Search results for: MIR card

Vladimiro Roca: “Many just saw me as the son of Blas Roca” / Cubanet, Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello

Cubanet, Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello, Havana, 16 November 2015 – Vladimiro Roca Antunez is one of “the old guard” group of dissidents who is still in Cuba. He holds a degree in International Economic Relations, and was a MIG fighter pilot in the Revolutionary Armed Forces. He served 5 years, from 1997 to 2002, in Ariza … Continue reading “Vladimiro Roca: “Many just saw me as the son of Blas Roca” / Cubanet, Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello”

Serving a Meal, a True Luxury / Cubanet, Miriam Celaya

Cubanet, Miriam Celaya, HAVANA, 6 November 2015 — Hopes and expectations that encouraged Cubans at the beginning of 2015, following the announcement of the restoration of relations between the governments of Cuba and the US, have vanished completely. Over the past eleven months there has not been a hint of any economic improvement for the population, … Continue reading “Serving a Meal, a True Luxury / Cubanet, Miriam Celaya”

Mick Jagger Meets with Gorki From Porno Para Ricardo in Havana (NOT) / Fake News

Arsenio Rodríguez Quintana, Barcelona — On Sunday, October 4, after visiting the Cuban Art Factory in Havana, the Rolling Stones singer was walking with the rocker and Cuban government critic Gorki Aguila Carrasco along 5th Avenue, where the Ladies in White meet every Sunday and march in support of human rights in Cuba. Cuban State … Continue reading “Mick Jagger Meets with Gorki From Porno Para Ricardo in Havana (NOT) / Fake News”

The Scandal of the Conflict and the General’s Silence / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya

14ymedio, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 2 September 2015 — The paranoid frenzy of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has reached delirium levels, and now, in the midst of the crisis taking place on the border between his country and Colombia, and in the course of his untimely visit to Vietnam, geographically removed from the diplomatic cloud of … Continue reading “The Scandal of the Conflict and the General’s Silence / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya”

Time for Compensations / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya

14ymedio, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 22 July 2015 — After the media foreplay stirred by the opening of the Cuban and US embassies in their respective countries, some outstanding issues on the agenda of negotiations between the two governments begin to surface as matters that should, in short order, get the attention of the media and … Continue reading “Time for Compensations / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya”

Wi-Fi crashes at La Rampa / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya

14ymedio, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 2 July 2015 — Contrary to what one might expect in a country where communications are almost a luxury and not a right, the announced opening of a public network access at Havana’s La Rampa, which would expand Internet access in the capital starting July 1st, did not generate significant crowds. … Continue reading “Wi-Fi crashes at La Rampa / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya”

Independence Day / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya

14ymedio, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 3 July 2015 — The traditional celebration offered by the US Interests Section in Havana, on the anniversary of the Independence of the United States, had on this occasion a special connotation for being the first one to take place following the announcement of restoration of relations between that country and Cuba, … Continue reading “Independence Day / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya”

The Reconversion of the Devils / Cubanet, Miriam Celaya

Cubanet, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 12 May 2015 — Yesterday, Tuesday May 11, 2015, the front page of Granma, the official organ of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), showed a photograph of the Cuban President General amicably shaking the hand of Pope Francis in Vatican City. Quirks of politics, to convince us of the survivability … Continue reading “The Reconversion of the Devils / Cubanet, Miriam Celaya”

“Return to Ithaca” or the Magic of Censorship / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya

14ymedio, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 4 May 2015 — The reunion of five friends on a roof terrace in Central Havana is the thread on which Return to Ithaca’s plot rests. Leonardo Padura wrote the screenplay and Laurent Cantet directed this French film about Cuban topics. The film is currently circulating underground among Havana moviegoers, preceded … Continue reading ““Return to Ithaca” or the Magic of Censorship / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya”

Self-employed…That Damn Breed / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya

14ymedio, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 2 May 2015 — Few sectors have been so viciously beaten in Cuba as the one grouped under the generic name of “entrepreneurs”, or, according to the informal term, “cuentapropistas” (“self-employed”). The backgrounds of the self-employed have their roots in small business, family business owners and street vendors that swarmed throughout … Continue reading “Self-employed…That Damn Breed / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya”

Who is behind the mirror? / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 19 March 2015 – On Wednesday, with great fanfare, the digital site “Reflections” was launched as part of the Cuban Youth Computer and Electronics Club’s Cuba Va (Cuba Goes) project. On its homepage you can read that this is the first Cuban blogging platform, although DesdeCuba.com, a blog portal, was launched … Continue reading “Who is behind the mirror? / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”

Raul Castro Plays Both Sides / Cubanet, Miriam Celaya

Maduro states that the Yankees [Americans] will not set one foot on Venezuelan soil, while Raul Castro will roll out the red carpet welcome for them, thus dismissing XXI Century Socialism.  Goodness, Maduro, neither political agreements nor ideologies are worth a dime in matters of capital. Cubanet, Miriam Celaya, HAVANA, 16 march 2015 — The … Continue reading “Raul Castro Plays Both Sides / Cubanet, Miriam Celaya”

Rationing in Venezuela: A ‘Déjà vu’ for Cubans / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya

14ymedio, Havana, Miriam Celaya, 11 March 2015 — Commissar Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela to the misfortune of its people and – let’s admit it – also for the prolongation of our own misfortune, has just announced recently the installation of 20,000 digital fingerprint readers in state food markets and in several private sector retail … Continue reading “Rationing in Venezuela: A ‘Déjà vu’ for Cubans / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya”

New Electoral Law: New Wine in Old Wineskins? / Miriam Celaya

After the Tenth Assembly of the Central Committee (CC) of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) the news about the next “enactment of a new electoral law; and the subsequent holding of general elections” has begun to circulate in the official media. Such an important announcement in a country where, for more than 60 years ago … Continue reading “New Electoral Law: New Wine in Old Wineskins? / Miriam Celaya”

Early Farewell to the CUC / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya

14ymedio, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 29 January 2015 — It was barely 10:00 am Wednesday, January 28th, and the currency exchange (CADECA) at Belascoaín had no national currency (CUP)*. One of the tellers explained that he had only several 50 peso bills and that was it until the “cash truck” arrived.  Some customers, leaving because they could not transact business, … Continue reading “Early Farewell to the CUC / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya”