Author: Fernando Dámaso

The history of Cuba is in need of an objective study, oblivious to the spurious political and ideological interests that have prevailed so far, defended by a group of pseudo-historians, concerned only with achieving prominence and publishing their books.

In the study of history, one of the most manipulated periods has been that of the Republic, which lasted from 1902 to 1958, for fifty-six years. Completely dismissed and treated contemptuously as a pseudo, neocolonial or mediated republic, all that has been written and published about it, at least around here, has been atrocities, without considering that there were mistakes and successes, and bad and good things, as in all social organism .

Unlike in civilized countries, where the Republican stages are divided into first, second, third and fourth Republics, and an analysis of each is undertaken, here they decided to to totally repudiated it and erased it, which is not only absurd and criminal, it is impossible.

We Cubans today are the result of all eras that have been experienced on our island, some better than others, but with no exclusions whatsoever. Moreover, the so-called revolutionary process was conceived during the Republic, and its historic protagonists and many others were born, studied, lived and prepared during it. If this wasn’t the case, their existence would be impossible. During the Republic important writers, architects, engineers, physicians, educators, researchers, biologists, botanists, musicians, singers, dancers, economists, historians and others also appeared, who have given pride and prestige to the nation.

I am confident that, with the intervening years, the many mistakes and failures and the blows received, the minds of most have evolved, leaving behind prejudice, nonsense and sterile radicalism, beginning to react with reason and intelligence. In this process, no doubt, the Republic will occupy its rightful place.

1 June 2014

For some time the Cuban authorities have been turning their attention to “the construction of values to guarantee the continuity of the Revolution.” In speaking about the importance of family in the regeneration of values such as patriotism and honestly, and the need for social discipline, mutual respect, citizen education and good behavior, their objective is to assure the success of the official political project, ignoring that the nation, as such, is much more important and essential than the former. continue reading

The hype around the Mathematics entrance exam for higher education is exaggerate and ridiculous. As if it were something new, without taking into account that it also happened last year at a different level of instruction, as well as has been happening, in the face of the silence and complacency of many, for many years.

Have people already forgotten about the massive promotions of a 100% in most of the High Schools in the Countryside, which were always an institutionalized fraud?

Who doesn’t know that, in many schools, for years the teachers have been helping their students to the content of the exams, with the objective of their passing the grade, which means the teachers will get good evaluations? continue reading

Accustomed to the crumbs of a patriarchal government, incapable of assuring productions, dedicated for years to false egalitarianism in distributing misery among ordinary Cubans, on beginning to put the laws of economics into practice and, with them, those of supply and demand, some citizens are screaming bloody murder at the high prices of products for popular consumption, principally those related to agriculture.

It’s natural that this should happen: as long as production doesn’t meet and exceed demand, prices won’t fall.

Acting as if they’ve discovered warm water, some propose fixing price caps on products, without understanding that this bad practice, applied for years,was one of the causes of the national agricultural debacle, because it doesn’t stimulate production. Others speak of fixing a maximum profit percentage, without considering its impracticability, because it’s precisely the State and its commercial networks that have established profits of 100%, 200%, 300%, 400% and more above the costs of the products for sale, whether imported or from the scarce national production, and I doubt they’re disposed to turn off this spigot of foreign currency and even local currency.

Therefore, using a baseball analogy: we have to stop playing loose and learn to play hard.

18 May 2014

The spiritual body of a nation is formed by the ideas and thinking of its different members, with their philosophical, political, economic, social, moral, artistic, religious and other concepts. Everyone, to a greater or lesser extent, participates in building it. To choose some and reject others is an evil practice which, in the end, damages the outcome.

For years our authorities, taking advantage of granting themselves absolute power for far too long, have shaped the body in accordance with their interests of every kind. To do this, helped by the intellectuals close to them, they have accredited and discredited historic facts and personages, presenting them positively or negatively. They have also, in their work, mutilated or manipulated them at their convenience. The most dramatic case is that of Jose Marti, who has been exalted in everything that serves or can serve the authorities, and ignored otherwise. Thus, some of his thoughts are present, and others forgotten.

