million for 2008, (calculated as 37.6% of total tourism earnings of U.S. $ 2,346.9 million.) If one takes both Canadian tourism plus Canadian merchandise imports (mainly nickel) from Cuba into consideration, Canada contributed about U.S. $1.6 billion in 2008, a substantial proportion of Cuba’s foreign exchange availability.

When US citizens are free to travel to Cuba, there undoubtedly will be a “tsunami” of curiosity tourism, sun, sea and sand tourism, “snowbird” tourism, convention tourism, cultural and sport tourism, medical tourism, “March-Break” tourism, and retirement tourism. Will Canadian tourists be squeezed out and priced out of the market as demand increases? Perhaps, for a while. But I expect that Cuba will continue to expand its tourist facilities of all sorts very rapidly. Until “global warming” has eliminated the winter up here in the True North, or until escalating jet fuel prices make air travel prohibitively expensive, my guess is that Canadians will continue to head south in winter and Cuba will continue as a top choice location.

Varadero Cuba

Guardalavaca, Cuba

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News and Articles, January 24 – 30, 2011

Posted on January 24, 2011 by anafaya

Keysnews.Com, January 30: Cuba drilling sparks bills http://keysnews.com/node/29492

The Washington Post, January 30: Cuba’s economic changes creates new entrepreneurs http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/30/AR2011013000007.html

El Nuevo Herald, 29 de enero: Diario oficial arremete contra burócratas http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2011/01/29/878076/diario-oficial-arremete-contra.html

Reuters, January 29: Petrobras CEO sees high oil price volatility http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/29/davos-petrobras-idUSLDE70S02020110129

Reuters, January 28: As Cuba reforms, less blame for U.S. “blockade” http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110128/pl_nm/us_cuba_usa_embargo_1

IPS, 28 de enero: Un tercio de inversiones no cumple requerimientos estatales http://cubaalamano.net/sitio/client/brief.php?id=8744

Cuba Standard.Com, January 28: French ferry operator prposes Caribbean link http://www.cubastandard.com/2011/01/28/french-ferry-operator-proposes-caribbean-link/

The Miami Herald, January 28: Church spokesman asks Cubans to not fear self-employment or “the newly rich” http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2011/01/church-spokesman-asks-cubans-to-not-fear-self-employment-or-the-newly-rich.html

Palabra Nueva, 28 de enero: Sin miedo a la riqueza http://palabranueva.net/contens/1101/0001014.htm

Media Network, January 28: Cuba warns against ilegal satellite use http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/cuba-warns-against-illegal-satellite-use

Diario de Cuba, 28 de enero: Unas 324.000 personas viajaron a Cuba en2010 en vuelos directos desde EEUU http://diariodecuba.com/cuba/2854-unas-324000-personas-viajaron-cuba-en-2010-en-vuelos-directos-desde-ee-uu

El Nuevo Herald, 28 de enero: Empresas telefónicas de EEUU marginadas en Cuba http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2011/01/27/876968/venez-penetra-mercado-telefonico.html

Wall Street Journal, January 27: OFAC Issues New Reg On Cuba Sanctions http://blogs.wsj.com/corruption-currents/2011/01/27/ofac-issues-new-regs-on-cuba-sanctions/

Europa Press, 27 de enero: Repsol hará perforaciones en Brasil, Estados Unidos, Cuba y Marruecos http://www.europapress.es/economia/noticia-repsol-hara-perforaciones-brasil-estados-unidos-cuba-marruecos-20110127142026.html

Diario de Cuba, 27 de enero: La Unión Eléctrica estudia una “tarifa diferenciada” para el consumo de  los cuentapropistas http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/2830-la-union-electrica-estudia-una-tarifa-diferenciada-para-el-consumo-de-los-cuentapropistas

Granma, 27 de enero: Cadena de ilegalidades http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2011/01/27/nacional/artic02.html

