Vol. 13, No. 9 October 2005

www.cubanews.com

In the News Lawyers fighting U.S. travel ban sue OFAC over RFIs that seek details of Cuba trips Blockade vs. embargo Ibero-American Summit condemns White BY VITO ECHEVARRÍA violate the Fifth Amendment, which protects individuals against self-incrimination. House stance against Cuba ...... Page 2 n yet another sign of deteriorating relations between Washington and Havana, the U.S. At the center of the lawsuit is Zac Sanders, Treasury Department is cracking down even who was accused by OFAC of engaging in unli- Bacardi indicted I censed, illegal travel to Cuba. He received an more — if such a thing is possible — on Ameri- Rum giant involved in Texas scandal over RFI letter demanding details on exactly how he cans who defy the travel ban. violated the travel ban — a rather significant PAC donations for DeLay ...... Page 2 U.S. citizens recently back from Cuba have request, given that providing such information begun receiving letters from Treasury’s Office would have opened Sanders to both criminal Power problems of Foreign Assets Control requesting more de- penalties and civil fines. tails about their activities while on the island. An analysis of Cuba’s troubled electricity Sanders, who was unable to arrange legal The letter, known as a Requirement to Fur- assistance within the 20-day period allowed by generating network ...... Page 3 nish Information, or RFI, must be answered OFAC, was fined $10,000 simply for not answer- within 20 days, or the recipient could be hit with ing the letter on time. Brainstorming in Vermont a $10,000 fine for tardiness. Art Heitzer, an attorney with the National This latest tactic has outraged many people, Lawyers Guild, told CubaNews in an e-mail that NGOs discuss how to improve the flow of prompting a class-action lawsuit against OFAC “OFAC contends it can impose a $10,000 penal- humanitarian aid to Cuba ...... Page 7 by the New York-based Center for Constitution- ty on people, simply because the recipient does al Rights (CCR), the National Lawyers Guild not respond to a RFI letter within the response Newsmakers (NLG) and co-counsel Klimaski & Associates. time indicated. We have challenged that, and The suit, filed in a federal court in Washing- CCR has an affirmative lawuit, as well as a par- Caleb McCarry talks to CubaNews about ton, challenges such fines on the ground they See OFAC, page 6 his job as the State Department’s first-ever “Cuba transition coordinator” ...... Page 8 USAID funding for anti-Castro groups to Citrus in trouble UF study analyzes how Hurricane Dennis push ‘peaceful transition to democracy’ ruined Cuba’s citrus crops ...... Page 10 BY LARRY LUXNER undertake humanitarian, information-sharing n support of a “peaceful transition to democ- and civil society-building activities in Cuba with Business briefs racy” in Cuba, the U.S. Agency for Inter- private funds, subject to applicable U.S. Trea- India’s OVL buys 30% stake in oil blocks; national Development says its fiscal 2006 sury and Commerce Department regulations.” I Over the past nine years, USAID has provid- KOTRA opens Havana office ...... Page 12 budget “will focus on developing civil society through information dissemination.” ed roughly $34 million to about 28 U.S. univer- The USAID policy is in line with the Bush sities and NGOs for this purpose. Special education administration’s goal of “hastening the end of Here’s a look at some of the organizations that have or are now receiving USAID money, Cuba scores big gains in treating mental- the Castro regime” and the State Department’s recent hiring of Caleb McCarry as its new Cuba with descriptions of each NGO provided in a ly, physically disabled kids ...... Page 14 transition coordinator (see our exclusive inter- USAID press release rather than by CubaNews: view with McCarry in this issue, page 8). CENTER FOR A FREE CUBA New life for mine FY 2006 funds will support 17 current grants, The Center for a Free Cuba (CFC) was estab- Abandoned copper mine may lure tourists in addition to new grants awarded through a competitive procurement process. These grants lished in late 1997 to promote democratic tran- to Santiago de Cuba ...... Page 15 will help develop an independent civil society in sition in Cuba. Building on the Eastern Euro- Cuba through information dissemination. pean transition model and the experience of its CubaNews (ISSN 1073-7715) is published monthly According to the USAID website, “this pro- leadership working on Cuban human rights by Luxner News Inc. © 2005. All rights reserved. gram provides grant support to public and pri- matters, CFC focuses on the promotion of hu- Subscriptions: $429/year. For subscription or edito- vate U.S. colleges and universities as well as man rights in Cuba. rial inquiries, call us at (301) 365-1745, send a fax to Its executive director, Frank Calzón, worked (301) 365-1829 or e-mail us at [email protected]. NGOs to achieve this objective. The program has been successful in encouraging grantees to See USAID, page 4 2 CubaNews ❖ October 2005 POLITICS Ibero-American Summit leaders condemn U.S. ‘blockade’ BY DOMINGO AMUCHASTEGUI international trade — that unilateral coercive been more delighted. measures which affect the welfare of people as the XVth Ibero-American Summit Pérez Roque said the events in Salamanca and obstruct integration