History is important, not only to know what happened and how it happened, but also to understand the present and know the future. Its richness doesn’t belong only to the past, but it also is reevaluated in the present and in the future. This it is essential to rewrite it objectively, without political or ideological constraints, and to place everyone, with their actions and works, in their corresponding place. Everyone, without exclusions, in one form or another, has contributed to shaping the spiritual body of the Nation, around which everything else has been created.

13 May 2014

There is constant talk and articles about the need to rescue values, the good habits, and eradicate social indiscipline and rudeness. It’s true and should be done, but no one talks or writes about the real origins: the loss of civility and morals.

Most citizens, in the early months of the political, economic and social experiment, accepted and even applauded that the right to elect our leaders every four years was removed, as was the right to publicly state an opinion, to have parties and political organizations, to educate our children according to our desires, and, something terrible, they allowed someone, like a feudal lord from another eta, to decide who was Cuban and who wasn’t, which partitioned the nation and is a national shame. continue reading

For some time the official discourse in Cuba has gone one way and the lives of Cubans have gone another. The agreements and guidelines are a part of the first, constantly referred to by the authorities as if they were part of some holy book of binding obligations, and the struggle for survival is now part of the second.

On May 1st the combative people will make the earth tremble with their massive parades. It’s already known how many will participate in each municipality and province and the thousands from each union in the capital. It’s a pity that these figures of binding obligations– 35,000 in Construction, 40,000 in Education, Science and Sports, 80,000 in Industry, etc.–don’t match, with exactitude, the production of sugar, milk, meat, food, vegetables and other products. continue reading

An untimely and hasty journey by the Russian Foreign Minister through several Latin American countries last week was surprising. Rather than a normal official trip to cement relations overseas, it seemed like a bunt play in search of allies. After its expansionist actions in Ukrainian territory, with the annexation of Crimea and the intention to appropriate Russian-speaking territories using the violent actions of their followers in the regions close to their own borders, Russia needs political support at any cost, both from its former partners as well as its friends.

With the tense situation created in Europe, where the Foreign Minister had been the principal spokesperson for his president, and a key figure in defense of his nationalistic and nostalgic-imperialist desires, the timing chosen to review economic and commercial accords in effect until 2020 is disingenuous; and equally so to talk about the state of bilateral relations which, according to his own statement, are not strategic associations, but ones of brotherhood and solidarity. continue reading

The 53rd National Series of Baseball has concluded and, once again, demonstrated the nuisance of having 16 teams participate, and the impossibility of outfitting them with enough top-quality players.

After the first forty-five games, eight teams remained. Although they were reinforced with players from the other eight that did not qualify for the second round, problems remained in defense, offense, and pitching, where the performance of many of the starters and relievers left much to be desired. In fact, only six of these teams were competitive, but their indiscipline persisted, often turning stadiums into boxing rings.

With the arrival of the playoffs, first with four teams and then with the two finalists, the situation did not improve substantially: poor defense continued with multiple errors, hitting was off, and the pitching performance was disastrous, as demonstrated by the fact that in the final game one of the teams ended up using twelve pitchers, breaking the record for pitchers used in a single game by both teams.

It’s no secret that Cuban baseball has been going badly for some time, and that profound measures are urgently needed to bring it out of its prolonged lethargy, which will not be easily or quickly achieved.

They range from the base, where the true mass character is formed, with good coaches and trainers that develop the talents, to revamping the current structure for reaching the National Series. They should also include the participation of our players who make up part of foreign teams.

Today the best baseball is played in the leagues of other countries and in the big leagues of the United States. We should learn from them and put an end to the absurd lie that we are the best and we know everything.

21 April 2014

For several days now the national TV has been reporting on the effects of the drought in the eastern provinces, noting the deaths of thousands of cattle and the weakening of many thousands more. In the municipality of Calixto García in Holguín Province alone, over three thousand cattle have already died and thousands of others, according to the images shown, were only skin and bones, due to their emaciated condition, harbinger of the worst.

The drought is every year, from November to April. Maybe in the last years, due to climate change, it has worsened. The farmer always used forecasts to avoid or mitigate its effects.

Fifty years ago our ranchers also faced it and, given that they were cattle owners, they took every possible measure to ensure they were fed, with the silage in the silos saved from tender green grass cut in the spring, to which they added molasses and water, or with other methods to resolve the water problem, such as windmills used to extract ground water.

For them it was an economic and human problem, affecting both their pocketbooks and prestige. As owners of their herds, they were primarily responsible for them and felt and acted accordingly.

Today, the small livestock owners avoid killing their cattle despite the drought. The problem with the cattle is that, in one way or another, they belong to the State. As here ownership is generic and irresponsibility is diluted between the manager, the Party organizations and the Young Communist League (UJC), the union and so on up the ladder, the Delegate of Agriculture and the whole administrative and political structure that follows, the ones who pay for the inefficiency are the poor cattle and the citizens who, for years, see no beef in their diet. In a country where sacrificing a cow, even one you yourself own, is considered a crime if it is not approved by the authorities, how can we understand these mass deaths.

Is it so difficult to create reserves of food and drinking water for when the drought comes? Why, if it is a regular annual phenomenon, which complicates the last months of the dry season, aren’t the cattle in danger moved to unaffected territories?

It seems that fifty-six (56) years of tripping over the same stone have been for nothing. And then, thundering, they would have us believe that socialism can be prosperous and sustainable.

25 April 2014

Listening to the discussions in the Culture and Media Commission of the recently ended 8th Cuban Writers and Artists Union (UNEAC) Congress, I was struck by the criticisms of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRTV) for their programming–which according to some delegates demonstrate Yankeephilia–and their few national offerings.

I imagine that if it weren’t for programs pirated from the United States and other countries offered on Cuban TV, we’d be left with one channel, so I don’t understand the nationalist uproar. First, we should be clear that the quality of the majority of national programs is quite low, from the unbearable news, through the so-called comedians, dramas and adventures, through the children’s programs of participation and musicals. If there is anything saving it, it’s sports, and that by its own powers.

One can argue that there is a lack of artistic talent in radio and television, such that it’s given over to mediocrity, which continues to be true, but the question is: “Why is there a lack of talent? The answer isn’t hard: because talent is not paid what it should be for writing, acting, directing or producing in radio and television.

The medium lacks attractive economics, something that it had before its expropriation by the State, when those who worked in it enjoyed high salaries, which allowed them to focus completely on artistic creation, without having to think about how to resolve day-to-day living.

There is a historical example of the RHC Cadena Azul radio station owned by Amado Trinidad: when he decided to make his station first among listeners, he paid high salaries to get the top talent of the time, and achieved his objectives. Starting with him, the formula became widespread and was applied until the media passed from private hands to the State.

Congress after congress they sing the same tune, and don’t take the economic measures needed to resolve these problems, so their lament is silly. The calls to participate for the love of art, with the creation of committees for quality, control and censorship, established for hundreds of foreign and national programs broadcast, and a whole other series of bureaucratic measures will resolve nothing.

Talent is not accepted as a method of payment in the stores in exchange for products nor to pay for services received. Money is essential. The problem, therefore, is one of economic stimulus in a society every day more metallic, regardless of slogans and speeches.

What is the Mariel Special Development Zone, the Foreign Investment Law, the Tax Regime, the high prices for articles of every type and the cost of services? If we are going to give money its place, as we are doing, we have to do it in everything: the charging and paying.

18 April 2014

The Eighth Congress of the Union of Cuban Writers and Artists (UNEAC) recently ended, yielding very poor results, which was not unexpected to those of us who have been following it before the run-up and during the proceedings.

It began with a doctrinaire address by its president, who stated that “UNEAC is the Moncada Barracks of culture” and “from its beginnings UNEAC has done nothing but serve the Revolution.” This came as a surprise to no one, especially given the presence at the event of important figures from the Communist party and the government, which guaranteed there would be no deviations.

