English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Rolando Rodriguez Lobaina is my friend, and because he refused to leave Cuba a few months ago he has been condemned to suffer various unsuspected dangers which constantly lurk around him. A few days ago I received this letter written by him and I wish to share it with my readers. —Rolando’s Letter— Lately, I … Continue reading “In Times of Trouble, the Opportunists Win / Luis Felipe Rojas”
There are those who believe that history is written only by those in power, by means of textbooks, testimonials, biographies, means of communication and other supports of dominance that certify the version of the victors. Cuban history of the 20th Century confirms the rule, but in conflict with the story of the main characters who … Continue reading “Improper Conduct / Miguel Iturria Savón”
Photo/Luis Felipe Rojas With the arrest and possible prosecution of six senior executives of the “René Ramos Latourt” Nickel Company in Nicaro, Holguin, the Cuban government has just been given one more setback. The officials involved, were replacing some of the weight of the finished product with zinc, to make up the promised weights, since … Continue reading “Flying Blind / Luis Felipe Rojas”
I heard an old joke the other day while I waited at the bus terminal in Havana. It was about the ex-president Fidel Castro Ruz, who returned to the media during the last weeks of July, despite his deteriorated state of health. Such an appearance was subject of much irreverence. However, the official press of … Continue reading “Retiring the Demons / Miguel Iturría Savón”
Cuba today is more of an island than ever before. The discourse which took place this past Sunday, 4th of April, by the Cuban general and president, Raul Castro, has slammed the door to any anticipated reforms. During the closing ceremony of the IX Union of Young Communists (UJC), Castro II, with his hoarse voice, … Continue reading “Raul Castro Closes the Wall*”
The government of the Castro brothers has staked everything on one card. That of Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, the strong man of Venezuela, a walking-talking comic strip, bursting out with some bizarre nonsense every minute. Chávez defies every canon of a balanced, sober and coherent statesman. It could be a bible passage, or he might … Continue reading “Chávez, the Substitute for the Russians?”
It is alleged that doses of the synthetic drug known as ‘químico’ are being sold on the online platform Revolico 14ymedio, Havana, 29 December 2024 — A theme prevailed over the vortex of rumors in Cuba in November and defined the tone of the comments: total blackouts. Everything, from the alleged militarization of cities to … Continue reading “November Rumors in Cuba: Militarization, Protests, Diversion of International Aid”
For this Tuesday, the state forecasts a deficit of 1,030 megawatts during peak hours 14ymedio, Madrid, September 17, 2024 — Many Cuban neighborhoods will suffer from blackouts this Tuesday. The forecast of the Cuban Electric Union (UNE) once again exceeds 1,000 megawatts (MW). This has put the citizens of the Island, who live hopelessly pending … Continue reading “‘It’s As if They Hate the People,’ Cubans Complain About the State Electric Company’s Blackouts”
Iván García, 26 April 2018 — The building at the central intersection of 23rd and 12th streets in Havana’s Vedado neighborhood, where 57 years ago, without prior popular consultation, Fidel Castro suddenly declared the Communist character of Cuba, was renovated to serve as backdrop to the military celebration for to honor that day, 16 April 1961. … Continue reading “Havanans Opine: "We Have a Vanilla-Chocolate-Chip Government" / Iván García”
HAVANA, Cuba, October, www.cubanet.org — Raul Castro has repeated constantly that errors are the greatest enemy of the Revolution, those that have been committed and new ones that may be committed. Nevertheless, he does not speak of the political changes necessary for correcting those errors, since the so-called reforms are not enough, particularly because of … Continue reading “No Remedies, Political Changes / Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello”
Message from Paquito de Rivera to Marta Valdés Dear Marta (Valdés): I congratulate you on your brave insertion into the group of Cuban intellectuals against the sadly famous ex-ex-ex cultural leader Luis Pavón, who, by the way, has been for a long time a perfect non-entity (pun intended). I hope this is just an introduction … Continue reading “Message from Paquito de Rivera / POLEMICA: The 2007 Intellectual Debate”
It is not black humor this time: the Cuban Workers Union (CTC), after finishing a wide-reaching session this November 1, signed — unconditionally — their marriage with the government, just before the imminent dismissal of half a million “unsuitable” workers by this coming April. And as expected, they didn’t even blush. Salvador Valdes Mesa, general … Continue reading “Nationalizing the Stockholm Syndrome / Ernesto Morales Licea”