processes are unac- represented an “unequivocal signal of sup- held in Spain earlier this month an ceptable.” Wundeniable political and diplomatic port for the Cuban people.” victory for Cuba, as Felipe Pérez Roque, the A distraught official at the U.S. Embassy in The foreign minister told reporters he was country’s foreign minister, has claimed? Madrid told AP “it would be extremely unfor- especially grateful to Spain for its role in host- Of course it was. tunate if this text were interpreted as a kind of ing the summit and promoting more under- Days before the summit’s opening in Sala- support for the dictatorship in Cuba, and the standing toward Latin America, he said, “in manca, there were already signs of tensions text would be inconsistent with how we spite of the limits derived from Spain’s mem- between the U.S. Embassy in Madrid and the understand projects to promote the process bership in the EU.” Those surprised by the turn of events in Spanish government on the issue of Cuba. of democratic change in Cuba.” But this wasn’t the only setback for the Salamanca must consider not only the so- In fact, the single biggest controversy at called leftist orientation of several Latin the summit centered on whether to use the Bush administration. First, the summit’s discussion on the need American governments, Venezuela’s alliance word “blockade” or “embargo” to describe with Cuba and the new social-democratic gov- the U.S. policy of isolating Cuba economically to reinforce and expand democracy in the region avoided any specific criticism of Cuba. ernment in Spain, but also the growing per- for the past 45 years. ception throughout Latin America that it is up Finally, despite pressure from the State De- Secondly, on the issue of terrorism, foreign ministers expressed support for Venezuela’s to the United States to start changing its poli- partment and visits to Latin America by Con- cy toward Cuba. doleeza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld, 17 heads right to extradite Luís Posada Carriles, who is currently being held in El Paso, Tex., on Indeed, Salamanca may be a hint of things of state voted unanimously to use the word to come in New York on Nov. 8, when the UN “blockade” in their final declaration, and to immigration violations. Posada is wanted for allegedly mastermind- General Assembly passes its annual resolu- condemn the Helms-Burton Act as well. tion condemning the U.S. embargo. On Oct. 13, foreign ministers attending the ing the bombing of a Cubana de Aviación pas- senger plane in 1976, in which 73 people died. Last year at this time, a Cuba-sponsored summit issued a statement saying: “We ask resolution demanding an end to the embargo the U.S. government to fulfill 13 successive To add insult to injury — from the White passed 179-4. Only the United States, Israel, resolutions approved by the UN General House point of view, at least — the summit Palau and the Marshall Islands opposed the Assembly to put an end to the financial, com- granted its Quality Prize to a Cuban scientific measure, while Micronesia abstained. The mercial and economic blockade which it institution. The Instituto de Retinosis Pigmen- year before, the UN approved a similar reso- maintains against Cuba.” taria was feted for its achievements over the lution by 179-2, with two abstentions. ❑ The Salamanca declaration went on to state last 13 years, beating out 14 institutions from that “we reaffirm once more — in defense of seven other countries for the honor. Miami-based political analyst Domingo Amu- the free exchange and transparent practice of Cuban government officials couldn’t have chastegui is a regular contributor to CubaNews. Bacardi campaign contributions loom large in spiraling DeLay scandal ne of the eight corporations charged with giving illegal cam- U.S. registration of trademarks which were involved in an expro- paign contributions to former House Majority Leader Tom priation by Fidel Castro’s government. ODeLay (R-TX) is Bacardi USA Inc., the American division of DeLay, 58, was a favorite of anti-Castro exiles like the Bacardi the world’s largest rum distiller. family because of his tough stance against Castro. According to the indictment against DeLay issued by a Texas In recent years, DeLay used his authority to weaken a 2000 bill grand jury in September, Bacardi gave $20,000 to a group known as that opened the door to food sales to Cuba by insisting that Havana Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee. TRM- pay cash for the goods. DeLay also insisted on codifying travel PAC was created by DeLay to quash Democratic efforts to keep restrictions to Cuba, so that no future president could do what majority control of the state house in Texas. It also gave $3,000 to President Clinton did — expand the categories of U.S. travelers DeLay’s legal defense fund. who can spend money on travel to Cuba. The indictment said Bacardi and seven other corporations were Every year for the last five years, DeLay has killed House legis- involved in a conspiracy to circumvent Texas campaign finance lation passed by majorities with widespread Republican backing, laws, which prohibit corporate donations. and some with GOP sponsorship, that would have eased Cuba trav- The corporations, the indictment said, gave a total of nearly el restrictions. $190,000 to TRMPAC managers John Dominic