Discussions among the more than three hundred delegates from all over the country were led by various commissions—culture and media, art, the market and cultural industries, urban affairs and architecture, national patrimony and sculpture, regulation and litigation—were restricted to rehashing proposals presented at previous congresses, most of which have never been put into practice.

We are inundated with rhetoric about issues related to creativity, the analysis of contemporary aesthetic trends, the need to rethink radio, television and film while taking into account the emerging needs and expectations of the population, to confront all forms of corruption, indiscipline, waste, disorder and vulgarity, the need for more effective mechanisms for commercializing art, the need to define and implement policies for the built environment, the need to chart a policy for the city and for architecture through national development programs and the proposed changes in the legal statutes. It’s really hard to separate the wheat from all the chaff.

Once again there were the “genetic censors,” seeking to solve problems by creating committees to review and approve, a ludicrous approach in the current context. It is evidence of generational stagnation and the influence of the exalted sayings of the National Orator—ever-present if not physically present—who is remembered as our “greatest intellectual.”

It was pure theater in which every one of the participants knew by heart the lines he or she was supposed to say.

14 April 2014

The Foreign Investment Law, debated and approved by the National Assembly in extraordinary session, has some worrisome aspects, both for foreign investors as well as for Cuban citizens.

It seems that Cubans living in other countries are not covered under the law since the definition of a domestic investor applies only to current legal residents of Cuba and to cooperatives. The latter are legally recognized non-state administrative entities which may participate as domestic investors in projects financed with foreign capital but which remain completely under state control to prevent the accumulation of excess wealth.

Elsewhere, investment priority is usually given to a country’s own residents, then to its overseas residents and lastly to foreigners. In Cuba it is the opposite: foreigners get top priority. Afterwards, we have to listen to authorities tirelessly proclaiming themselves to be the defenders of national dignity, independence and sovereignty.

The claim that investments “may not be expropriated except for reasons of public utility or social interest, as previously defined by the Council of Ministers” should give one pause. This is a well-established procedure in most countries. Before such actions can be taken, they must be discussed and approved by legislative bodies (a house of representatives, senate, parliament or national assembly).

It is a process in which those concerned — governmental authorities as well as those in the opposition who may hold with differing views — participate fully. Final implementation is subject to review by the judicial branch, which makes sure any such actions do not violate the constitution.

This is not the case in Cuba where the National Assembly is made up exclusively of deputies from one party. It is a legislative body without an opposition in which anything the government proposes is approved unanimously. The Cuban judiciary, which is nothing more than an appendix of the government, also has no independence.

In spite of anything that has been stipulated in writing, investors lack any real protection or legal recourse. They remain subject to decisions by a centralized authority in the person of the president, who for political, ideological or circumstantial reasons can act as he pleases without having to consult anyone, as has happened repeatedly over the last fifty-six years.

Regarding employment of Cuban citizens, the law stipulates that an investor must hire workers through an employment agency selected by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment and authorized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. Payment to workers would be by mutual agreement between the investor and the employer. Neither exchange occurs between the investor and the worker directly but through a state intermediary.

Though the purported purpose is not to generate revenue, it stipulates that a portion of the wages paid by the investor will be retained to cover costs and expenses for services provided.

As one might expect, there is a big difference between what the investor pays and what the employee receives. The salary paid to the employee will correspond to a minimum wage set by the employment agency, which it claims will be higher than that for the country’s other workers. Also factored in will be a coefficient which will allow the agency to adjust salaries based on a worker’s performance.

The unfortunate history of low pay for doctors, teachers, athletes and other professionals working overseas to fulfill the Cuban government’s contracts with other countries speaks volumes.

It would perhaps have been advantageous to draft an investment law that also regulated state investments (considering the many examples of bad investments made over the years). It might also have covered private investment, differentiating between foreign and domestic investment.

In regards to domestic investment, it might have included both investment by Cubans living on the island as well as those living overseas, especially since the latter currently must also possess a Cuban passport to enter and exit the country, thus confirming their legal status as Cuban citizens.

