Translating Cuba – Page 192 – English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island

Cuba Condemns US for the Acquittal of the Cuban Man Who Attacked Its Embassy in Washington

A US judge acquitted Alexander Lazo Baró due to ” dementia “

Alexander Alazo Baró has resided in the United States since 2010 / Diario Las Américas

14ymedio, Havana, 10 May 2024 — A month after a U.S. judge acquitted Alexander Alazo Baró of the charges attributed to him due to “insanity” after shooting in 2020 at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, the Cuban Foreign Ministry has issued a formal protest. According to a statement published on Thursday, the United States “has been unable to qualify the action for what it is: a terrorist act,” and alleges that the court’s decision “conveys a dangerous message of impunity for those who intend to take violent actions against diplomatic missions.”

Alazo Baró, of Cuban origin and a resident of the United States since 2010, fired 32 projectiles with an AK-47 rifle at the diplomatic headquarters on April 30, 2020.

Since then, the man has faced a judicial process that has lasted four years and in which he was charged with four counts – gunshot in a violent act, violent attack on an official with a deadly weapon, damage to property of a foreign government in the United States and possession of weapons – but this May he was acquitted by a judge of the Court for the District of Columbia. continue reading

The man has faced a judicial process that has lasted four years and in which he was charged with four counts

To the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the response of the US Justice is unacceptable. Alazo himself confessed that he was going with the intention of taking down whatever was in his way, even human beings if they had been in the line of fire. “It was a terrorist act in the capital city of the United States against a permanent diplomatic mission, “the statement said, recalling that this also “caused extensive material damage to the exterior and interior of the building and endangered the lives of several people who were inside the building. ”

“At the time of his arrest, Alazo’s regular association with the Doral Jesus Worship Center in Miami Dade was known, which gathers people with known conduct in favor of aggression, hostility, violence and extremism against Cuba,” it says.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also assures that the judicial process against Alazo Baró has been “full of opacity”. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also assures that the judicial process against Alazo Baró has been “full of opacity”. “The judge accepted a joint report by the Prosecutor’s Office and the defense of the terrorist Alexander Alazo Baró, which presents the perpetrator as someone who, at the time of the events, was not in possession of his mental faculties and, consequently, declares him innocent,” explains the official note, which accuses the United States of “politicizing” the attack. “This is demonstrated by the lengthy process to analyze proven facts,” it states.

Cuba alludes in the document to another attack – it was never ruled out that it could have been a suicide attack – on the diplomatic mission on September 24, 2023, when “an individual” threw two Molotov cocktails at the embassy’s fence and facade.” It is an event that occurred three years and five months after the attack perpetrated by Alazo. “Until now the law enforcement authorities of the United States claim not to know the author or have details of what happened, “says the note, suggesting Washington’s disinterest, which is accused of having a policy towards the island of “permanent incitement to violence, “which adds to the “hatred of U.S. politicians and anti-Cuban extremist groups. ”

Several media outlets and people close to the Cuban man stated that he suffered from psychiatric conditions

After the attack on the embassy and the subsequent arrest of Alazo Baró, several media and people close to the Cuban man stated that he had psychiatric conditions. In May 2020, an evangelical pastor from Florida, whose name was not revealed but who claimed to maintain a close relationship with the accused, told Diario Las Americas that the man was diagnosed with schizophrenia and obsessed with the idea that he was being persecuted.

The interviewee also ruled out any political motive in the attack on the Cuban Embassy and added that, according to his wife, Alazo was under treatment but the drugs no longer worked.

At the same time, a Prosecutor’s Office document on the case included other statements by Alazo’s wife, Marianys Alazo Delgado, who alleged that the detainee “believed that the Cuban Government would hire an organized team of assassins to kill him”.

“He felt that he was constantly persecuted and he feared that several black tall men with tattoos, would come to kill him in front of his family”

In addition, she explained that her husband suffered from paranoia, which had led him to go to several government agencies to report the Cuban government’s alleged intention to assassinate him; traveled to Germany in 2018 in order to escape his persecutors; and often slept in hotels far from the city .

He also said that in March 2020, a month before the attack, Alazo Baró had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, diagnosed with a delusional disorder and discharged six days later after being prescribed some medications.

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European Union Is ‘Concerned’ About the Disproportionate Sentences of the Nuevitas Protesters in Cuba

A spokesperson for EU “High Representative” Josep Borrell insists that “within the framework of its policy of constructive but critical dialogue, the EU continues to urge the authorities to ensure respect for human rights”

Demonstration in Nuevitas, Camagüey, on 18 August 2022 / Screen capture

EFE/14ymedio, Brussels, 3 May 2024 — The European Union (EU) expressed its concern this Thursday about the “harsh and disproportionate” sentences imposed by Cuban courts against those who protested against the Government in Nuevitas in 2022.

“The EU expresses its concern about the harsh and disproportionate sentences this week in relation to the 2022 protests in Nuevitas,” posted Peter Stano, a spokesperson for the High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Affairs, on the X platform.

Stano indicated that, “within the framework of its policy of constructive but critical dialogue, the EU continues to urge the authorities to ensure respect for human rights.”

The message joins that of the United States, sent by the Undersecretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs of the United States, Brian A. Nichols this Monday. The diplomat described the sentence on his X account as ’indignant’, and denounced the “inconceivable” and “continued repression of the Cuban government” against those who “demand their rights and basic needs.” continue reading

The Municipal Court of Camagüey this week condemned 13 people who participated in the anti-government protests in the town of Nuevitas in August 2022 to sentences of up to 15 years in prison for crimes such as sedition and enemy propaganda. The population was, at that time, exhausted by the long blackouts in the heat, which were combined with chronic shortages, and went out into the streets to express its exhaustion.

In addition to sedition and continuous enemy propaganda, the Court considered proven the crimes of sabotage, cover-up, acts against State security, attack and resistance. In total, the sentences amount to 138 years in prison.

NGOs and activists have denounced these trials in general terms which, in addition to serious irregularities in due process, have resulted in sentences intended to send an example and act as a deterrent.

Most of those charged received 10 years in prison, although there are two protesters who were sentenced to 13 and 14 years respectively. Mayelín Rodríguez, the young woman who broadcast the protests on Facebook , received the highest sentence, 15 years in prison.

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The Nightlife of Matanzas, Unsuited to Cubans, Migrates to Varadero

The discotheque La Salsa, located in Peñas Altas, is one of the hangouts that young people prefer / La Salsa

14ymedio, Matanzas, May 8, 2024 — With the sunset, the streets of Matanzas lose vitality. Years ago, the live shows that illuminated the night emigrated to Varadero, and the “recreational” offers of the State have headed, one by one, into extinction. For those looking for entertainment in Matanzas, there are the bars inaugurated by private individuals and some nightclubs that survive State management, which can be entered only with money – and a lot – in hand.