Colyandro and Bacardi and the other corporations which donated money to James Ellis in the summer of 2002. TRMPAC were also indicted last year — as were Colyandro and Colyandro and Ellis almost immediately gave that money to the Ellis. But DeLay’s indictment in September, sought by Travis Republican National Committee, along with a list of seven GOP can- County prosecutor Ronnie Earl, has raised the stakes in the cases didates and instructions on how much the RNC should give to each against the corporations. It also forced DeLay to step down as candidate, the indictment said. House majority leader and cast a cloud over his political future. Bacardi officials couldn’t be reached for comment by CubaNews, Four of the corporations involved in the case — Diversified which in April reported on DeLay’s worsening political scandal. Collection Services Inc, Questerra, Sears and Cracker Barrel Old Bacardi, a company founded in Cuba in 1862 and today controlled Country Stores Inc. — had charges against them dismissed after by Cuban exiles, had sought DeLay’s help in its efforts to strip a officials agreed to cooperate with the investigation. French-Cuban joint venture, Havana Club Holdings, of its rights to But the cases against the other four — Bacardi, Alliance for register the Havana Club rum trademark in the U.S. Quality Home Care, The Williams Cos. and Westar Energy Inc. — Bacardi’s case was helped tremendously by Section 211 — a pro- are still pending. vision in a 2000 spending bill backed by DeLay — that prohibited – ANA RADELAT October 2005 ❖ CubaNews 3 INFRASTRUCTURE A look at Cuba’s troubled electricity generating network The following analysis was prepared by the result, the island’s 11.2 million inhabitants grew by 33%, from 10.1 billion kwh in 1992 to University of Miami’s Institute for Cuban and make do with as little as 1,500 MW by the time 13.4 billion kwh in 2001. Cuban-American Studies and does not neces- inefficient plants and a dilapidated grid con- At optimum conditions, Cuba’s electricity sume a quarter of generated electricity. grid could theoretically serve over 90% of the sarily reflect the opinions of CubaNews or its population. publisher. We invite any readers with opposing OBSOLETE, AGING EQUIPMENT Nonetheless, the Castro regime’s myopic views to e-mail us at [email protected]. Cuba’s oil-fired system is made up of obso- strategic decision of switching from a fuel-oil lete and aging equipment from the United fired system to the use of heavy, high-sulfur n August, Cuba purchased 265 diesel-pow- States, the former Soviet Union, and Eastern Cuban crude oil as a fuel source — promoted ered power plants worth over $350 million Europe. The average age of the units is over in order to save hard currency by limiting the Ifrom South Korea and Germany destined import of fuel oil — has to generate electricity for key strategic eco- proven to be disastrous in nomic and military installations on the island the long term. (see related news brief, page 12). Worn power plants, This indicates a major shift in the electric already in desperate need of power generation strategy and an acknow- modernization, have rapidly ledgment of the deteriorating and obsolete deteriorated by the burning electric infrastructure of Cuba. of highly corrosive crude oil. Unión Electrica, Cuba’s chief electric power The consequences of the utility entity, purchased 244 diesel generators Cuban government’s policy from South Korean giant Hyundai and 21 sim- finally came to a breaking ilar units from Germany’s Man B&W. These point in September 2004 small plants are similar to ones already used when the Matanzas 330 MW in some key strategic locations and tourist plant was shut down due to centers such as the Cayo Coco complex. equipment failure. The delivery of the power plants scheduled to reach Cuba during the first quarter of 2006, LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS represents approximately 10% of Cuba’s capa- This policy, if it continues, city of 3,200 megawatts. will eventually collapse the The cost of operating these plants would be country into total darkness. high. The plants would have a logistical Billboard just outside Havana urges Cubans to conserve electricity. International oil trading advantage, however, including ample product sources indicate that Cuban supply coming from Venezuela and flexible 20 years, with some units surpassing 60 years state-owned enterprises, Cuba Metales and delivery to the site by tank trucks. of service. Cupet, and Venezuela’s PDVSA, are evaluat- The newest units are located at the Matan- ing various alternatives by which they would MORE ‘APAGONES’ ON THE WAY zas, Felton (Mayari), and Cienfuegos plants; replace the highly corrosive heavy sour The implications of these major purchases these were built with Japanese, French, and Cuban crude oil as power plant fuel in for the Cuban people are considerable and Czech technology, respectively. exchange for medium sulfur residual indus- far-reaching. By installing these power plants The distribution and transmission network, trial fuel oil. throughout the island, along key economic deteriorating due to lack of maintenance, con- Among the options being considered are and military installations, the Cuban govern- sists of 6,816 km of 220- and 110-kv transmis- increased runs of heavy Cuban crude oil in a