English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Luis Zúñiga, Miami, 5 February 2022 — On June 5, 1960, Fidel Castro ordered the nationalization of the Texaco company’s oil refinery in Cuba. The following month, on July 5, he ordered the seizure of the two remaining US refineries, Shell and Esso. Castro let the owners know that there would be no monetary … Continue reading “The True History of the United States Trade Embargo on Cuba”
14ymedio, Havana, 12 January 2022 — The progressive increase in coronavirus cases in Cuba will be the norm from now on, and will increase, at least during the first quarter of the year. “[There will be a] rapid growth in the number of confirmed cases, with high peaks, which could strain the health system, but … Continue reading “Experts Predict ‘High Peaks’ of Covid in Cuba Until March”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 25 October 2021 — It is assumed that the agenda of Division General Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja now has room for his new commitment: responding to the requirements of the 16,500 inhabitants of the municipality of Remedios, in the province of Villa Clara, where they have chosen him as their representative … Continue reading “The Next Move of Lopez-Calleja, Raul Castro’s Man”
14ymedio, Ariel Hidalgo, Miami, 25 August 2021 — In the worst days of the Special Period crisis, when I was asked during a Miami radio program if I thought that people in Cuba were going to take to the streets, I replied: “The only street where people could launch themselves would be the Malecón, trying … Continue reading “And After July 11th, What Comes Next?”
14ymedio, Havana, 18 August 2021 — More than twenty Cuban doctors have denounced the health collapse in a new video and have shown solidarity with their colleagues who, last weekend, broadcast another audiovisual to demand supplies and protest against the criticism of the sector launched by Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero. On this occasion, and … Continue reading “The Rebellion of Cuban Doctors Spreads in Holguin With a New Video”
14ymedio, Havana, 28 August 2020 — As of September 1st Havana will suffer the most restrictive measures so far to contain the rise in infections of Covid-19. As announced this Thursday by Reinaldo García Zapata, governor of Havana, on the Roundtable program, people and vehicles will be prohibited from to move from 7 pm to 5 am; all private … Continue reading “Cuban Government Decrees a Curfew in Havana to Contain the Pandemic”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 22 August 2020 — In one of his most recent speeches, Miguel Díaz-Canel referred, among other issues, to “the Economic Strategy designed to face the crisis situation generated by the pandemic,” and saw the need to make it clear that “in its implementation it will be demonstrated that we do not … Continue reading “The Limits of Terminology”
The new directive now is for stores to ‘disguise’ their lines (14ymedio)14ymedio, Havana, 18 August 2020 — Lines continue to be the common denominator for the vast majority of Cubans. Line up for the bank, line up for the market, line up for the pharmacy, line up for everything. In front of each store there is a line. And now, … Continue reading “Hiding the Lines, a New Strategy to Conceal the Shortages in Cuba”
Cubanet, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 30 March 2020 — On March 23rd, in his presentation on the Roundtable broadcast on all Cuban television channels, Cuban Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, reported about new official measures that would deepen controls to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Island. Among them, it was established that … Continue reading ““We are Isolated But Not Protected”: The Truth About an Isolation Center in Cuba / Miriam Celaya”
14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez, Havana, 4 March 2020 — Last night I dreamed of suitcases. I lost my belongings which fell into a deep dark hole. My nightmare seems to have been motivated by the phone conversation I had with a friend shortly before going to bed and a couple of hours after the new measures … Continue reading “Day 4 of the Covid-19 Emergency in Cuba”
Officials point out that “there are several provinces and municipalities without directors” of the Housing program, which has barely completed 39% of its activities. 14ymedio, Madrid, 2 October 2024 — Of the 13,492 homes that the 2024 plan had planned, as of August only 5,262 had been built, 39%. The figure is even worse when … Continue reading “As of August, Cuban Authorities Have Built only 1.1 percent of the Homes the Country Needs”
The Council of Ministers says it has implemented “very important actions,” but they have not yet reached the population 14ymedio, Madrid, 30 September 2024 — With a fiscal deficit of more than 15% of the Gross Domestic Product, a GDP contraction of 1.9, an official year-on-year inflation rate of more than 30%, a devalued peso … Continue reading “The Cuban Government Sees ‘Discreet Progress’ in the Macroeconomy While the Country Sinks”
Only 46% of the complaints received by the media in the year were responded to 14ymedio, Havana, 22 September 2024 — The uncomfortable “Acknowledgement of Receipt” section, in which one of Cuba’s official newspapers, Juventud Rebelde, takes advantage of its “freedom” to publish readers’ complaints, translated the inefficiency of Cuban officials into numbers on Sunday. … Continue reading “‘Juventud Rebelde’ Denounces the Inaction of Cuba’s Leaders in the Face of Their Readers’ Complaints”
14ymedio, Xavier Carbonell, Salamanca, 31 August 2024 — In Cuba there is no more money, even for Martí. It is true that the cult of the man Cubans call ’the Apostle’ in his land always had something of alms, and there was no tribute – from the Civic Square to Martí Notebooks – that did … Continue reading “The Cartoonists From ‘Mazzantini’ Save August From Editorial Lethargy”
Manuel Marrero’s announcements have generated both pessimism and uncertainty, the last thing the private business sector wants 14ymedio, Madrid, 29 July 2024 — Fear has quickly spread among the island’s small business owners who, just a few months ago, were looking forward to a modest thaw in relations between Cuba and the United States. Prime … Continue reading “Cuba’s Private Sector Fears the Government Will Not Let Them Have U.S. Bank Accounts”