Deceived by the lights, the views and the confluence of bars and cafes, Cubans who plan to spend a pleasant night approach Narváez Street, on the bank of the San Juan River. Prices soon destroy any aspiration to see the boats pass by with a beer or a coffee in hand. “An espresso costs 120 pesos, a beer, 400, a Neapolitan pizza, 800. Who can afford that?” complains Yandro, 19, who is no longer surprised by the situation.

“To pass the time, my girlfriend and I come and sit on this little boardwalk, next to the river, which is the only place where they don’t demand an arm and a leg,” he says, resigned.

The Athens cultural center in Cuba is one of the few places that welcomes teenagers / 14ymedio

Asked about other places in the city, Yandro says that when they have money, they prefer to go to La Salsa, a discotheque located in the Peñas Altas district, east of the city. “I like it because it’s a larger space. From time to time there are singers and live music. You can drink beer and prepared drinks at a very acceptable price. And the karaoke on Sunday is good, right?” he asks his girlfriend.

The problem, he emphasizes, is that “it’s not easy to get transportation there, and less so at night, when you have to do everything on foot. Taking a máquina* from La Vígia, my neighborhood, to Peñas Altas is very expensive. When you arrive in Athens, El Bahía or La Salsa, you are now broke, which forces us to save twice as much to go out for a single night,” he explains.

El Bahía, with a view on the sea, looks like the ruin of an old beach mansion. The multi-story gastronomic complex, which in the past was the center of leisure in Matanzas, today exhibits its stained and grayish-blue walls, which combine with its deserted tables. The offers, some drinks and fast food, are not enough to persuade passersby, who don’t even peek through the windows.

El Bahía offers drinks and fast food / 14ymedio

Also in Peñas Altas is the cultural center Atenas de Cuba, one of the few places that has a program aimed at teenagers on Saturday afternoons. “I come with friends from school to have fun,” exclaims Lisbeth, extracting from her wallet the 20 pesos that it costs to enter. “Inside we dance, and you can buy dispensed or canned soda. But if you want to eat other things you have to buy them from the sellers outside,” explains the 14-year-old girl, about to enter the “small disco.” “If the lights go off, I’m outta here,” she adds.

When the youth section ends, the adult round begins. The entrance: 150 pesos that does not include any consumption, and the same space to dance with some lights and music played by speakers.

For those who cannot afford any of these options, all that’s left is the “concert” that is sporadically offered by the audio speakers from the Casa de la Cultura in the Parque de la Libertad. “I’m tired of telling the bosses that this is not entertainment or anything like it, but well, they are the ones in charge,” the team manager tells 14ymedio, annoyed at the idea of spending two more hours in the park, “putting music on the statue of Martí.”

In La Salsa there are drinks at acceptable prices and a karaoke night / 14ymedio

His opinion coincides with that of Ignacio, 69, who dances Danzón** and says that “they do those things to fulfill a plan.” “Before, you went to René Fraga Park or Tennis Beach, and they played free music for the youngsters to have fun, but those times are over,” he regrets. “Even the activities of the Danzón Club have lost a lot of quality.” That the State, in a declared crisis, has not dedicated resources to nighttime recreation for a long time, is also made clear by an official of the Union of Young Communists who talks with this newspaper and prefers not to reveal his name. “The main problem is that there are no venues that have affordable prices and quality products,” he explains.

“We constantly tell people that you can entertain yourself by reading a book or going to museums and theaters, but we don’t manage to attract an audience in those places either. In addition, sometimes people want to go out and do something different, whether it’s dancing or having a beer, which has become almost impossible,” he reflects. “It’s no secret that the best ends up in Varadero and is for tourists.”

Translator’s notes:

*A máchina, also called an almendrón, is a 1950s American car that is used as a collective taxi with a fixed route.
**Danzón is a historic genre of music and partner dance, often performed in public spaces in Cuba and Mexico.

Translated by Regina Anavy
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In Cuba Entrepreneurs From Holguin Come Together To Try To Artificially Lower the Dollar

Businessmen, private and State, made the resolution after participating in a forum from April 30 to May 2

Without physical availability of dollars in the Cadeca (currency exchange) the owners of small private businesses must acquire the currency in the informal networks

14ymedio, Holguín, 10 May 2024 — At least 14 entrepreneurs, owners of SMEs (small private businesses) in the province of Holguín, have agreed to close ranks with the aim of lowering the price of the dollar artificially, assuming, like the regime, that it is possible. The agreement, reached at the beginning of this month, has an uncertain future amid the rise in the value of currencies against the Cuban peso. “In the Foremp (Business Forum) the issue that was most talked about was precisely the cost of the dollar that is practically becoming priceless,” the owner of a private business — who participated between April 30 and May 2 in the second edition of this event, which took place at the Brisas Guardalavaca Hotel in Holguín — tells 14ymedio.

The meeting was attended not only by owners of private businesses but also by representatives of State and academic companies, such as economist Juan Triana Cordoví. Among the more than 180 participants, the greatest concern was the depreciation of the Cuban peso, which, they complain, forces them to need more and more national currency to acquire dollars, indispensable for the import of products and raw materials.

“If things continue as they are now, we will have to close our businesses”

“There we met several entrepreneurs from Manzanillo, Granma, who came together to stop the price of the dollar and not buy it at the prices that El Toque publishes, and they have managed to lower it two or three pesos. It seems little, but it’s something,” the businessman tells this newspaper. “Several of us who were there in Holguín decided to do the same, because if things continue as they are now, we will have to close our businesses.” continue reading

Without the physical availability of dollars in the Cadeca (State exchange houses), the owners of small businesses must acquire the currency in the informal networks, where the exchange rate responds to the law of supply and demand and is very far from the official one (24 pesos per dollar). The U.S. currency is essential for them to buy products and raw materials abroad. “In my case, I have a store that sells food, cleaning products and household supplies. I import almost everything from Panama,” explains the source, who prefers anonymity.

“In Panama I have to use the dollar for everything I buy, and right now I can’t find it on the street unless I buy at 395 pesos,” he says, giving the exact figure that, this Friday, appears in El Toque. “Since we met at the beginning of this month in Guardalavaca until now, the dollar has not stopped rising. It goes up all the time, and no one can keep up with it. Our profits fall every day with those exchange rates,” he acknowledges.

“Although if they are fictitious ads, the idea is for people to think that’s the price on the street”

During the Foremp meetings, 14 Holguin entrepreneurs agreed to publish on their social media accounts and other anonymous profiles alleged sales or purchases of foreign exchange at a price lower than the El Toque rate. “Although they are fictitious ads, the idea is for people to believe that this is the price on the street,” says the entrepreneur. The strategy, however, does not seem to be bearing fruit.

After concluding the event, businessman Gilberto Licea Parra made a summary of the commitment and published that the participants had jointly decided “not to pay for the dollar at more than 350 pesos,” and even gradually lower it. “It’s the best for everyone; I assure you that together we can do it,” he wrote on his networks, where he has joined the campaign against El Toque.