ment avoids the recurrent loss of electricity sion lines; 9,224 km of sub-transmission lines revamped Cienfuegos refinery; a crude oil for supplied by the failing main power plants to to 33 kv; 33,400 km of primary distribution residual fuel oil exchange agreement; or a these chosen locations. lines; and 26,923 km of secondary distribution crude oil processing agreement whereby Since these power plants will not be used to lines. Cuba would export its crude oil from the supply energy to the population at large, the Cuban power plants’ boiler systems have Matanzas superport to Venezuela’s leased Isla common Cuban citizen would have to contin- been retrofitted over the years in order to Refinery in Curaçao, and for a fee Cuba would ue to suffer the dreaded apagones or power process the island’s north coast’s heavy, high- receive in return refined products. blackouts. sulfur crude oil as plant fuel. As a first step necessary for any of these These plants would also have a higher pro- Some small hydroelectric capacity exists three options, Cupet and PDVSA recently bability of providing uninterrupted service (43 MW) in Manicaragua, along with approx- announced the building of 600,000 barrels of during hurricanes or other emergencies by imately 800 MW of seasonal biomass sourced residual fuel oil storage capacity at the being outside of the main transmission grid. generated by the sugar industry. Matanzas superport. This fuel switching strat- According to the U.S. Energy Information While the Cuban electrical system has seri- egy will allow Cuba to obtain much better per- Administration (EIA), in 2002 Cuba’s installed ous problems, additional generating capacity formance from its electric power system, thermoelectric production capacity stood at and repair and maintenance programs con- therefore eliminating many of the apagones. 4,354 MW, generating some 13.92 billion kilo- ducted in the second half of the 1990s have The Cuban government is also spending watt hours (kwh) of electricity to cover 13.7 led to some growth. some of its newfound capital — thanks in great measure to Venezuelan oil subsidies billion kwh of demand during the year. By USE OF HEAVY CRUDE ‘DISASTROUS’ mid-2005, however, the installed capacity of worth $1.7 billion in 2005 alone — on upgrad- the island’s active thermoelectric plants had Cuba’s thermoelectrical power system ex- ing and repairing electric power generating declined to 3,057 MW. perienced a 12% growth in generating capaci- equipment. Moreover, Cuba’s deteriorated thermoelec- ty from 3.939 million kw in 1992 to 4.354 mil- Nevertheless, recent press reports show it tric power plants currently provide no more lion kw in 2002. Thermal electric generation will be an uphill and continuous battle against grew by 38% from 9.8 billion kwh in 1992 to the constant deterioration and breakdown of than 2000 MW, or about 65% of installed capa- ❑ city, even at peak performance levels. As a 13.4 billion kwh in 2002; and consumption the system. 4 CubaNews ❖ October 2005 munication between CubaNet readers and other authoritarian regimes; and publishing USAID— FROM PAGE 1 independent sector representatives. and distributing in Cuba small brochures previously on Cuba programs at Freedom Several factors have complicated CubaNet’s about democratic transition written by House, the recipient of USAID Cuba Pro- work. CubaNet activities suffer from the diffi- Eastern Europeans such as Czech President gram’s first grant. CFC was given $400,000 in cult operating environment in Cuba. The Vaclav Havel. grantee reported that this difficulty stems April 1998 and to date has received over $5 CUBA ON-LINE million in USAID money. from political repression and the difficulty in The CFC has sent seven missions to Cuba, assessing how information flows within Cuba. Cuba On-Line, the recipient of over $4.6 mil- including a group of central European repre- In addition, its small size and relative lack of lion in USAID funds, provides direct outreach sentatives from private relief and human experience with USAID procedures have cre- to the Cuban people by providing accurate, rights organizations. This group met with hu- ated an administrative burden, distracting uncensored news about Cuba and the world. man rights activists, dissidents, independent CubaNet from its core activities. Cuba On-Line produces the newsletter Sin journalists, community leaders, independent Censura, which is distributed in Cuba to librarians and families of political prisoners. WHERE TAXPAYERS’ MONEY IS GOING activists, independent journalists, dissidents, It has also sent to Cuba a total of 29,460 religious leaders, business and professional books and publications and 71 video cassettes Center for a Free Cuba $5,049,709 people, government officials, cultural lead- on democracy and human rights. The total Grupo de Apoyo a la Disidencia 4,650,000 ers,and members of the general population. includes 22,942 copies of the Universal Decla- Cuba On-Line 4,240,000 The print edition is distributed to 4,200 ration of Human Rights. Int’l Republican Institute 2,773,825 readers. The newsletter is also distributed to According to USAID, several factors have Freedom House 2,100,000 more than 450 e-mail accounts in Cuba. Cuba On-Line collaborates with other grantees by complicated CFC’s work. Cuba's repressive UM: Cuba Transition Project 