English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
No doubt you heard that last week, on June 13 and 14, representatives from Cuba and Bolivia met in Havana to take part in their countries’ first business forum and first round of negotiations to explore various possibilities for economic exchange and for strengthening bilateral relations. It is a bad omen, I tell you, that … Continue reading “Filling Stores with Bolivian Clothing / Juan Juan Almeida”
After Decree-Law No. 302 went into force on January 14, health professionals in Cuba could now travel, at least in theory. However, in order to practice in the medical profession in other parts of the world one needs, logically, to be legally licensed in Cuba, in order to be recognized abroad, later. But the cost … Continue reading “The Law and the Trap / Lilianne Ruiz”
by Esperanza Rodríguez Bernal, Attorney at Law Many people come to see us about the fines imposed on them by the Port Captain. The great majority of them have been notified after more than two months have passed from the time they committed the act, making the judicial process ineffective by not fulfilling the established formalities, … Continue reading “A Kafkaesque Tale / Esperanza Rodriguez Bernal #Cuba”
Lic. Odalina Guerrero Lara Neida Lafita Moreira, Cuban citizen, housewife, 53 years old, who, because of her state of health, hasn’t any ties to employment, permanent resident of San Antonio de los Baños, widow since 21st August 2012, turns up, in desperation at the AJC for legal advice or support, as her husband, when he … Continue reading “Unprotected Widow / Odalina Guerrero Lara #Cuba”
Jorge Hojas Puñales For those of us who comb our grey hair, or those who now haven’t any hair to comb, the French utopia dealing with attempted social change, in the context of that society, was an unreachable goal, notwithstanding the fact that it served as a program. And on a daily basis we see that … Continue reading “Revering the Law or Throwing Stones At It? / Jorge Hojas Punales #Cuba”
El Sexto has said he will paint a graffiti on my suitcase; a neighbor gave me an amulet for the journey, and a certain friend noted his shoe size so I can bring him a pair. They said goodbye to me although I still haven’t left. I don’t even have a flight date. But something … Continue reading “What Will Be? / Yoani Sanchez #Cuba”
“I won!” a euphoric young woman said as she left the Department of Immigration and Alienslocatedon10th of October brandishing her passport in her right hand and a clear plastic with papers in the other. She was so happy about the news that she waved her travel pass like someone who brandishes a sword. She hugged … Continue reading “No Locks on Passports / Rosa Maria Rodriguez Torrado #Cuba”
New emigration measures take effect on the 14th of January of this year. Passports can be requested at Identity Card and Population Registration Offices, of Immigration and Immigration Matters; also from the Ministry of the Interior of the provinces of Artemisa, Mayabeque, and the municipality of the Isle of Youth. There are 195 office in … Continue reading “New Emigration Measures / Aimee Cabrera #Cuba”
Article from Eduardo del Llano. [Original is here.] In the Press The press continues to offer a disguised Cuba. Let’s start with the official media. If Raul Castro was seriously seeking a transformation of the Cuban press (and I want to believe that indeed, he emphasized the issue) he will be quite disappointed with the … Continue reading “Del Llano Unchained / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo #Cuba”
By Lic. Jorge Hojas Puñales The Bible is a great book, maybe many people have it in their homes, and from time to time they read it, trying to teach themselves, without really moving on from just reading it. It is clear that they need someone who knows about it, who can explain the teaching … Continue reading “…I became a teacher, which is like making myself a creator / Jorge Hojas Punales #Cuba”
By Lic. E. Javier Hernández Parallel to our inefficient system of managing the economy, also cracked, flawed and inefficient is the functioning of many of the the organs of the state administration at all levels, validating the principle of “poor economic foundation, poor superstructure above”; the latter linked to the negative performance of management officials … Continue reading “Double Immunity / Cuban Law Association, E. Javier Hernandez #Cuba”
The penultimate month of the year ended passing on to December, the final one, the most important inheritance received from October: the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in the eastern provinces of the country. This weather phenomenon, whose final forecast of wind speeds offered by the Institute of Meteorology at the time it entered the province … Continue reading “Bitter November / Rafael Leon Rodriguez #Cuba”
I do not mean to criticize children for being children, nor grandchildren for being grandchildren, I will just talk about a sector that just because we haven’t heard of them, that doesn’t mean they are not full of it. Today I’m answering questions about Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the son of Deborah Castro Espin and … Continue reading “Raul Castro’s Racist Grandson / Juan Juan Almeida #Cuba”
Raul Castro’s public expression justifying his delay in modifying everything that must be reformed sounds like a hollow cliché which, to be fair to Cubans and our history, the truly practical and effective thing would be that it were changed. “We don’t have the right to be mistaken” is no more than a military slogan … Continue reading “Without the Right to Be Mistaken / Rosa María Rodríguez Torrado”
By Lic. Yanelis Ramírez Cruz With this motto conscientious teachers prepared us in physical education classes for the stretching our tense muscles, somewhat stunted by the idleness in the classroom where another classroom professional, this time in math or other subjects, tried to awaken our dormant adolescent neurons. We had to run a section of … Continue reading “On Your Marks, Get Set… / Cuban Law Association, Yanelis Ramirez Cruz #Cuba”