Entrepreneurs have also created a WhatsApp group in which messages are exchanged with the alleged purchase and sale of dollars at a price that does not exceed 390 pesos. However, this newspaper could not find any way to acquire the currency at those values. In all cases, the response of the alleged merchants was that they had already sold “all the dollars” they had, or they simply did not respond to the requirements of an alleged customer interested in their exchange rate.

“For the many ads we have placed, we have not managed to get dollars at the prices that we publish,” laments the entrepreneur from Holguín. In a similar vein, the Facebook page El Dato, allegedly associated with the Cuban Government, published this Friday that the value of the dollar is just 320 pesos, well below the 395 of El Toque.

Digital classified sites don’t seem to pay attention to El Dato

In the comments at the bottom of the publications of El Dato there is no shortage of criticism and jokes. Several Internet users propose to buy the currency at the rate announced by the official website and subsequently sell them at the value disseminated by El Toque. Digital classified sites do not seem to pay attention to El Dato and, despite the occasional announcement of buying dollars at prices between 350 and 375 pesos, most foreign exchange sellers offer them above 390.

An avalanche of questions has also fallen on the official website Cubadebate, which in its edition this Thursday lashes out against the exchange rates disseminated by El Toque because, according to the newspaper, “they have generated a negative impact on the monetary scale of the country, which has had an impact on the increase in prices and, consequently, has affected the Gross Domestic Product” of the Island.

In the comments, however, few seem to accept officialdom’s version that El Toque is a tool of the United States’ economic war against Cuba. Several Internet users place the responsibilities for the depreciation of the peso in another direction: “We do not produce anything, we do not export, we do not generate wealth, the economy is partially dollarized, the demand for dollars is enormous and the country does not sell them,” warns a commentator who signs as Albe.

In the same vein is Luis Hernández, for whom El Toque “has only taken the door that has been left open by the small businesses.” He recommends that the authorities of the Island “examine themselves and not look for external enemies,” because with that strategy “we look more and more like the caricature of a witch doctor all over the world.”

Despite the efforts against the reality of the entrepreneurs of Holguin, this week on the streets of the city, sales of goods in Cuban pesos were governed by the El Toque rate, and the foreign exchange market also followed in the footsteps of the news site. Since the businessmen met in Foremp, the dollar has increased its value by more than 20 pesos and seems unstoppable.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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The Food Industry in Cuba Has Fallen 67 Percent in the Last Five Years

Pork production fell from 149,400 tons in 2018 to 13,300 in 2023, a 91% decline and rice production declined by 90%, falling from 273,800 tons to a mere 27,900.

Only 0.03% of the expected tomato made it to the market./(Portal del Ciudadano Camagüey)

14ymedio, Madrid, May 8, 2024–The debacle that is the Cuban food industry is no secret, though that does not diminish the devastating scene of the statistics offered on Tuesday, which allow us to quantify the collapse suffered in just five years. Between 2018 and 2023, the production of 23 foods, selected by the National Office of Statistics and Information as a reference for measuring the state of the manufacturing sector, declined by 66.7%.

Spanish news agency, EFE, echoed the report as soon as it was released. From it, they highlighted with stupor, that bread production had declined from 493,700 in 2013 to 326,300 in 2023, by 34% as noted in the headline. It is not, however, the most impactful data. Despite the alarming numbers–aggravated by the fact that this is a basic necessity–a detailed review of the decline in each of the food products analyzed, the truth is that bread is among the least depleted products. Only preserved meats (33%) and lobster tail (20%) declined less.

Among the worst declines were pork, which declined from 149,400 to 13,300 tons–a 91% decline, and rice which fell by 90% from 272,800 ons to only 27,900; both are products of great importance in Cuban diets. The last five year period was also nefarious for coffee and milk, elemental in national culture, which registered declines of 51% in the case of the first, and 90% for evaporated milk, while whole pasteurized frozen milk declined by 49.6%. continue reading

The last five year period was also nefarious for coffee and milk, elemental in national culture, which registered declines of 51% in the case of the first, and 90% for evaporated milk

In the middle tier, again taking into consideration their importance in the cuisine and catastrophic production, are pastas, with a 91% decline since 2018; vegetable oils, 81%; yogurt with 68.8% decline and wheat flour, 57%. Beef production fell by 58%, cheeses 52%, canned tomatoes 76% and unsalted butter 76%. In this case, the disaster of salted butter is notable; production fell from a high of 100 tons to absolute zero, the worst percentage among the 23 products selected.

Two special mentions are lobster and shrimp, products protected for what they mean for the country’s economy through exports and the hemorrhage of which could not be contained. The first fell from 7,200 tons in 2018 to 1,200 last year, which represents an 82% decline. For lobster, although tails are among those that barely contained the catastrophe, whole, pre-cooked, frozen lobster fell from 645,000 tons to 325,100 — a 49.6% decline.

Fruit preserves, excluding baby food, also collapsed by half in these five years, as did other more superfluous foods such as ice cream (a 55% decline), fancy crackers (74.7%) and saltines, which experienced a sharp 85% decline from 18,500 tons to 2,700.

For lobster, although tails are among those that barely contained the catastrophe, whole, pre-cooked, frozen lobster fell from 645,000 tons to 325,100 — a 49.6% decline

Rounding out the list was animal feed, which fell by 70% from 1,356,200 tons to only 406,400, a data point which helps explain the catastrophic situation of animal source foods. Something similar is happening with chemicals used in agriculture, which appear in another one of the sections of the report that presents very negative data. Of the 43,000 tons of complete fertilizer produced in 2018 only 1,500 were produced in 2023. The same occurs for ammonium nitrate, which is used in the production of leafy green vegetables, the production of which declined from 28,000 tons to 1,700.

The document includes several categories–though of lesser importance in the daily life of Cubans — including all types of beverages (beer and soda production also fell by half), tobacco, clothing and shoes, construction materials, machinery and even televisions. Of the entire four-page list, production improved for only three products in this five-year period: household detergent, paint and gas stoves.

Also notable is the absolute absence from the document of information on petroleum products in 2023. The report only accounts for data through 2022, for unknown reasons, but which might relate to the opacity the government maintains on this product due to the U.S. sanctions, which aim to prevent its delivery. Most of the refined products fell by at least half between 2018 and 2022.

Also notable is the absolute absence from the document of information on petroleum products in 2023

The report also includes data on the labor force, which apparently grew in the manufacturing industry during this period. Salaries also experienced a significant increase, especially in 2021 with the Reordering Task, although the estimate should be analyzed taking into consideration the high inflation rate over the last five years–in the three-digit range if the informal market is considered–as well as the devaluation of the currency.

Another of the conclusions extracted from the document is the decline in spending on electricity among the manufacturing industry, which contributes to lower production. If in 2018 it consumed 1,432 giga watts (GW) per hour, or 6.9% of total electricity consumption, in 2023 it declined to 1,068 GH or 5.7% of the current 18,781.4.