2,045,000 political environment makes it difficult for providing them copies of the newsletter to dis- Cubans to contact the program or be contact- CubaNet 1,333,000 tribute inside Cuba. The newsletter publishes ed by it and limits the distribution channels FIU Journalism Program 1,164,000 material from western wire services and other for materials. Pan-American Dev. Foundation 1,120,700 reputable news sources. The content of the Acción Democratica Cubana 1,020,000 newsletter is focused on issues of transition to CUBA FREE PRESS Loyola Univ: NGO Development 424,771 democracy, free markets and human rights. Thus far, Cuba On-Line’s major challenge The CFP was founded in 1997 to provide a Pan American Dev. Foundation 400,000 platform for the publication and distribution has been ensuring that the newsletter reaches Georgetown Univ. Scholarships 400,000 intended recipients without interference. of articles by Cuban independent journalists Plantados: Support for Prisoners 400,000 and writers through the Internet and email INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE Funded with a $280,000 grant in May 1998 Mississippi Consortium Int’l Dev. 399,952 and ended in February 2000, the CFP worked Latin American Mission: Dry Milk 392,976 The IRI, a nonprofit organization that ad- in the intermediate results area of giving Carta de Cuba 289,600 vances principles inspired by the late Ronald voice to independent journalists and writers Completed projects 5,806,570 Reagan, conducts programs outside the U.S. to promote democracy and strengthen free inside Cuba. It also indirectly supported TOTAL: $34,010,103 human rights activists and the development markets and the rule of law. of independent NGOs. USAID originally funded IRI’s Cuba project The grantee’s written response to USAID CubaNet also faces the challenge of trans- at $335,462 in November 1997; to date, IRI has indicated that the web site had received more lating a large amount of time-sensitive materi- received close to $2.8 milliion. than 225,000 hits and that 172,000 documents al quickly. FIU-IMC, also a USAID Cuba Pro- Working though its subgrantee, the were downloaded by nearly 13,000 different gram grantee, works with CubaNet to trans- Directorio Revolucionario Democratico Cub- URLs. The CFP also published 36 newsletters late many of CubaNet’s materials into English, ano, the IRI operates in three of the program’s in Spanish and 19 in English. but has reportedly had some difficulty han- intermediate result areas: building solidarity In its letter to the evaluation team, the dling the volume of translation and the need with Cuba’s human rights activists, promoting grantee reported extensive difficulties in its for rapid turnaround. independent NGOs, and direct outreach to the Cuban people. It also undertakes second- relationship with USAID during the imple- FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY mentation of grant activities. ary activity in the area of giving voice to inde- FIU’s International Media Center aims to pendent journalists. CUBANET improve the professional skills of Cuba's inde- PAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION Founded in 1994, CubaNet obtains daily in- pendent journalists. Staffed by academics with dependent reporting from inside Cuba, trans- experience as journalists in Latin America, the Established in 1962 as a subsidiary of the lates much of it into English, French, and IMC had previously operated a multi-year Organization of American States, the PADF is German, and posts it on the www.cubanet.org journalism program in Latin America. Since an independent, nonprofit organization that web site. CubaNet also serves as a portal for 1999, it has received around $1.2 million to works to improve the quality of life in Latin news articles relating to Cuba published in date. America and the Caribbean. Its programs strengthen local NGOs, municipalities and the the United States and third countries. FREEDOM HOUSE Cubanet, which has received over $1.3 mil- private sector in the region, so that they can lion, works in the intermediate results area of Freedom House, founded nearly 60 years better assist poor advantaged people. giving voice to independent journalists and ago by Eleanor Roosevelt, Wendell Wilkie and The PADF has received over $1.5 million writers inside Cuba. The primary distribution other Americans concerned with mounting for its Cuba work; specific accomplishments vehicle for information is CubaNet’s website threats to peace and democracy, has received include the development of a knowledge base and e-mail bulletin. $2.1 million to date for its Cuba programs. on the environmental NGO community in Cuba and a clearer understanding of their The site averages 750,000 hits a month It currently works in three intermediate ❑ with links from International news organiza- result areas: seeking out and sending to Cuba needs to promote an environmental agenda. tions such as CNN, the BBC, and NBC. It also politicians, journalists, and community acti- provided ongoing distribution of a daily e- vists from Eastern and Central Europe who For more information on USAID programs mail bulletin to 1,700 subscribers. have experience in democratic transition; pro- related to Cuba, contact David Mutchler, sen- CubaNet highlights awareness of the nas- moting partnerships in democracy between