English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
They have replaced the Russian ’gazelles’ and charge 20 pesos per trip. 14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 9 July 2025 — Today, like almost always, my journey from La Virgen del Camino to El Vedado threatened to become eternal and suffocating. But I was lucky. I caught one of those little yellow buses we used … Continue reading “I Want To Be a Driver for Foton, the New Chinese Vans With Air Conditioning”
Nearly 14,000 private motorcycles fill the gap left by the authorities. 14ymedio, Havana, June 26, 2025 — The new Foton minibuses are slowly arriving in the provincial capitals where they have been allocated after the government reversed its decision to concentrate in Havana the 100 vehicles purchased from China. This Wednesday, the newspaper Sierra Maestra … Continue reading “Twenty Foton Minibuses Arrive in Santiago de Cuba, Where There Is Almost No Public Transport”
“The few that are operational will not be able to carry out all of the planned trips,” authorities say. 14ymedio, Havana, 7 January 2025 — Almost all GAZelle minibuses operating in Havana are currently out of service due to a lack of fuel. This was announced on Wednesday by local authorities in a Facebook post, … Continue reading “Havana Is Without Its GAZelle Minibuses Due to Fuel Shortage”
The Ómnibus Caisa Production Company does not believe it can deliver more than 20 vehicles before 2026 14ymedio, Havana, November 22, 2025 –The work of the Ómnibus Caisa Production Company, located in Guanajay, is strongly affected by the constant power cuts in Cuba. This situation means, according to a note published by El Artemiseño this … Continue reading “The Only Assembly Plant for Buses in Cuba Is Shut Down Because of a Lack of Electricity”
The Ómnibus Caisa Production Company does not believe it can deliver more than 20 vehicles before 2026 14ymedio, Havana, November 22, 2025 –The work of the Ómnibus Caisa Production Company, located in Guanajay, is strongly affected by the constant power cuts in Cuba. This situation means, according to a note published by El Artemiseño this … Continue reading “Cuba’s Only Bus Assembly Plant Shut Down Due to Lack of Electricity”
The purchase of small vehicles, such as Foton minibuses, is a response to the shortage of fuel and foreign currency. 14ymedio, Havana, 25 July 2025 — We have to admit it: Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila seems to be the only minister in Cuba who is really taking action, even though his solutions are partial and insufficient … Continue reading “Chinese Ambulances and Funeral Tricycles, a Belated Response to the Deterioration of These Services”
The first store in Cuba in freely convertible currency for tools and supplies opens for tobacco producers 14ymedio, Havana, September 19, 2025 –The first freely convertible currency (MLC) tobacco supply store opened this Thursday in Pînar del Río. The store, which the authorities presented as just one of many that they want to open so … Continue reading “Cuba’s Tabacuba Offers a Way out of the Devalued ‘Freely Convertible Currency’ That It Pays Tobacco Producers”
Some 300 producers were consulted: six chose Mercedes-Benz, about 15 opted for Foton rural vehicles, and the rest rejected the “stimulus.” 14ymedio, Havana, August 27,2025 — Tabacuba staged the delivery, this Tuesday, of six modern Mercedes-Benz to two Cuban tobacco growers to “encourage tobacco production.” In the announcement, the State did not admit, of course, … Continue reading “Only Some 20 Tobacco Growers Accepted Tabacuba’s Offer To Exchange Their MLC for a Car”
The first batch includes engines, tires, and batteries to perform “major repairs” on dozens of vehicles. 14ymedio, Havana, 1 August 2025 — China continues to involve itself in the Cuban economy, providing resources that, while vital to Cuba, are practically crumbs compared to the scale of the crisis. The new collaboration, which adds to the … Continue reading “China Continues To Help Transport in Cuba, Now With Parts for 100 Buses”
Mercedes-Benz in Havana sells its own models and many Chinese ones 14ymedio, José Lassa, Havana, 10 January 2025 — In black suits and shiny shoes, the agents of MCV Comercial, a vehicle importing company, presented to customers this Thursday their most recent acquisition: seven newly arrived cars on the Island parked at the intersection between … Continue reading “‘It’s a Little Crazy To Think That the Ordinary Cuban Can Buy One of These Cars’”
14ymedio, Havana, 27 December 2023 — The Cuban authorities celebrated on Tuesday the import of 99 ambulances for “the gradual improvement of health services in the country.” The lot, with 50 new units and 49 in use, had an approximate value of four million dollars that was paid by the Government in full, clarified the … Continue reading “Cuba Acquires 100 Ambulances To Improve the ‘Depressed Health Sector’”
(Originally published in Cubanet the April 11, 2014 , titled ” Raul Castro Goes in Reverse”) Clearly, the new Foreign Investment Law “approved” by the usual parliamentary unanimity last March 29, 2014, has been the talk of the town on the topic of “Cuba”, for the Island’s official as well as for the independent and … Continue reading “Driving in Reverse / Miriam Celaya”