For Cuba’s ‘Vegueros’ (Farmers) in Sancti Spiritus, Tobacco Is No Longer a Profitable Business

14ymedio, Havana, 21 March 2024 — The current tobacco planting campaign in Sancti Spíritus, the territory with the second highest production in the country, is barely at 49%. According to the official press, which could not disguise its disappointment with the figure, the main causes of the debacle are the lack of fuel to carry … Continue reading “For Cuba’s ‘Vegueros’ (Farmers) in Sancti Spiritus, Tobacco Is No Longer a Profitable Business”

Eggs Are Scarce and Expensive Because Cuban Chickens Are ‘Very Sensitive and Stressed’

14ymedio, Havana, 26 October 2023 — Cuba’s official press celebrated, this Thursday, the operation of the 28 de Enero state poultry farm, in Pinar del Río. A production of 49,000 eggs per day, 61,144 hens and roosters, and a computer that monitors the “feeding, ventilation and collection of excrement” of the animals day and night … Continue reading “Eggs Are Scarce and Expensive Because Cuban Chickens Are ‘Very Sensitive and Stressed’”

While Florida Evacuates the Population in the Face of Idalia’s Threat, Cuba Evaluates the Damage

14ymedio, Havana, 30 August 2023 — Florida remains in suspense before the imminent arrival of Idalia, which will reach the coast of Big Bend as a category 4 hurricane, according to the forecasts of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States. Its fleeting passage through Cuba, even as a tropical storm, left hundreds … Continue reading “While Florida Evacuates the Population in the Face of Idalia’s Threat, Cuba Evaluates the Damage”

The Electricity Crisis in Cuba From Bad to Worse: Towards a Long and Warm Summer

14ymedio, Elías Amor Bravo, Economist, 28 May 2023 — If the current scenario is maintained, the forecast for the coming months is that the blackouts will continue and this when now the hottest months of the year arrive, in which consumption becomes more necessary to face the high temperatures. The situation of the national electricity … Continue reading “The Electricity Crisis in Cuba From Bad to Worse: Towards a Long and Warm Summer”

Rice and Sardines in the Donated Packages That Will ‘Save’ Santiago de Cuba From Hunger

14ymedio, Havana, 3 May 2023 — On Tuesday in Santiago de Cuba a shipment of 30,000 food packages arrived, which the authorities plan to allocate to the most vulnerable families in the province. The local press pointed out that the packages were made with “donations from solidarity countries,” but did not say which ones. The … Continue reading “Rice and Sardines in the Donated Packages That Will ‘Save’ Santiago de Cuba From Hunger”

Forty-two Dollars for a Two-mile Taxi Ride in Havana

14ymedio, Natalia López Moya, Havana, 17 April 2023 — The fuel crisis in Cuba is far from over and is reflected not only in the empty city streets but also in the unpayable prices of private transport. “Unfortunately we have a high demand and little availability of vehicles due to lack of fuel,” said a … Continue reading “Forty-two Dollars for a Two-mile Taxi Ride in Havana”

A School Without a Roof in San Juan and Martinez Where the Cuban Regime Profits From Tobacco

14ymedio, Havana, 1 April 2023 — Between tobacco plantations and in a very beautiful natural setting, the residents of San Juan y Martínez in Pinar del Río continue to suffer the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which last September destroyed much of the municipality’s infrastructure. To the meteoric winds is added the State’s lack of attention … Continue reading “A School Without a Roof in San Juan and Martinez Where the Cuban Regime Profits From Tobacco”

Amnesty International Denounces the Hundreds of Prisoners in Cuba for Exercising ‘Their Human Rights’

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 28 March 2023 — The NGO Amnesty International (AI) denounced on Monday in its annual report the “hundreds of people” in prison in Cuba for “the peaceful exercise of their human rights” — including “three prisoners of conscience” — and the “repression” of “dissidence” and protests. In its document, which summarizes … Continue reading “Amnesty International Denounces the Hundreds of Prisoners in Cuba for Exercising ‘Their Human Rights’”

Images of Empty Voting Centers in Cuba Belie the Official Participation of More Than 70 Percent

14ymedio, Havana, 27 March 2023 — A lack of enthusiasm marked Cuba’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, March 26, which even with the official data available so far already point to the lowest turnout since 1959. The 14ymedio team was able to verify in different polling stations in Havana that not many Cubans came to vote. … Continue reading “Images of Empty Voting Centers in Cuba Belie the Official Participation of More Than 70 Percent”

The Official Press Announces a Terrible Tobacco Harvest in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 23 March 2023 — Pinar del Río has not produced even half the tobacco that was planned. The main Cuban export will now have, without a doubt, what the official newspaper Granma describes as “the smallest [harvest] in history” in an area that produces between 60% and 70% of the national production. While … Continue reading “The Official Press Announces a Terrible Tobacco Harvest in Cuba”

A Fire in Matanzas, Cuba Wipes Out 11,300 Tobacco Drying Sheds

14ymedio, Havana, 16 March 2023 — More than 11,300 drying sheds of recently harvested tobacco burned in a fire on Wednesday night in Jovellanos, Matanzas. The official press confirmed the news, advanced by a user on social networks, which shattered the calm of the neighbors of District 5 of the San Carlos People’s Council. According … Continue reading “A Fire in Matanzas, Cuba Wipes Out 11,300 Tobacco Drying Sheds”

Cuba Sells ‘Most Expensive Cigar in the World’, at 400 Dollars Each

14ymedio, Havana, 2 March 2023 — Cohiba Behike cigars, flagship product of the Habanos SA company and self-proclaimed “most expensive cigars in the world”, are priced at 400 dollars a piece. The Island’s authorities are boasting about this fact in a frenetic campaign, launched this week in the official press to attract foreign clients to … Continue reading “Cuba Sells ‘Most Expensive Cigar in the World’, at 400 Dollars Each”

The Cuban State Receives 545 Million Dollars for Cigars While the Producers Are Ruined

14ymedio, Madrid, February 28, 2023 — The Festival  of the Cigar was inaugurated this Monday in the Cuban capital with the presence of Miguel Díaz-Canel, who had the peace of mind of  being present at one of the few sectors that can boast good figures in Cuba. The company, Habanos S.A., took the opportunity to … Continue reading “The Cuban State Receives 545 Million Dollars for Cigars While the Producers Are Ruined”

The Fault Has Been Fixed, but the Energy Deficit Prevents Power Returning to Part of Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 22 February 2023 — A massive blackout left much of Cuba without electricity on Wednesday afternoon. It is the second consecutive day for countless residents of the eastern part of the Island and the fourth out of the last ten days. Around 8 at night, the fault had been solved but the energy … Continue reading “The Fault Has Been Fixed, but the Energy Deficit Prevents Power Returning to Part of Cuba”

A Fire in a Cane Field Caused a Seven-Hour Blackout in the Middle of Cuba

14ymedio, Madrid, 14 February 2023 — A fire in a cane field was the cause of the disconnection of the National Electricity System (SEN) that affected half of Cuba this Monday from the center to the east of the Island. The disconnection, from Ciego de Ávila to Guantánamo, occurred around 2 in the afternoon and … Continue reading “A Fire in a Cane Field Caused a Seven-Hour Blackout in the Middle of Cuba”