English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 18 October 2021 — The long line to enter the central La Época store was barely moving this Saturday at noon on Calle San Nicolás y Concordia, in Centro Habana. Since nine in the morning, only 30 people had entered, because of the lack of a connection with the banks … Continue reading “Dollar Stores Suffer Problems Connecting with Banks in Cuba”
14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 19 October 2021 – The curious and potential buyers arrived this week at the store that only takes payment in freely convertible currency (MLC) on Infanta Street, in Centro Habana, to see the new electric bicycle marketed by the State. Gone are the days of the hated Chinese bicycles of … Continue reading “Electric Bicycles Compete With ‘Motorinas’ On Cuban Streets”
14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 7 October 2021– Long faces in line this Thursday at the entrance of the Plaza Carlos III shopping center to buy coffee. “Cuban coffee in American dollars,” one of the establishment’s customers, called Sorpresas, scoffed aloud. The line burst into laughter at this, but a resigned indignation was palpable. “It … Continue reading “Cuban Coffee in US Dollars”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 6 October 2021 — Julio Merladet, who months ago made several public complaints about the poor state of healthcare in Cuba, was sanctioned this Tuesday at his workplace with the “separation from the Education sector” for three years. This is, de facto, a dismissal. Diplomas he was awarded on several occasions, … Continue reading ““No One Can Shut Me Up,” Says Professor Who Was Fired for Criticizing Healthcare in Cuba”
14ymedio, Havana | 2 Septiembre 2021 — A year ago, the King of Cheese went jail and was presented as a criminal on national television for the alleged crime of illicit economic activity. Today, free of all guilt, the rancher Raúl Abreu Gómez, from the province of Artemisa, reappears like the phoenix to dedicate himself to his cheese factory … Continue reading “The ‘King of Cheese’ Was Not a Criminal and Has Returned to his Work in Artemis”
14ymedio, Madrid, September 1, 2021 — The ministers of the Government’s economic area, led by Vice Prime Minister Alejandro Gil, appeared on the Mesa Redonda (Roundtable) television program on Tuesday, presumably to give the “Necessary answers regarding the actors of the Cuban economy.” Although little news came out of this tedious exercise, there was time … Continue reading “‘Our People’ Do Not Want to Return to Capitalism, Asserts Cuban Minister of Economy”
Cubalex, 25 May 2021 — Cubalex monitored acts of harassment against civil society from May 17 to 23, 2021, as well as related news associated with government measures taken during the pandemic, and instances of shortages of products and basic goods. This report also analyzes the selective internet outages that activists and dissidents have suffered, and highlights … Continue reading “Detentions, Food Shortages and Forced Disappearances: This is How a Week Goes By in Cuba / Cubalex”
Cubalex, 20 May 2021 — Cubalex monitored acts of harassment against civil society from May 10 to 16, 2021, as well as related news associated with government measures taken during the pandemic, and instances of shortages of products and basic goods. This report also analyzes the selective internet outages that activists and dissidents have suffered, and highlights accounts from … Continue reading “The Cuban Government Will Not Put Up With Dissent (Even From Abroad) / Cubalex”
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”
14ymedio, Havana, 21 August 2021 — Cuban rapper Richard Adrián Zamora Brito, El Radikal, was released on bail this Friday. This was published on his Facebook profile by his colleague Osvaldo Navarro Veloz, from the Di.Verso community project, of which Zamora is also a collaborator. “After 40 days in prison, Richard Zamora is on his way home. … Continue reading “Rapper ‘El Radikal’ Was Released on Bail After Being Arrested on July 11”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 15 August 2021 — The relatives of the protesters arrested on July 11 are debating between a public denunciation or keeping a low profile to avoid further complicating the situation of their relatives, but more and more people are breaking their silence to demand immediate release or to point out irregularities … Continue reading “Be Silent or Complain: The Dilemma of the Relatives of July Protest Detainees”
14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodriguez, Havana, 13 August 2021 — On Friday two competing events — the official celebration of what would have been Fidel Castro’s 95th birthday and a national strike called by the Cuban opposition — were overshadowed by something unexpected: the sudden return of scarce products to store shelves along with their usual … Continue reading “Ham and Tobacco Reappear in Havana Stores on Fidel Castro’s Birthday”
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”
14ymedio, Havana, August 2, 2021 — A new beer will soon make its debut in Cuban market and overseas markets. On Monday the official press announced a competition, sponsored by Swinkels Family Brewers Spain (the holding company of Bavaria) and Cuba Ron, inviting Cuban designers to submit proposals for the name and graphic identity of the … Continue reading “A Competition to Design a New Branding of Cuban-Made Beer”
EFE, via 14ymedio, Miami, 3 August 2021 — U.S. Senators from both parties approved on Monday the naming of the Washington street in front of the Cuban Embassy in honor of the late Cuban opposition leader Oswaldo Payá (1952-2012). Cuban-American Senator Marco Rubio said yesterday that the change pays “a tribute to the life and … Continue reading “The New Address of the Cuban Embassy in Washington is Oswaldo Paya Way”