This law is not free from the burden of obsolete concepts of failed socialism, with the objective in ensuring a leading role for the state. It lacks sufficient transparency to really stimulate foreign investment and includes some traps into which those who bet on it, without giving it enough thought, might fall.

7 April 2014

Neither black nor white, Cuba is mixed, some of the country’s investigators and intellectuals have asserted for some time now. The declaration seems to respond to an eminently political intention: incorporation into the current Latin American mixed ethnicity, so fashionable among our populists.

This tendency, promoted by the authorities and some associated personalities, instead of looking objectively at the African influence in the formation of the Cuban nationality and identity, overestimating it to the detriment of the Spanish, also an original race. To do this, for many years, they have officially and supported and promoted its demonstration, both in arts and religion, with the objective of presenting it as the genuine Cuban.

Bandying about issues of race has many facets and, hence, varied interpretations. Marti said they didn’t exist, and wrote about the different people who populate the distinct regions of the planer, noting their unique characteristics, both positive and negative and which, in practice, differentiate them. His romantic humanism went one way and reality another. In more recent times,  they sent us to Africa to fight against colonialism, to settle a historical debt with the people of that continent brought to Cuba as slaves, according to what they tell us.

That is, we accept that they can’t free themselves and we, in some way considering ourselves superior, come to their aid, independent of the true political hegemonic interests, which were the real reason for our presence in favor of one side in the conflict, during the so-called Cold War.

Without falling into the absurd extremes, talking about superior and inferior races, in reality there are differences of every kind between the historical inhabitants of different regions. To hide or distort it doesn’t help anyone. Some ethnic groups have developed more than others and have contributed more to humanity, and still do.

No wonder we speak of a developed North and the underdeveloped South, and it has not only influenced the exploitation of some by others, as both the carnivorous and vegetarian Left and their followers like to argue. There are those who, with their talent and work, are able to produce wealth, and those who find it more difficult and only create misery.

In Cuba, the original population lived in north of South America and expanded to the Antilles. Afterwards came the Spanish, and later the blacks, Chinese, Arabs, French, Japanese and the representatives of other nations of the world, bringing their customs, characteristics, traditions, virtues, defects and cultures, which in the great mix (never in a pot) formed the Cuban nation. For many years whites were the majority, followed by mixed, blacks and Asians (in 1953, whites were 72.8%, mixed 14.5%, black 12.4% and Asians 0.3% of the population).

From the year 1959, with the mass exodus of whites and Asians, who settled mainly in the United States, and the increase in births in the black and mestizo population, plus the various racial mixtures, their percentages increased within the country, but not among Cubans living abroad, who are mostly white.

To ignore the statistics constitutes both a demographic and political mistake, they are as Cuban as those based in the country, often with more rooted customs, traditions and culture. Cuba is white, mestizo, black and Asian and much more, but above all, it is Cuba. Who benefits politically from this extemporaneous definition of a mixed  Cuba? What are they trying to accomplish? to divide Cubans still further?

It is absurd that, after years indoctrinating people about the non-existence of races (say man and you will have said it all), and not taken into account published statistics, now appears this strange assertion,which no one is interested in or cares about, whites, blacks, mixed, Asians, trying to survive within a system that has been unable, for over 56 years, of solving its citizens’ problems.

It’s a secret to no one, that it is precisely and black and mixed population that is most affected by the economic and social crisis, the most discriminated against by the authorities, despite their discourse, propaganda, and the 30% quotas within political and governmental organization.

With the exception athletes and artists, blacks and mixed-race are the poorest, hold the worst jobs, are least likely to graduate from college, live int he worst conditions, often bordering on slums, and are the most likely to be in jail or prison.

I doubt that the conclusions reached by these investigators and intellectuals have some practical value or help in any way to change this terrible situation, nor to the authorities of Public Order cease to besiege them, continually stopping them and demanding their ID cars on the streets of our towns and cities.

11 April 2014