ior adviser at the US Agency for International cent independent press and non-governmen- Cuban dissidents who want to create NGOs on Development in Washington at (202) 712- tal sector within Cuba and encouraged com- the island and experts who have built NGOs in 4742, or e-mail him: [email protected]. October 2005 ❖ CubaNews 5 POLITICAL BRIEFS U.S. SAYS CUBA NOT HONORING MIGRATION TREATY In their own words … At a time when interceptions of Cuban immi- grants have doubled, the United States accuses “Now the U.S. government has decided in favor of the terrorist Posada. See the Castro government of refusing to comply the cynicism of the imperialists. They torture in Guantánamo Bay, they kill, with 1995 migration accords designed to prevent assassinate and bomb people ... they have taken a decision as vile and sinister another exodus to Florida. as the act of terrorism.” According to a recent State Department report — Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, outraged over a U.S. court ruling that quoted Sep. 29 by the Miami Herald, Cuba does Cuban exile Luís Posada — accused of masterminding the 1976 bombing of a not try to stop migrants on vessels while they are Cubana airliner over Barbados — could not be deported to Venezuela. still in Cuban territorial waters, and it refuses to issue exit permits to many citizens who receive “It’s bad enough when the world knows that we’re rendering suspected U.S. travel documents allowed by the accords. Islamic terrorists to countries that routinely use terror. But here, we have More than 500 potential migrants awarded one someone who we know is a terrorist, and it’s clear that we’re actively protect- of the 20,000 entry visas the U.S. grants each ing him from facing justice. We have zero credibility.” year haven’t been allowed out. Among them: 171 — Unidentified State Department official quoted by Inter Press Service. doctors. Cuban officials, for their part, have accused Washington of dragging its feet on visas, “There isn’t a shred of evidence that Posada would be tortured in Venezuela. trying to deliberately spark an exodus in an If we examine our respective records, a prisoner is more likely to be tortured effort to topple the Castro government. in U.S. government custody than in the custody of Venezuelan officials.” “The Castro regime’s repeated allegations — Bernardo Alvarez, Venezuela’s ambassador to the United States. about purported U.S. designs to precipitate a mass migration crisis are patently false,” said “Mexico has long held this position, a position that it will not change but James Cason, former chief of the U.S. Interests maintain out of what we deem to be respect and justice.” Section, who has since been promoted as ambas- Vicente Fox sador to Paraguay. “Cubans who don’t have a — Mexican President , in an Oct. 16 speech justifying his country’s choice to leave legally are risking their lives, in condemnation of the U.S. embargo against Cuba at the 15th Ibero-American the greatest numbers we have seen since 1994, Summit in Salamanca, Spain. on dangerously inadequate watercraft.” Since Oct. 1, 2004, said the Herald, 2,617 Cu- “I also believe I am his friend. Not only [do I think of Fidel Castro] as a bans have been intercepted before reaching U.S. friend, but also as a father.” soil. That’s more than double the number for the — Elián González, now 11 years old, interviewed by Bob Simon for a controversial previous 12 months. The report blames the up- “60 Minutes” report broadcast Oct. 2 by the CBS television network. tick on bad economic conditions in Cuba — as well as Castro’s unwillingness to stop migration. “He is being brainwashed by the Cuban regime. When you see a child talk- Cuba, the State Department report said, “has ing in the same exact way that the dictator has talked for 46 years, you know cynically chosen to manipulate [the accords] for he has been indoctrinated.” political gain in an effort to continue to prevent — Ramón Sánchez, a Cuban-American activist in Miami, commenting on Elián’s the Cuban people’s desire to live in freedom.” “60 Minutes” appearance. CUBA REMEMBERS SLAIN PUERTO RICAN ‘HERO’ “I feel almost joyful about it, because that’s what people came to this country A son of Filiberto Ojeda Ríos — the fugitive for, to be able to stand on the street corner and call me names.” Puerto Rican independentista who was recently — Former attorney general Janet Reno, saying she has no regrets about her role in killed in a shootout with FBI agents — joined sending Elián González back to Cuba five years ago to be reunited with his father. Fidel Castro and other Cuban authorities Oct. 6 in remembering his late father, AP reported. “Since early July, there’s been a real wave of arrests and harassment, and “¡Filiberto vive!” the son, Edgardo Ojeda, told acts of repugnance. Being a dissident in Cuba is an incredibly precarious life.” an evening gathering of hundreds of top Cuban Joanne Mariner officials and young people, saying his father’s — , Cuba analyst for New York-based Human Rights Watch, death was “an act of state terrorism” by the U.S. quoted Oct. 2 in a South Florida Sun-Sentinel story on dissent in Cuba. government, and that FBI agents had orders to kill rather than arrest him. “They violated his “There is an escalation in the violence. They are very aggressive, and they right to life,” he said. have