The scene presented by the document — despite being incomplete and taking into consideration its representative sample of production — is one of an industry that has practically been annulled, even taking into account that it is one a sector in which the government has invested more money last year, with 16.854 billion pesos, or 17.5% of the total and second only to tourism, with 33.5% if both its component areas are added.

Translated by: Silvia Suárez

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The Kremlin Keeps Cuban President Diaz-Canel Comfortable on the Eve of His Meeting with Putin and Sends Greetings to Raul Castro

A tanker from Russia loaded with fuel is expected to arrive in Cuba on May 23

Dmitri Medvedev, former president of United Russia and deputy chairman of the Security Council, displayed his friendship with the Cuban president. / Presidency of Cuba

14ymedio, Madrid, 8 May 2024 — President Miguel Díaz-Canel wants Cuba to have “greater participation in the mechanisms” of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). “I sincerely believe that we all need better cooperation to promote joint projects in areas of joint interest,” he expressed this Wednesday at the EAEU Summit in Moscow, in which the Island participates as an observer country.

The Cuban Government, the president reiterated according to the official press, “attaches great importance to economic, commercial, financial and cooperation relations” with the Union and its member states.

Meanwhile, the ship Caesar, loaded with fuel, heads to the port of Matanzas. According to Jorge Piñón, a specialist from the University of Texas, speaking to this newspaper, “she loaded up in Russia, with ‘technical’ stops in Greece and Malta.” According to the information provided by ship monitoring pages, the ship will reach Cuba on May 23.

Miguel Díaz-Canel met this Wednesday with the former Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev, currently Deputy Head of the Security Council of Russia, who described Cuba as a “reliable partner” with whom his country maintains “an intense political dialogue.”

The Russian leader praised the Cuban regime, underlining the recent closeness that unites the authorities of both countries. “Even if it’s brutally cold outside, that doesn’t hinder our warm relationship. The Russian Federation warmly welcomes you,” he told the Cuban leader, who arrived in Moscow on Tuesday on an official trip. continue reading

Medvedev, who was president of Russia – with Putin as prime minister – between 2008 and 2012, asked Díaz-Canel “to send greetings and best wishes to Army General, Raúl Castro. We spent a lot of time together in different places. The force with which he defends Cuba’s positions has always been for us a very serious symbol of how to fight for the independence of our country,” he added.

“The strength with which he defends Cuba’s positions has always been for us a very serious symbol of how to fight for the independence of our country

The Cuban president, for his part, posted on his X account the conclusions of the meeting. “We confirm the progress and results of the relations between our parties and the potential for work that we still have,” he wrote. The head of United Russia was, according to the Kremlin, willing to address not only issues related to economic relations but also the links between his party and the Communist Party of Cuba.

Díaz-Canel will have to wait until tomorrow, however, for the highest-ranking meeting, with the recently proclaimed president – for the fifth time – Vladimir Putin. The meeting will be held on the same day as the Victory Day Parade, this May 9 on Red Square, to which he is invited.

On Wednesday, Díaz-Canel laid a wreath at the statue of Fidel Castro, inaugurated by himself and Putin in 2022.

“It is a symbol of the historic friendship between the peoples of Cuba and Russia,” he wrote.

On Tuesday, shortly after landing, the Cuban president congratulated Putin on his victory by an “overwhelming majority,” which is a “lesson for the world” about his leadership in Russia and his authority in the international arena, he said.

Putin was re-elected in March with 87.28% of the votes and a record attendance after having disqualified or detained the majority of candidates who could contest his position.

After reforming the Constitution in 2020, the Russian president removed the legal obstacles to perpetuate himself in the Kremlin almost without limits. At 71 years old, he will be able to continue governing until 2030 and then run for re-election for another six-year term.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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A 28-Year-Old Mother is Murdered by Her Partner in Villa Clara, Cuba

According to NGOs, the crime occurred on April 18 in the community of Manicaragua

Yudely Chongo was 28 years old and had a minor son / Facebook

EFE/14ymedio, Madrid, 6 May 2024 – The Cuban independent platforms Alas Tensas and Yo Sí Te Creo in Cuba confirmed this Monday a new femicide on the Island, bringing the number of such murders, according to the record kept by this newspaper, to 16 so far this year.

The victim is Yudely Chongo, 28, the mother of a minor son. According to the NGOs, she was murdered by her ex-partner on April 18 in the rural community of Manicaragua in the province of Villa Clara.

On April 19, the murder of Ariannis Torres Tamayo, 38, at the hands of her ex-partner in the middle of the street in the town of Chivirico, in Guamá (Santiago de Cuba), was confirmed. On March 25, Yudeisi Pedroza was murdered in Sibanicú, Camagüey . The woman, age 45 and mother of two children, was killed by her ex-partner in her own home. continue reading

The number of femicides rises, according to the record kept by this newspaper, to 16 so far this year

Days before, Samantha Heredia , a 22-year-old nurse, was also murdered in Santiago de Cuba by her husband, Dr. Pedro Carmenate. An employee of the Juan Bruno Zayas Clinical Surgical Hospital in the eastern capital, where the victim and aggressor met and the latter worked as a resident doctor, confirmed the news to 14ymedio.

The average profile of femicide victims in Cuba in 2023 – when 87 such murders were counted – is that of a 37-year-old woman, with at least one minor in her care, murdered by her ex-partner.

The Attorney General’s Office of the Republic recognized that from 2021 until the end of October 2023, 117 such crimes had been recorded on the Island. A figure that differs from those collected by independent platforms and media.

During a congress of the Federation of Cuban Women in 2023, President Miguel Díaz-Canel revealed that that year the Island tripled the number of people convicted of femicides compared to the record in 2022. According to him, 93% of the sanctions were higher than 20 years in prison and in five cases it was life imprisonment.

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Cuba, a ‘Paradise’ of Misery That Is Beginning To Scare Canadians

Canadians’ perception is undergoing a 180 degree turn, and not exactly towards a postcard of palm trees and mojitos

Canadian tourists in Havana’s Central Park. / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Karel J. Leyva, Montreal (Canada), 8 May 2024 — Attracted by its beaches, warm climate, the hospitality of its people and competitive prices, Canadians have traditionally considered Cuba as a tourist destination without equal. Not only a vacation paradise, but also a reliable healthcare bastion. Even Canadian political leaders did not spare their praise for Cuban medical care, fueling confidence in the services offered.

However, times have changed, a lot. Canadians’ perception of Cuba is undergoing a 180-degree turn, and not exactly towards a postcard of palm trees and mojitos. This change is due to multiple reasons that could definitively discourage travelers from choosing the Island as their vacation destination.

First, and this is crucial, Canadian government authorities have gone from encouraging the flow of tourists to Cuba to issuing warnings about the risks involved in visiting the Island. The Canadian Government is strongly asking citizens to exercise a “high degree of of caution” when considering a trip to Cuba. It should be noted that, for many Canadians, whose culture is impregnated with what is known as high-context communication — filled with euphemisms and avoiding strong statements — this is equivalent to high alert. continue reading

What do Canadian authorities communicate to their citizens? Well, they warn travelers about the serious shortage of food, medicine and fuel in Cuba. They insist on the increase in violence, assaults and financial scams, including credit card fraud and the risks associated with ATMs empty of cash.

