English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
by Karina Gálvez Once again the legalization of self-employment awakens dreams… and disappointments. Sometimes one gets tired of becoming emboldened and then almost at the same moment discouraged for the same reason that you were encouraged. It is already a custom in Cuba. But we know so well the actions of the Cuban authorities, we … Continue reading “Self-employment, Once Again! / Intramuros”
Goodbye to the Chinese model or that of Vietnam. Forget about copying Russia or Serbia. General Raul Castro, president of Cuba, is about to introduce one hundred percent home-grown changes. Those who dreamed of a market economy, please, back down to earth. Cuba’s move is “new and native” — in the words of the leaders. … Continue reading “Reforms to Raúl Castro / Iván García”
According to the newspaper Granma, starting in October you can work for yourself in 178 activities. In 83 of them you can hire a labor force. Seven have been added to those previously authorized, and 29 of 40 once prohibited activities are now legal. In nine the ban is maintained because of the lack of … Continue reading “Pros and Cons of Self-employment / Laritza Diversent”
Elías Amor Bravo, Economist. 16 July 2022 — Another character from the Party, who has decided to enter directly into economic affairs, is Joel Queipo Ruiz, identified in the State newspaper Granma as a member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Party and head of its Economic-Productive Department, a name that sounds … Continue reading “Are Any Changes Coming in the Regime’s Economic Area?”
14ymedio, Havana, 29 March 2022 — The covid-19 Covifenz vaccine has become the first to have its emergency use rejected by the World Health Organization (WHO). The reason: the participation of the tobacco giant Philip Morris International in the manufacturer of the antidote, Medicago, based in Québec, Canada, of which it has a third of … Continue reading “If WHO Rejected a Vaccine Created in Canada by a Tobacco Company, It Will do the Same With Cuba”
14ymedio, Havana, 29 December 2021 — Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja, Raúl Castro’s former son-in-law who is known as the “Tsar of Gaesa,” joined the list of deputies this October, when he joined Parliament in a ceremony in Remedios (Villa Clara). Former division general and born in 1960, the military man was elected with 98.5% of … Continue reading “Cuba: Luis Alberto Rodriguez Lopez-Calleja, the Powerful Son-in-Law Comes Out of the Shadows”
14ymedio, Havana, 14 July 2021 — Carlos Alejandro Rodríguez Halley, nephew of General Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja, sent a strong message to his uncle and to the island’s power leadership: “Lay down your arms.” The young man called for the beginning of a “process of transition to democracy” after the protests that took place throughout … Continue reading “‘Lay Down Your Arms,’ Asks General Lopez-Calleja’s Nephew”
14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez, Generation Y, Havana, 29 May 2021 — A few days ago in the middle of the night they removed all the light bulbs that illuminated the corridor on the 14th floor where I live in Havana; a friend’s cat was stolen and shortly afterward she found the remains of what was evidently the … Continue reading “Stubbornness and Inefficiency Go Hand In Hand in the Cuban Leadership”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 25 April 2021 — When an event breaks the well-known laws of nature or the dubious laws of history, it is usually described as a miracle. It is not enough that it is inexplicable, it must also have a favorable consequence. This gives the impression that from the two political poles of … Continue reading “Cuba: Waiting for Miracles”
14ymedio, Yoani Sánchez, Generation Y, Havana, 20 April 2021 — In the illegal Cuban lottery, the number eight means death, the same number as this edition of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) Congress that concluded on Monday in Havana. The conclave has had all the solemnity of a political funeral for a generation that is … Continue reading “Congress or Funeral? In Cuba, You Never Know”
14ymedio, Elías Amor Bravo, Economist, 5 April 2021 — While more and more images are arriving of the impact of the social protests that increase throughout Cuba — including the San Isidro Movement and UNPACU — the communist leaders try to cope with the great problem of lack of food and introduce small reforms such … Continue reading “Cuba: Reforms in the Countryside Should Not be Left Half Done”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 27 March 2017 — Just a month ago his face disappeared from the Cuban government’s family photo. The last time he was seen, Vice President José Ramón Machado Ventura handed out orders in an extensive agricultural area of Pinar del Río. Four weeks later, no official media has offered an explanation for the absence … Continue reading “A Month Without Machado Ventura”
Havana, Cuba, November 2014. Since the past month the majority of the “Hangers” (points of sale) and rented places in the capital for the sale of clothes have put up signs announcing liquidation sales. After three years of tolerance, the sale of imported clothes is coming to an end. Passing cuisine, clothing sales is the … Continue reading “Thousands of Unemployed Will Invade the Black Market /Augusto Cesar San Martin”
As our regular readers know, the purpose of this site is to bring voices from the island of Cuba to a broader readership. The only exceptions we make to that rule are two: First — When “Translating Cuba” bloggers who began blogging in Cuba go into exile, we continue to translate them. Second — At … Continue reading “The Voice of a Cuban no Longer in Cuba: What the Pope saw in Cuba”