Diario de Cuba, 27 de enero: No hay motivos para la satisfacción en las cifras de 2010 http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/2837-no-hay-motivos-para-la-satisfaccion-en-las-cifras-de-2010
 
Cubanet, 27 de enero: El deporte y la crisis económica http://www.cubanet.org/articulos/el-deporte-y-la-crisis-economica/

Bloomberg, January 26: Cuba-U.S. Drilling Pact Should Follow BP Gulf Spill, Panel Says http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-26/cuba-u-s-drilling-pact-should-follow-bp-gulf-spill-panel-says.html

Reuters, January 26: Cuba plans children’s video game to promote taxes http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41282091/ns/technology_and_science-games/

Bloomberg, January 26: Chavez Beats AT&T to Cuba Telecom Market as Price Dispute Bites http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-26/chavez-beats-at-t-to-cuba-telecom-market-as-price-dispute-bites.html

Cubaencuentro, 26 de enero: Trasladados a Cuba 721 pacientes venezolanos http://www.cubaencuentro.com/cuba/noticias/trasladados-a-cuba-721-pacientes-venezolanos-254507

Cuba Standard, January 25: Cuba continues to provide Venezuela with electricity know-how http://www.cubastandard.com/2011/01/25/cuba-continues-to-provide-venezuela-with-electricity-know-how/

Reuters, January 25: Cuba reports oil and gas output unchanged http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFN2529045820110125

AFP, January 25: Cuba’s Low Budget Film Festival has lower budget tan usual http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iu0wCDM_fmKgm3NhNQ6LStE6BGRA?docId=CNG.5245208a3cdbb72a5d8098fe7ef8e19a.3a1

Reuters, January 25: In fields and city streets, Cuba embraces change http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110125/lf_nm_life/us_cuba_reforms_1

Globe and Mail, January 25: A step toward a Cuban market economy http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/a-step-toward-a-cuban-market-economy/article1881495/

Granma, 25 de enero: Hasta el fondo en las tierras ociosas http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2011/01/25/nacional/artic01.html

Cubanet, 25 de enero: ¿Como o me baño? http://www.cubanet.org/articulos/%c2%bfcomo-o-me-bano/

Cubaencuentro, 25 de enero: ¿Qué hay detrás de la “actualización del socialismo”? http://www.cubaencuentro.com/opinion/articulos/que-hay-detras-de-la-actualizacion-del-socialismo-254382

IPS, January: Cuba Bumped from Human Development Index Over Missing Data http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54187

Reuters, January 24: Inside Cuba, small businesses ramp up tourism offers http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70N5BR20110124

Frontline, January 24: Cuba in transition http://www.frontline.in/stories/20110211280306000.htm

ACN, January 24: A Variety of Tourism Events in Cuba http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2011/0124-variety-tourism-events-cuba.htm

Cuba Standard.Com, January 24: Raúl in 2008: Hasty currency merger could trigger inflation, shortages http://www.cubastandard.com/2011/01/24/raul-in-2008-hasty-currency-merger-could-trigger-inflation-shortages/

Reuters, January 24: Cuba seeks long jail terms for mental asylum deaths http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70N3TW20110124

The Wall Street Journal, January 24: Florida Congressman Seeks To Ban Repsol From Drilling Off Cuba http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110124-702369.html

Granma, 24 de enero: Para no tropezar con la misma piedra http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2011/01/24/nacional/artic03.html

Diario de Cuba, 24 de enero: Raúl Castro no tendría intenciones de eliminar el permiso de salida, según diplomáticos http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/2782-raul-castro-no-tendria-intenciones-de-eliminar-el-premiso-de-salida-segun-diplomaticos

IPS, 24 de enero: Desorganización y malversación, causas de muertes en hospital siquiátrico http://cubaalamano.net/sitio/client/brief.php?id=8728

Cubanet, 24 de enero: El caos http://www.cubanet.org/articulos/el-caos/

Generation Y, January 24: Of the Cable, a Fiber http://www.desdecuba.com/generationy/?p=2274

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