Inspectors Fine Garage Sale Vendors in Havana

14ymedio, Natalia Lopez Moya, Havana, 5 November 2022 — A sign that, only a few days ago, was advertising a garage sale on 26th Street in Havana had suddenly disappeared, leaving customers to wonder if the owner had either skipped town or had nothing to sell. The truth is the sale was cancelled out of … Continue reading “Inspectors Fine Garage Sale Vendors in Havana”

Cuba: The Death of an Old Man in the Food Line of a Store in Luyano Uncovers a Network of Thieves

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 2 November 2022 — The residents of Luyanó, in Havana, say that his name was Arístides and he lived on Manuel Pruna Street, at the corner of Municipio. This Tuesday, he was found dead at the doors of the nearby store on Melones Street, between Enna and Guanabacoa, where he … Continue reading “Cuba: The Death of an Old Man in the Food Line of a Store in Luyano Uncovers a Network of Thieves”

Cuba’s Economy: Less Control, More Freedom

14ymedio, Elias Amor Bravo, Economist, October 22, 2022 — There is not a single country in the world whose leaders spend as much time, or consume as much energy, revising and perfecting systems for monitoring and controlling the economy as Cuba. If one were to add up all the hours dedicated to this task, they … Continue reading “Cuba’s Economy: Less Control, More Freedom”

‘Godfathers’ Jump the Lines at the Currency Exchanges in Cuba

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez /Juan Izquierdo, Havana, 22 September 2022 — “No one cheats on me,” a man grumbles in front of the Cadeca [currency exchange] on 23rd Street in Havana, this Tuesday. “I’m not a fool.” His face is swollen and red; he is sweating and drags a crutch with difficulty. Next to him, … Continue reading “‘Godfathers’ Jump the Lines at the Currency Exchanges in Cuba”

Cuatro Caminos, the Market Where Cuba’s Different Social Classes Come Together

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 16 September 2022 — The fruit and vegetable market at the Plaza de Cuatro Caminos, the largest in the capital, looked bleak this Friday. Old manioc and green plantains were the only things that were being sold in the stands, among empty pallets and counters. “That manioc is so ugly … Continue reading “Cuatro Caminos, the Market Where Cuba’s Different Social Classes Come Together”

Cubans Wait All Night at the Currency Exchange to Buy Dollars, Which Now Cost 150 pesos in the Informal Market

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez and Juan Izquierdo, Havana, September 5, 2022 — The night begins to cool off over Santa Clara and, after having a bite to eat, the coleros [people standing in line for others, for pay] cross Vidal Park on their way to the currency exchange (Cadeca). The custom is new but the … Continue reading “Cubans Wait All Night at the Currency Exchange to Buy Dollars, Which Now Cost 150 pesos in the Informal Market”

Entertaining People with Popular Control: The Castro Regime Has No Remedy

14ymedio, Elías Amor Bravo, Economist, 2 August 2022 — With all that is going wrong in Cuba, the state press doesn’t miss an opportunity to transmit a false sense of normality that, far from being confirmed, leads to thinking just the opposite. Constantly in the Castro regime, there is talk of “people’s power” everywhere, without … Continue reading “Entertaining People with Popular Control: The Castro Regime Has No Remedy”

In Havana, Purchases in Pesos in State Stores are Further Restricted

14ymedio, Havana, 24 May 2022 — The provincial government of Havana took a further step in rationing, by decreeing new limitations for the sale of products through state businesses that sell in national currency, to take effect on Friday, May 20. A month after it was announced that people could only shop in the establishments … Continue reading “In Havana, Purchases in Pesos in State Stores are Further Restricted”

Customers in Havana Frustrated at the Prices of the New Private Business in Carlos III Plaza

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 22 April 2022 — A new store that takes payment in Cuban pesos opened its doors this Friday in Carlos III Plaza, in Centro Habana. The private business, named Fress – which until now provided its services through various online shopping sites with home deliveries and payments from abroad – … Continue reading “Customers in Havana Frustrated at the Prices of the New Private Business in Carlos III Plaza”

Lines as an Instrument of Social Control

14ymedio, Havana, 27 December 2021 — If there was a collective, massive and omnipresent “organization” throughout 2021 in Cuba, it is the line. It is not that it is a novelty, but neither the failed “Ordering Task”, in force since the first day of the year, nor the end of the harsh mobility restrictions due … Continue reading “Lines as an Instrument of Social Control”

Cuban State Suspends Payments to Hundreds of Recyclers of Cans and Bottles

14ymedio, Natalia López Moya, Havana, 4 November 2021 — Havana does not have money for recycling. The capital’s Raw Materials Recovery company asserts that the cash has not been deposited in the bank and that it cannot pay the recyclers, who day by day roam the streets in search, mainly, of plastic, aluminum, iron, cardboard … Continue reading “Cuban State Suspends Payments to Hundreds of Recyclers of Cans and Bottles”

Before November 15, Products Reappear in Cuba as if by Magic

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 30 October 2021 — As if by magic, products that had been absent from the shelves of Central Havana for months have appeared. The neighbors, as expected, did not take long to gather around the shops in the neighborhood. Chicken, hotdogs, shampoo, toothpaste and cologne were on sale this Friday … Continue reading “Before November 15, Products Reappear in Cuba as if by Magic”

Neither Candy Nor Pampers for the Children of Santiago de Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 17 August 2021 — More than 600 mothers and fathers of Santiago de Cuba have repudiated the exclusive sale in foreign currency of most of the products they need to make up the basic supplies for their babies. In a letter delivered this Monday to the authorities of the Government and the Communist Party of … Continue reading “Neither Candy Nor Pampers for the Children of Santiago de Cuba”

Cubalex Lawyers Give Their Opinion on Decree-Law 35, Recently Approved by Cuba’s Council of State and Council of Ministers

CUBLEX, 7 August 2021 — On August 17, Decree-Law No. 35 (DL35) was published in the Official Gazette: “On Telecommunications, Information and Communication Technologies, and the Use of the Radioelectric Spectrum” and Resolution 105 “National Action Model for the response to Cybersecurity incidents.” What are the implications of these new rules? Do they criminalize freedom … Continue reading “Cubalex Lawyers Give Their Opinion on Decree-Law 35, Recently Approved by Cuba’s Council of State and Council of Ministers”

More than Fifteen Days Sleeping in Line to Buy a Refrigerator in Santiago de Cuba

14ymedio, Santiago de Cuba, August 11, 2021 — Measures adopted in Santiago de Cuba to reduce capacity in foreign currency stores have only resulted more lines and more coleros.” The provincial government ordered stores to limit the number of people allowed inside to fifty a day during the hours of 8 am to 3 pm. Shoppers … Continue reading “More than Fifteen Days Sleeping in Line to Buy a Refrigerator in Santiago de Cuba”