English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 16 May 2020 — Throughout the decade of the 1960s, many students of the Cuban reality liked to place much of the blame for the persistent problems on what was generally called “the inheritance of the past.” Time passed, like the eagles fly over the sea, and the time came when … Continue reading “The Solution to Cuba’s Problems”
14ymedio/EFE, Miami, 7 May 2020 — The Miami municipal government and the Foundation for Pan American Democracy urged Miamians on Wednesday to donate “basic necessity” products to help the Cuban people deal with the Covid-19 crisis through the “Solidaridad entre Hermanos” (Solidarity Among Brothers) initiative. Donations will be collected at the Mana Convention Center in … Continue reading “"Solidaridad Entre Hermanos," an Initiative to Send Aid Directly Between Miami and Cuba”
14ymedio/EFE, Havana, May 1, 2020 — The Observatorio Cubano de Derechos Humanos [Cuban Observatory of Human Rights] (OCDH) welcomes the release of 6,579 prisoners announced by the Government this Thursday. “It’s a positive measure in the framework of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic,” said the organization, which is based in Madrid. The President of … Continue reading “The OCDH Celebrates the Release of 6,579 Prisoners in Cuba”
14ymedio, Havana, 22 April 2020 – The group of Cubans trying to return to the island from Ecuador still doesn’t know when they will be able to go. The humanitarian flight planned for this Thursday from Quito to Havana was unable to enter Cuban airspace because it was operated by a company linked with Global … Continue reading “Cuban Government Cancels Global Air Flight Contracted To Repatriate 120 Cubans From Ecuador”
14ymedio, Havana, 29 April 2020 — The League of Independent Farmers and the Cuban chapter of the Latin American Federation of Rural Women (Flamur) have launched a campaign directed at the Cuban Government demanding the liberalization of agriculture in Cuba in the context of the Covid-19 health crisis. In their opinion, the crisis could lead … Continue reading “A Group of Independent Cuban Farmers Calls for the Liberalization of Agriculture”
14ymedio, Havana, April 27, 2020 — Cuba will reach the peak of Covid-19 infection next week, in contrast to data offered by other sources, accord to the forecast of experts who evaluate for the government. Although it initially was forecast that this peak would be reached toward the end of May, results from the preventive … Continue reading “The Governmment Manages Two Sets of Coronavirus Statistics, the Real and the Touched-up”
14ymedo, Bertha K. Guillén, Soroa, 25 April 2020 — Until recently, the highway to Soroa, in the province of Artemisa, was a continuous coming and going of vehicles loaded with tourists. The travelers supported the economy of most of the families in the area, but after the closure of the borders because of Covid-19, the locals are … Continue reading “Without Tourists and With Businesses Closed, Soroa is Sunk in Crisis”
Cubanet, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 24 April 2020 — In the course of the last few weeks, Cubans have been witnessing an unusual government offensive against economic crime. With such an onslaught, which is inserted in the midst of the “battle” against COVID-19, the authorities are trying to put into practice the promise of punishment to … Continue reading “Cuba: Economic Purges and Collateral Damages”
14ymedio, Yoani Sánchez, Generation Y, 22 April 2020 — While the coronavirus rages in Latin America, another enemy – not as tiny – is also gaining ground. Authoritarianism takes advantage of the health emergency and the fear of citizens to cut freedoms, crush rights and impose tight control over daily life. In a few weeks we have … Continue reading “Masks Are Not Gags”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, April 21, 2020 – Some of the Argentine tourists who put up in the Tulipán Hotel in the Capital have, as of this Sunday, a new residence at the Tryp Habana Libre, if they can pay between 30 and 40 dollars US for a room, a price very much below the … Continue reading “Argentine Tourists Have Been Relocated to the Habana Libre and the Neptune-Triton Hotels”
14ymedio, Wilfredo Miranda Aburto, Managua, April 14, 2020 — A Venezuelan flight, Conviasa, coming from Cuba, landed last Wednesday in Managua. The aircraft brought 8,000 doses of Interferon Alpha-2B, a pharmaceutical with which the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosadio Murilla “will combat the coronavirus.” Since Covid-19 arrived in Nicaragua, the Sandinista Government has praised … Continue reading “"Cuban Interferon is a False Hope" for Coronavirus”
14ymedio, Havana, 17 April 2020 — In answer to the Cuban government’s insistent campaign for the United States to lift the embargo during the coronavirus epidemic, on Thursday Washington reminded that the exceptions provided for humanitarian aid remain in force. “The embargo . . . is aimed at the Cuban communist regime, that for decades has … Continue reading “USA Reiterates That Sanctions Against Cuba Do Not Apply to Humanitarian Aid”
14ymedio, Cynthia de la Cantera /Laura Rodríguez Fuentes/ Fernando Donate, La Habana /Santa Clara /Holguín, 17 April 2020 — One morning in early April, Carmen Rojas recalls how she made the most of laundry soap during Cuba’s so-called Special Period. “The soap chips are stored in nylon, so that the original fragrance is not lost. … Continue reading “Lining Up and Muzzled”
14ymedio, Havana, 18 April 2020 — Raúl Castro reappeared this Friday after a long public absence to preside over a meeting to analyze the current situation of Covid-19 in Cuba, according to official press reports. The former president had not been seen in any official image since late February. As first secretary of the Communist Party, … Continue reading “Raul Castro Reappears After a Long Public Absence”
14ymedio, Havana, 18 April 2020 — After a two-hour interrogation, the independent journalist Mónica Baró was fined 3,000 pesos under the rule of Decree Law 370 that regulates the use of the internet in Cuba. The reporter was summoned despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the authorities’ call for Cubans not to leave their homes. The … Continue reading “A 3,000 Peso Fine for Monica Baro for Texts on Facebook”
