English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Havana, 29 December 2020 — On Tuesday the Alicia, an oil tanker with a Cuban flag but owned by a Russian company, is heading to the Venezuelan refinery in Amuay on its usual route to bring fuel to the island. It is not the only cargo ship that will bring supplies from the partner country of … Continue reading “The Russian Ship ‘Alicia’ Participates in Cuba’s ‘Looting’ of Venezuelan Oil”
14ymedio, Havana, 13 November 2020 — On Friday, Western Union announced it will no longer provide remittance services in Cuba as of November 23 after the island’s government rejected a proposal that would have allowed the US-based to comply with American regulations governing its transactions with Fincimex*. The deadline for sending money from the United … Continue reading “Western Union’s Offices in Cuba to Close at 6 PM, November 23”
14ymedio, Havana, 9 November 2020 — “We invite our clients to speed up shipments to their relatives in Cuba,” advised Khalid Fellahi, general manager of Western Union Digital, assuring that the more than 400 offices the company has on the island are currently operating. “It is important that your loved ones collect the funds sent … Continue reading “‘Accelerate Shipments to Your Relatives in Cuba’ Advises Western Union”
14ymedio, Havana, 27 October 2020 — Fincimex, one of the companies in Cuba’s military conglomerate GAESA, reported in an ambiguous statement that they will close the 407 Western Union offices in Cuba, after the new provisions announced by the United States last Friday which prohibit the sending of remittances through companies linked to the military. In a call from this … Continue reading “Western Union Employee Says Fincimex Lies: "They Have Not Ordered Us to Close"”
14ymedio, Havana, 23 October 2020 — The United States government will prohibit remittances to Cuba that are sent through companies controlled by the military, according to a draft document published in the Federal Register. The measure will take effect on November 27. Most of the money sent to the island goes through official mechanisms, and 51.3% … Continue reading “US Prohibits Sending Remittances to Cuba Through Companies Linked to the Military”
14ymedio, Havana, July 6, 2020 — For the second time in the last six weeks, the vessel Sandino was loading fuel this Sunday in the El Palito refinery, in the state of Carabobo, west of Caracas, according to information published by the local press. With a source on the maritime tracking site marinetraffic.com, El Carabobeño … Continue reading “Venezuela is Preparing to Send a New Shipment of Fuel to Cuba”
Jeovany Jimenez Vega, 27 January 2018 — The very notable absence of Colonel Alejandro Castro Espín on the nominating list of the National Assembly of People’s Power only confirms the suspicions of many analysts: the Castro clan opted to continue ruling from the sidelines. It was an open secret that the Prince of the Plaza was contemplated until … Continue reading “Alejandro Castro Espin: President of Cuba for 2023? / Jeovany Jimenez Vega”
Juan Juan Almeida, 19 December 2017 — A police operation at the popular Factoría Plaza Vieja Brewery, in the historic center of Havana, caused the temporary closure of the establishment and the arrest of several people who are being prosecuted on charges of corruption. According to reports obtained by Martí Noticias, the process began when one of the … Continue reading “Corruption Scandal Shakes Up Popular Havana Brewery / Juan Juan Almeida”
14ymedio, Carlos Alberto Montaner, 19 February 2017 — It has been one year since Fidel’s death was announced. It seems like a century ago. For more than a decade, from July 26, 2006 to Nov. 25, 2016, he lived with one foot in the grave. That slow-motion agony was very useful to his brother Raúl. … Continue reading “One Year Without Fidel”
Juan Juan Almeida, 27 March 2017 — At age 85, infirm, and ten months from his much trumpeted retirement, Raul Castro directs the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces to modify Order Number One of the deceased Commander in Chief. According to an unexpectedly transparent account from a corpulent and not very young Cuban official, … Continue reading “Raul Castro Modifies His Brother’s Orders / Juan Juan Almeida”
Juan Juan Almeida, 13 March 2017 — The appointment of architect Perla Rosa Rosales Aguirreurreta to succeed historian Eusebio Leal as head of Havana’s Office of the Historian is the most recent example of the Cuban regime’s making strategic decisions whose sole purpose is to implement a very well-organized dynastic succession plan. In order to further … Continue reading “Cuba’s Children of Power Take Possession / Juan Juan Almeida”
14ymedio, Havana, 24 February 2017 — On February 24 of next year Raul Castro must leave the presidency of Cuba if he is to fulfill the promise he has made several times. His announced departure from power is looked on with suspicion by some and seen as an inescapable fact by others, but hardly anyone argues that … Continue reading “The Countdown Begins For Raul Castro’s Departure From Power / 14ymedio”
Diario de Cuba, Dimas Castellano, 15 December 2016 — Fidel Castro spent decades leaving his personal imprint on Cuba. Wielding absolute power and imbued with a high degree of of messianism, populism and voluntarism, he determined the fates of several generations. He undertook important social projects but hampered the economy and rolled back civil liberties. The … Continue reading “The Challenge of a Government without Fidel / Dimas Castellano”
Juan Juan Almeida, 19 October 2016 — As in the Greek epic, Eusebio Leal, the Captain of a small stronghold of Cuban historians, confronted Brigade General Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Callejas and the Business Administration Group of the Armed Forces (FAR) with lively and poetic oratory. We know that FAR has taken possession of Habaguanex and several … Continue reading “Eusebio Leal Strikes Back Against the "Storm" / Juan Juan Almeida”
Ivan Garcia, 1 September 2016 — While certain groups and people on the island try to distance themselves from the openly anti-Castro dissidence, however they can, they will always be marked with a scarlet letter by the Department of State Security and its guardians of the faith, specialists in destroying reputations. The logic in the … Continue reading “In Castroism, Those Who Deviate From the Script Are Adversaries / Iván García”