Canadian authorities inform travelers that Cuban health care infrastructure is critically deficient, with a marked lack of medications

In addition, they warn about poor security for women, the lack of reliability in telecommunications, complications in online transactions and the prevalence of theft of bags and wallets in tourist spots, markets, public buses, nightclubs and beaches. They warn that thefts from hotel rooms and vehicles are common occurrences in Cuba and explicitly advise keeping windows and doors securely closed, not resisting in the event of robberies, and being cautious when using debit or credit cards.

And that’s not all. Canadian authorities inform travelers that Cuba’s health care infrastructure is critically deficient, with a marked lack of medications, supplies and equipment, compounded by insufficient hygiene practices, slow responses to emergencies and, to top it all off, inadequate mental health services (certainly necessary in the event of a crisis in any of the situations described above).

In fact, the Canadian government asks travelers, if they still decide to take the risk of going to Cuba, to carry their own supplies of medications due to the presence of diseases such as the Zika virus, cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid fever and diarrheal diseases.

With the additional threats of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases such as chikungunya, dengue fever, West Nile virus and malaria, personal health preparedness, they suggest, is crucial. All of these risks have been confirmed and exposed by the Leadership and Democracy Lab at Western University (London, Ontario).

To all this (and especially to the fact that it is announced by a Government in which its citizens have a high degree of trust) are added the “traveller reviews.” And I’m not just referring to the ones they leave on websites that are, of course, consulted when making a decision, but to the warnings that these travelers have been giving to their families, neighbors, friends, colleagues and, of course, If that were not enough, to the press.

Recently, the dream of an idyllic vacation in Cuba was described in numerous Canadian media outlets as a nightmare

Recently, the dream of an idyllic vacation in Cuba was described in numerous Canadian media outlets as a nightmare. Complaints range from the presence of cockroaches and dirty guest areas to children being robbed in their own rooms, to a lack of food and bottled water supplies and even a shortage of toilet paper for guests.

Canadian tourist Deanna Lang took legal action against Sunwing travel agency in Manitoba, seeking to recover C$8,000 (about US$5,830) spent on what turned out to be a disastrous vacation at the Memories Varadero Beach Resort (a well-known name: it is guaranteed that she will never forget that unfortunate stay). Additionally, Lang criticized the resort staff’s ineffective response to her complaints and the challenges she faced in communicating with Sunwing representatives during her stay.

A couple from Ontario had a similar experience earlier this year at the Meliá Marina resort in Varadero. Their unfortunate experience began right upon arriving at the hotel, the conditions of which they described as “deplorable.” The elevators were out of service, forcing the couple to use the stairs. They then found themselves in dark hallways, illuminated only by flashing lights, so they had to use the flashlights on their cell phones to make their way. The presence of cigarette butts, stains on the walls and, most alarmingly, what appeared to be blood stains on the sheets, made them feel like they were starring in a horror movie, details that they did not fail to comment on extensively to the press.

Unacceptable accommodation conditions, including issues with room cleanliness and a faulty toilet facility, led the couple to explore the resort in search of some redemption in the amenities on offer, only to find further signs of neglect, squalor and disrepair. Even when, after much effort, they managed to be transferred to another hotel, they found similar conditions, including a lack of toilet paper and running water. The couple, who spent almost 7,000 Canadian dollars on the trip, were compensated only 150 dollars.

Another experience widely reported in the Canadian press is the case of Caroline Tétrault. Caroline had the terrible luck of having to undergo emergency surgery in a Cuban hospital. Her husband, Christian Maurais, told several media outlets about all the needs they experienced, from not being able to get into the ambulance because of the defective stretcher to the precariousness of obtaining the necessary antibiotics. They had to ask family and friends for help to get medical supplies from Canada.

Christian narrated on television how he had to resort to the black market to acquire specific foods required for Caroline’s liquid diet. When asked what message he wanted to convey, he warned other travelers about the importance of researching the quality of medical services and health infrastructure before traveling abroad. Due to this experience, the couple has decided not to return to Cuba.

When asked what message he wanted to convey, he warned other travelers about the importance of researching the quality of medical services and health infrastructure before traveling abroad

I could continue listing reasons, from the political activity of the Cuban exile in Canada and the awareness work they carry out in public spaces, to the position of open criticism of the Cuban Government by senators and members of the Canadian parliament for the county’s more than 65 years of repression and its constant violations of human rights.

The truth is that when Cuba appears in the news in Canada it is no longer to praise it as a paradisiacal and warm place, but to show the horrors faced by the daring people who decide to travel there against the warnings of their Government. Horrors that can include the body of a deceased relative being mistakenly sent to Russia, while the wrong body is received in Canada.

When Canadians hear about Cuba, it is about its ties to Cuban mercenaries involved in the war in Ukraine, about its brutal practices, about the people’s desire to liberate themselves and, what touches Canadians most closely, about the already widely publicized fact that the misery imposed on the Cuban people has metastasized, and not even tourists, the jewel in the crown, are safe from precariousness, chaos and fear.

The difference is that while the Cuban people lie crushed by the dictatorship and their options to free themselves from so much oppression entail risks, Canadians can simply choose another tourist destination. Fortunately, they have the enviable luck of being able to say what Caroline’s husband declared to Radio-Canada: “Cuba is over for us.”

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The Government Exports 90 Percent of the Island’s Honey, Which Cubans Must Buy ‘On The Left’

The official press recognizes the collapse of honey production throughout the country

Inside the country, honey can be bought by negotiating directly with the producers / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 8 May 2024 — “That the honey from the Cuban hives continues to conquer the European market,” is the closing aspiration of an article in the official press this Tuesday. The desire corresponds to reality: the Island exports every year between 80% and 90% of the honey it produces, accessible in markets in Europe and Latin America, while in the country it can only be obtained “on the left” (in the informal market) and by negotiating directly with the producers.

Production, however, is plummeting. Taking care not to offer concrete data, the official press has given indications of the collapse throughout the country and underlines the State’s discontent with beekeepers. The workers of the Occidente Honey Benefit Plant, located in Caimito (Artemisa), which processes the honey of Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Mayabeque and Matanzas, are well aware of it.

Shut down since March 2023, it was not until last December that the factory went into operation, thanks to an unspecified investment that rebuilt part of its structure. “The floor of the technology area had to be dismantled, and the corresponding import was delayed. The roof was also waterproofed, to avoid leaks and moisture, incompatible with the honey process. For that reason, production was stopped, the average salary fell, and we lost valuable specialists and technicians,” Rigoberto Velázquez, director of the industry, told the newspaper El Artemiseño. continue reading

Compared to the current situation, in which the average monthly salary for the workers of the plant is 8,333 pesos, the figure of 2023 was poor: barely 2,700 pesos. The increase, the managers say, is not only due to the resumption of work, but also to other internal reforms that they have been able to make thanks to the freedom of management that the authorities have given them. “The Cuban Beekeeping Company granted us autonomy to make our own financial statements, which led to better income,” explains Dania Díaz, a computer specialist.

“Production was stopped, the average salary fell, and we lost valuable specialists and technicians

They have also begun to vary their production, and now they manually bottle the honey, “thanks to an innovation of the workers,” in small jars. They supply the Caimito store and work with private producers who provide them with, for example, tea to sell along with honey as a complementary product.

However, production, for which the managers can’t give concrete numbers, still has not recovered. The damage to the flora left by Hurricane Ian in 2022 still prevents the collection of honey by the beekeepers. Also, the seasonal migration of the bees to the coast, which is undertaken three times a year to take advantage of the flowering of the mangroves, requires 211 gallons of fuel that the company does not have.

The provinces that supply the plant have already begun to send the first batches, says Yordanys Conde, an operator of the company, although receiving the honey is just the start. Given its final destination in European supermarkets, the honey must be of the best quality.

Once the humidity is measured and the product strained and mixed, “samples are taken to send to the laboratories in Germany and Havana, where they certify the quality of the honey. Only then is it marketed, for export,” Conde explains.

Despite the Government’s efforts to revive, or at least maintain, production, honey faces one of its worst years on the Island. An article published last April in the official press reported on the painful situation of beekeeping in Camagüey in 2023, where beekeepers lost 500 hives due to the fuel crisis. As a result, the production of that year (530 tons) was just over half of that of 2019, when 913 tons were exported – the best since 1983.

In January, another article in the local newspaper of Las Tunas described a similar panorama: the 275.7 tons produced accounted for less than half of what was obtained in 2020, and barely 53% of what was planned for the period.

The poor state of the Island’s food industry, which fell by 67% in the last five years according to a recent report by the National Office of Statistics and Information, hardly leaves room to be surprised by the collapse of honey, which is not even a food found frequently on Cuban tables. However, the fall in the production of other products favored by the regime leaves no room for a positive forecast: lobster and shrimp, for which the State allocates more resources than for honey, decreased their production by 49% and 82% respectively.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Blackouts of More Than 12 Hours in Cuba, Hopeless Heat, Lack of Fuel and Out-of-Service Power Plants

Residents of Holguín report half-day blackouts and intermittent connections / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, May 8, 2024 — There was no need for the Electric Union of Cuba (UNE) to say this Wednesday, in its usual forecast, that yesterday “the service was affected due to a deficit of generation capacity for 24 hours.” The inhabitants of a third of the Island were able to feel it in their skin. For the second consecutive day, there were simultaneous blackouts in 30% of the country, the worst figure in a month and a half.

“They’re bleeding us dry. We’re being eaten up by the blackouts, and last night I couldn’t even take a bath,” laments Idelia, a resident of San Antonio de los Baños, Artemisa. There, the blackout scheduled from 3:00 in the afternoon to 8:00 at night ended up lasting until 3:30 in the morning. “More than 12 hours without electricity, and in this heat who can stand that? My heart is full of sorrow.”

The power outages have even reached José Martí International Airport in Havana. In terminal 3, this Tuesday, tourists could be seen trying to relieve their hot flashes with fans or by waving brochures in front of their sweaty faces. continue reading

“They’re bleeding us dry. We’re being eaten up by the blackouts, and last night I couldn’t even take a bath”

Over a loudspeaker, a female voice warned that the air conditioning was turned off “for maintenance,” but an airport employee told 14ymedio that the real reason is a “directive” coming “from above” to save electricity: “We turn it off about three days a week.” Half of the escalators were also stopped, as was one of the internal elevators.

In the capital, many neighborhoods also suffered power outages, even the areas that suffer them the least often, such as El Vedado and Centro Habana.

Residents of Holguín report to this newspaper half-day blackouts and intermittent connections. In Sancti Spíritus, this Tuesday, they also cut off the power, despite not having a scheduled blackout. “Here, the week that we don’t have a blackout we call a ’Marianao’ week,” a resident of the city explains to 14ymedio, referring to a report broadcast by official television that went viral in which a neighbor said sarcastically that “in Marianao we have everything.”

“It is no longer the breakdowns of thermoelectric plants or the fuel deficit that cause our suffering. Now the daily emphasis is on the maintenance that is undertaken on a few thermoelectric plants and Energás (the oil and gas company) to guarantee a ‘better electrical service’ in the summer. Imagine the poor family that wants to celebrate their daughter’s fifteenth birthday in style and goes hungry for a few months to be able to gorge themselves at the party, and then it lasts as long as a meringue at the door of a school,” Pedro de Jesús, resident of Fomento, Sancti Spíritus, wrote on his networks this Wednesday in a long post denouncing the generalized situation on the Island.

The increase in demand because of the heat is added to the number of out-of-service thermoelectric plants

“Zero blackouts and more food,” could be read on the wall of a funeral home in San Antonio de Cabezas, in Unión de Reyes, Matanzas, according to journalist Mario José Pentón. On the walls of the building, as observed in several images, they had also written, in capital letters: “the elderly are the ones who should take to the streets” and “homeland and life.”

This Wednesday the scene was repeated. With an availability of 2310 megawatts (MW), a maximum demand of 3050 MW was expected, which translates into a deficit of 740 MW and an impact of 810 MW during peak hours.

The increase in demand because of the heat is added to the number of thermoelectric power plants (CTEs) out of service. As the UNE said, Unit 2 of Felton is damaged, and Unit 1 is also under maintenance. Units 1 and 3 of the CTE Santa Cruz, the 6 of Nuevitas and the 8 of the CTE Mariel are also in maintenance. This is in addition to the 34 distributed generation plants shut down due to lack of fuel.

Tomorrow the UNE will go back to publishing its daily report, but it is not necessary. Cubans already know what the day has in store for them: blackouts and more blackouts.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Mexico Invested 133 Million Dollars To Contain Migration in Several Countries, Including Cuba

The money has been transferred, says Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena, through the programs Sembrando Vida and Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro

Image of the start of the program Sembrando Vida en Cuba in 2023 / / X/@mesaredondacuba

14ymedio, Mexico City, 8 May 2024 — Mexico has invested 133 million dollars to address the causes of emigration in Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras and Salvador, Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena said on Tuesday in the Ministerial Meeting of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, which is taking place in Guatemala.

Bárcena boasted of the use of resources to “address structural causes” such as “poverty, inequality, climate change, violence,” in addition to “eliminating unilateral coercive measures that are affecting the livelihoods of our peoples at the expense, by the way, of their development.”

The money that Bárcena mentioned has already been channeled by Mexico to Cuba, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Haiti and Honduras through the social programs Sembrando Vida (Sowing Life) and Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro (Youth Building the Future). continue reading

Bárcena proclaimed the use of resources to “attend to structural causes” such as “poverty, inequality, climate change, violence”

The Sembrando Vida program has been questioned for its lack of transparency and the opacity of its money management, and is seen by the opposition parties as a form of political clientelism. The Connectas information platform revealed that this program, to which 63.5 million dollars were at first allocated, “has received criticism for the expulsion of beneficiaries in a discretionary manner, the opacity in the management of the farmers’ savings and the delay in investigations that denounce their mismanagement.”

The Government of Mexico allocated 6,000,000 dollars to the Sembrando Vida program that started on the Island in July 2023, by delivering hoes, metal files, pruning shears and boots to a group of farmers. The beneficiaries were 5,000 producers with 25 cultivable acres that are grouped into cooperatives.

The Government of Mexico allocated $6,000,000 to the Sembrando Vida program that started on the Island in July 2023

Last December, the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (Amexcid), in charge of the program, inaugurated two nurseries of fruit trees and trees for timber in the municipalities of Artemisa and Mayabeque, in addition to donating half a dozen tractors. However, it is still unclear how much of the 150 dollars that Cuba receives for each beneficiary is given to the farmers.

Mexico, Bárcena said, also made a commitment to provide employment in its territory to asylum seekers. “We committed to employing 20,000 migrants in three years, and, in less than two years since the signing of the Los Angeles Declaration, we have employed more than 17,000 refugees, just from the local integration program that the UNHCR implements in Mexico, together with the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance.”

The official did not detail the nationality of the employees or the companies with which they are working.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Aniete Gonzalez, Imprisoned for Wrapping Herself in the Cuban Flag, Was Granted Precautionary Measures by Human Rights Commission

One of the photographs for which Aniette González was accused/Facebook/AnietteGonzález

14ymedio, Madrid, 7 May 2024 — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has issued precautionary measures in favor of activist Aniette González García, sentenced last February to three years in prison for photographing herself wrapped in the Cuban flag. In addition, the Cuban Human Rights Observatory (OCDH), requesting the measures, reported this Monday on the “worrying conditions” that the activist endures in the Kilo 5 prison, in Camagüey.

“After analyzing the allegations of fact and law made by the applicant, the Commission considers that the proposed beneficiary is in a serious and urgent situation, since her rights to life, personal integrity, and health face a risk of irreparable harm,” the IACHR states in a document cited by the Observatory.

González also denounces the abuse to which she has been subjected by the prison authorities and State Security

Last March, González was denied an appeal of her conviction. On March 22, 2023, the activist published several photos in which she appears wrapped in the Cuban flag. The images were her support for the campaign “The flag belongs to all”, in support of the release of artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, leader of the San Isidro Movement, condemned in turn for “an affront to national symbols”.

The next day, the woman was arrested by nine agents who searched her home and seized a flag and three mobile phones. In February of this year, she was sentenced to three years in prison, a conviction denounced by international organizations such as Amnesty International. continue reading

In its resolution, the IACHR considers it “especially serious” that Aniette González “lacks access to medical care to get the right diagnosis for the bleeding she suffers.”

It also denounces the abuse to which she has been subjected by the prison authorities and State Security, such as insults, being confined in a cell “flooded with water, with humidity, poor light and ventilation”, preventing her from resting by taking away “the necessary elements for it”, controlling her clothes, giving her little and spoiled food, interrogating her in rooms “with low temperatures, at any time of the day”.

The Commission calls on the Cuban regime to”take the necessary measures to protect Aniette’s rights to life, health and personal integrity”

Likewise, the organization warns that the activist, who is locked in a maximum security prison, is monitored by agents of the political police and not by prison officials, which shows that “she has been subjected to biased treatment because she is considered ‘counterrevolutionary’ and because she has demonstrated through the internet.”

Thus, the Commission asks the Cuban regime to “adopt the necessary measures to protect Aniette González García’s rights to life, health and personal integrity, with a gender perspective, in accordance with applicable international standards and obligations.”

According to another statement made public on Monday by the OCDH, in April there were on the island “at least 314 repressive actions against the civilian population” – 75 arbitrary detentions and 239 abuses – bringing the total so far this year to 1,287.

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The Garbage Crisis in Las Tunas Forces the Authorities To Deliver More Fuel to Communal Services

So far, the company has received only 528 gallons of fuel per month, 50% of what it needs

According to official reports, Communal Services has only two tractors to load garbage in the municipality / Periódico 26

14ymedio, Havana, 7 May 2024 — The government of Las Tunas developed a “strategy” to mitigate the crisis of garbage dumps that have been out of control for months in the city. The plan is to deliver to Servicio Comunales (Communal Services) about 793 gallons of diesel, 75% of what they should have monthly, with which the state managed to collect about 14,126 cubic feet of garbage this Saturday.

The rest of the solution consisted of getting “mechanical shovels and trucks from different companies with workers from the popular councils themselves and other entities,” said Periódico 26, which celebrated the garbage collection as a great milestone, despite the fact that the company did not receive all the necessary resources. Until now, the media said, Comunales obtained only 50% of the fuel it requires; its infrastructure is scarce, and its vehicles are, for the most part, in poor condition.

Las Tunas has been crying out for months for the government to take care of the city’s hygiene. The first alternative, conceived months ago, was to hire the horse-cart drivers to collect the garbage, but the disagreements with the drivers over the payments and the hard work left the municipality without collectors. In the province, 252 cart drivers work with Comunales, when, in the provincial capital alone, 659 are needed “to achieve a systematic collection.” continue reading

Las Tunas has been crying out for months for the government to take care of the city’s hygiene

Periódico 26, which explained that “this mission will take place until the city is completely clean,” is aware that “such an effort requires the systematic collection of solid waste.” However, it was not clarified where that fuel comes from – a resource that the State cannot deliver easily due to the shortage – and whether the deliveries to Comunales will be made regularly.

Part of the responsibility was also attributed to the inhabitants of the municipality, who were asked for “discipline” to “comply with what is established and ensure the cleanliness of the environment… The new strategy already shows that it may be possible to keep the city clean with institutional support and the population’s behavior,” the newspaper said, despite the fact that the obvious solution is to give Comunales what they need and not exhaust the resources of other companies.

The latest media report on the garbage situation, at the end of April, complained that few cart drivers “have stepped forward to do the work.” Each one is paid 40 pesos per cubic meter of garbage, which means that an average days earning — on the black market, where ordinary people exchange their money — is the equivalent of about $5 US a day. “But they don’t even want to do that work,” the provincial deputy director of Comunales, Eiser Prieto, told Periódico 26.

According to the official newspaper, the population of Las Tunas generates about 33,200 cubic feet of waste per month, most of which should be picked up by Servicio Comunales with two collection trucks and eight tractors, but there are only 2 tractors available. That saturation of garbage, along with the lack of equipment and the risks to both the drivers and the animals of contracting diseases, have overwhelmed the cart drivers.

At the beginning of April, Periódico 26 described Las Tunas as a capital city “full of trash dumps,” with municipalities in full “deterioration” and with leaders who “lack sensitivity” and act only “when they’re told to by the higher authorities.”

It also mentioned “social indisciplines,” such as throwing garbage in any corner, but recognized that “many neighbors have no choice but to throw garbage in the bins even when they are overflowing. What else can they do if there is no fuel and no horse carts?” The newspaper then asked for a salary increase for the cart drivers – “there is no other way” – a measure that should have been taken “many months ago,” it said.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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The Cuban Rafters Rescued by Fishermen Want To Stay in Mexico

The United States has deported 13 Cubans and 520 migrants from other countries in 2024

One of the Cuban rafters with Migration agents at the General Hospital of San Fernando / INM

14ymedio, Mexico City, 7 May 2024 — The Cuban rafters Mario Sergio Márquez Ventura, 30 years old, Rogelio Loaces Fuentes (50), Yuriesky Romero Hernández (33) and Diosan (26) asked the Migration authorities in Mexico to start procedures for their immigration regularization so they can stay in the country. The migrants, who were rescued last Saturday by fishermen from Laguna Madre, in Tamaulipas (Mexico), made the request on the same day the Cuban Embassy in Mexico offered them consular support. The consul general of Cuba told the local media, El Mañana, that it will be their decision if they want to return to the Island, stay in Mexico or continue on their way.

Migration lawyer José Luis Pérez says that article 69 of the Migration Law clearly states that they must be informed about the requirements to “regularize their stay.” In addition, these people “have the right to be legally assisted during the administrative procedure.”

Identification presented by Rogelio Loaces Fuentes to the Migration authorities / Facebook/Julio César

However, the lawyer did not rule out that under pressure they may be deported to Cuba. Mexico continues to deport Cubans, despite the fact that last October it announced that the process of “assisted calls” – as the expulsions are called – was paused until further notice. Last January, nine people from the Island were returned on a commercial flight. Last year, the departure of 774 migrants was completed. Staff at the General Hospital of San Fernando confirmed to 14ymedio that the rafters responded to treatment, and two were discharged to Migration on Monday. The other two remain under observation and could be discharged Tuesday, a day earlier than expected. continue reading

The Cubans remain in security at Migration headquarters in Matamoros, the Undersecretary of the Government of Tamaulipas, Tomás Gloria Requena, told the media on Monday.

The official said the story about the deaths of four other Cuban migrants is just a “rumor.” We don’t really know if they came together or in another boat; the National Institute of Migration will find out and let us know.”

These irregular migrants – 10 men and three women – had left Cuba illegally on April 23 from Cienfuegos province for Mexico

Also, a group of 13 Cuban rafters was returned to the Island on Tuesday by the United States Coast Guard Service (USCG), making a total of 520 irregular migrants from several countries in the region deported so far in 2024, official media reported.

These irregular migrants – 10 men and three women – had left Cuba illegally on April 23 from Cienfuegos province and were rescued on the high seas by a ship from Mexico that delivered them to the US Coast Guard, according to a note from Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior.

One of the returnees was on parole for compliance with criminal sanctions at the time of leaving the Island and “will be placed at the disposal of the corresponding courts for the revocation of that benefit,” he added.

This is the 14th operation to deport rafters carried out this year by the USCG through the port of Orozco, in the province of Artemisa.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Batista, a Tropical Messiah

Six decades of indoctrination can somewhat distort our view of the past.

Fulgencio Batista was born on January 16, 1901, the feast of Saint Fulgentius / Archive

14ymedio, Yunior García Aguilera, Madrid, 5 May 2024 — Fulgencio Batista landed a major role in the soap opera that is Cuba on September 4, 1933, during the Sergeants’ Revolt. He went on to become its biggest star, earning the grandiose nickname The Man. How could an unknown sergeant go from bit player to leading man? How did a short peasant with a ruddy complexion manage to dominate the front pages during several chapters of our nation’s history?

His father, Belisario, fought in the Cuban War of Independence. In spite of being illiterate, he managed to educate his son while regaling him with stories of battlefield exploits. Little Beno’s first teacher was a girl from the village. Though not actually a trained educator, she did teach children to read. He would later enroll in a run-down Quaker school. After a day of cutting sugar cane and doing household chores, the boy would study at night. There are photos of him working as a tailor or carpenter, before he had any hint of a mustache.

His mother Carmela, by contrast, was a deeply religious woman. Batista would recall, however, how level-headed she could be, taking him in 1910 to watch the path of Halley’s Comet rather than succumbing to the fear and superstition which led the town’s other residents to hide under the covers at the time. He would lose her five years later when he was just fourteen years old.

There are photos of him working as a tailor or carpenter, before he had any hint of a mustache

A fan of the railroad, the young Batista managed to become a conductor though his true vocation was putting on a military uniform. Six decades of indoctrination might somewhat distort our view of the past. It is difficult for us to understand what impact the sight of the Rural Guard might have on a peasant of that time. However, there are stories that claim every Cuban peasant would look up from the fields or out the door of his hut whenever a pair of them rode by on horseback. It was a mixture of fascination and fear. And that was what Batista wanted until he achieved it in 1921. continue reading

He did not particularly distinguish himself as a soldier but he did use his free time to take a correspondence course in shorthand. The habit of walking around all day long with books under his arm earned him the nickname The Man of Letters, something he certainly did not mind. The most distinctive thing about that period of his life was that he became part of President Zayas’ security detail at a farm in Wajay. It was there that he met his first wife, Elisa Godínez, whom he would marry in 1926.

A year later he would be promoted to corporal, hardly an extraordinary accomplishment. He would have to wait another year before being promoted to sergeant-major and given a job as stenographer at the Cabaña fortress. Dreaming of becoming a captain was perhaps too lofty a goal for a soldier from such humble beginnings, someone without money, family connections or notoriety.

Batista gave a speech in which he employed all of his father’s working-class eloquence and all his mother’s wonder at seeing Halley’s Comet pass overhead

After the fall of President Gerardo Machado, civilian and military officials were unhappy with Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. A rumor, a mere rumor, was the trigger that sparked the mutiny. There was talk that the government was going to reduce the Army’s staff and cut salaries. That was how the Gang of Eight, led by a certain Pablo Rodríguez, came to be. One of the reasons Batista got involved was because of his skills as a typist. And he had an old Ford which allowed the conspirators to get around.

But Batista had another trick up his sleeve. He knew how to speak in public. Pablo Rodríguez never imagined he would have to step aside for a stenographer, who would end up sidelining him in the history books. Batista gave a speech in which he employed all Belisario’s working-class eloquence and all Carmela’s wonder at seeing Halley’s Comet pass overhead. He spoke of the “soldier-man” and emphasized with a peasant’s rage the word “dignity.”

At the conclusion, he said just one thing: Viva Batista! A week later he was a colonel and would go on to become the the Cuban Strongman, a nickname he had for a quarter of a century.

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