a sense of impunity.” Castro, dressed in his typical olive green uni- — Oswaldo Payá, founder of the Christian Liberation Movement as well as the form, sat in the front row of the event at Havana’s Varela Project, quoted in the same article. Karl Marx Theater. Many other top officials were on hand, including Ricardo Alarcón, president of “The oil Venezuela sends to Cuba should be sold at higher prices, and could Cuba’s parliament. be used to buy supplies we need for hospitals.” The 72-year-old Ojeda Rios, killed in a Sept. 23 — María Prado, a 23-year-old Caracas medical student, protesting the presence of raid in southwestern Puerto Rico, had been thousands of Cuban doctors in Venezuela. sought for a 1983 robbery of $7.2 million from an armored car depot in West Hartford, Conn. He “Every day we walk from one point of the Malecón to the other and back. was the leader of the militant Macheteros move- It’s a way of doing exercise, but also to disconnect from one’s troubles. You ment, and had been on the run for 15 years. see couples having arguments, people drinking, others having silly discus- In Havana, a plaque bearing the late indepen- sions. It takes a total of two hours, but at the end, there’s a payoff.” dentista’s name was unveiled at a monument hon- Havana resident Sandra Rojas, telling National Public Radio’s Lourdes oring numerous political leaders and social García-Navarro why she loves the Malecón so much. activists in a government plaza facing the U.S. Interests Section along the oceanfront Malecón. 6 CubaNews ❖ October 2005 license or violated the terms of their license. ging it in federal court, and the government OFAC— FROM PAGE 1 Americans whose travel is legal and legiti- settled by dropping the penalty entirely.” allel defense of such a respondent traveler.” mate should not be concerned.” While people who visit Cuba illegally may Edward J. Elder, a lawyer with Klimaski & The controversy over RFIs comes as the at some point expect OFAC to pursue them, Associates who is representing Sanders number of Americans who visit Cuba contin- what’s alarming here is that those who have against OFAC, says that punishing American ues to plummet. made legitimate visits may very well ignore citizens for failure to furnish self-incriminat- Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Cuba’s vice-min- such RFIs, inadvertently opening themselves ing information is unconstitutional. ister of foreign affairs, said visits to the island to OFAC punishment. “The information requested in the RFI has by Cuban-Americans are down by almost 50%, “People should be concerned,” said Elder. potential criminal, as well as civil, implica- with 40% fewer other Americans coming. “I know of licensed travelers who have been tions. Because there are criminal penalties A Cuban report issued ahead of an upcom- fined by OFAC — some as much as $10,000 associated with knowingly violating the Trad- ing UN vote on the embargo said 57,145 Cu- — for failure to respond to an RFI. These are ing With the Enemy Act, the government is ban-Americans returned to visit their native people whose travel was indisputably sanc- essentially punishing people for failing to island in 2004, compared with 115,050 in 2003. tioned by OFAC. Yet OFAC is still trying to make a confession,” he said. “That violates For other American tourists, the number impose these ridiculously large fines.” fell from 85,809 in 2003 to 51,027 last year — those individuals’ Fifth Amendment rights. OFAC ‘BORROWS’ JUDGES TO TRY CASES “The government understands this. They with the numbers continuing to drop in 2004. very quickly settled an earlier lawsuit our “We are talking about an economic war Lawyers from groups such as CCR and office filed for a different traveler on exactly against our country,” said Rodríguez in com- NLG are now warning U.S. citizens who are this issue.” ments picked up by the AP. “It is unfounded, accused of violating the travel ban that — unfair, and moreover, deeply illegal.” unlike the Clinton years, when such court OFAC TO LEGAL TRAVELERS: DON’T WORRY At the same time, those who defy U.S. trav- actions were left in limbo because there was OFAC spokeswoman Molly Millerwise el restrictions are more likely to be punished no legal forum to hear these cases — the attempted to justify the practice of sending for doing so. Bush administration has now allocated out these RFIs, telling CubaNews that “the During the first three months of 2005, resources to actually try them. Bush administration strongly supports the OFAC fined 307 Americans for unauthorized In October 2003, OFAC appointed three sanctions against Cuba and has bolstered the travel to Cuba — almost as many as the 316 administrative law judges (ALJs), and a fourth program to further tighten the financial noose people fined all of last year. in April 2004: Robert L. Barton Jr., a full-time Justice Department ALJ “borrowed” to hear around the Castro regime.” LAWYER SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD BE CONCERNED But she claims people who visit the island Cuba travel cases; Avram Weisberger and legally have nothing to worry about. Shane Kadidal, a CCR attorney who’s also Michael Zielinski, similarly borrowed judges “Just as it is the responsibility of all representing Sanders, says OFAC sends such from the Federal Mine Safety Commission, Americans to abide by U.S. sanctions laws, it penalty letters to U.S. travelers who don’t and Irwin Schroeder of the Federal Maritime is OFAC’s responsibility to follow up on respond to the RFI, regardless of whether the Commission. instances of people abusing or outright violat- agency is inquiring about licensed (legal) But according to Kadidal, “Judge Barton re- ing the sanctions. Those who fail to respond travel or unlicensed (illegal) visits to Cuba. tired in January 2005 and was replaced by to requests for further information may face “We had one case where a $10,000 fine was Miriam A. Trudelle of the Federal Maritime civil penalties.” proposed and issued against a woman who Commission, who retired in May before hear- Millerwise added: “OFAC requests addi- didn’t respond to an RFI,” he told CubaNews. ing any cases. Judge Schroeder left in July tional information in situations where U.S. “The trip in question was a family visit under 2005. New judges will eventually be borrowed persons illegally traveled to Cuba without a general license. We filed a complaint challen- from the Social Security Administration to take their places; currently, David Washing- ton of SSA is assigned to several cases.” Academics sue over Cuba restrictions Kadidal says funding for these judges is coming from OFAC’s own budget and not the n academic group opposed to U.S. poli- terious effect on academic programs in Cuba Department of Homeland Security, as some cy on Cuba says it’ll take legal action to organized by American colleges and universi- have speculated. Aallow colleges and universities to con- ties as well as other educational institutions The underlying concern is that the Bush tinue their Cuba-related programs. such as museums, scientific societies and pro- administration, by ordering OFAC to send out The Emergency Coalition to Defend Educa- fessional organizations,” Smith wrote to Rice. such drastic letters, is attempting to trigger a tional Travel (ECDET) said it decided to sue “In our view, they also violate academic chilling effect on all future U.S. travel to Cuba the government after it received no response freedoms as defined by the Supreme Court — even legal travel. from an Aug. 11 letter to Secretary of State and are at odds with the American commit- It remains to be seen whether any of these Condoleezza Rice. ment to the free exchange of ideas. cases will reach the U.S. Supreme Court. ❑ “This request was made after a number of “There seems to be a growing tendency to meetings with officials in the Treasury and deny or delay visas to Cuban academics invit- For information on the various lawsuits State Departments over the past several ed by American institutions to participate in against OFAC, please contact: programs in the United States. This also lim- months brought forth no interest on their ■ Art Heitzer, National Lawyers Guild, its free academic discourse.” part in seriously discussing or considering re- 132 Nassau St., Suite #922, New York, NY Professors active in ECDET include John S. commendations to modify the current rules,” 10038. Tel: (212) 679-5100. Fax: (212) said Wayne Smith, co-chairman of ECDET. Coatsworth, director of Harvard’s David Roc- kefeller Center for Latin American Studies; 679-2811. E-mail: [email protected]. Smith, who served as chief of the U.S. ■ Shane Kadidal, Center for Constitu- Interests Section in Havana during the Carter Michael Erisman of Indiana State University; Patrick Haney of Ohio’s Miami University; tional Rights, 666 Broadway, 7th Floor, administration, is currently director of the New York, NY 10012. Tel: (212) 614- Cuba Exchange Program at Johns Hopkins Franklin Knight of Johns Hopkins; Jonathan 6464. Fax: (212) 614-6499. E-mail: kadi- University. He says ECDET represents over Knight of the American Association of Univer- sity Professors; Sheryl Lutjens of Northern [email protected]. 450 academics from across the United States. ■ The organization was formed shortly after the Arizona University; Nelson Valdes of the Wayne Smith, ECDET, 1717 Massachu- Bush administration imposed restrictions on University of New Mexico and Reid Reading setts Ave., NW, Suite #801, Washington, DC educational travel to Cuba in June 2004. of the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for 20036. Tel: (202) 232-3317. Fax: (202) “These restrictions have had a sharply dele- International Studies. ❑ 232-3440. E-mail: [email protected]. October 2005 ❖ CubaNews 7 US-CUBA RELATIONS NGOs meeting in Vermont brainstorm on how to help Cuba BY HELEN J. SIMON Walsh, executive director of Habitat for Cuban governments.” epresentatives of various U.S. humani- Humanity of Johnston County, N.C., speaking One approach is to work together on small tarian groups met in Vermont early this of the need for Cuba-focused humanitarian projects, he said. For instance, Walsh said he R month to discuss obstacles to getting groups to help each other and have a formal and another conference participant had aid to Cuba. They also forged a link they hope venue for networking. agreed to explore the possibility of sending will help them work together in the future. Alberto Jones, director of the Caribbean wheelchairs to Cuba by sponsoring a contest American Children’s Foundation in Palm between U.S. and Cuban wheelchair-basket- Sponsored by the Vermont Institute on Coast, Fla., said he came to Vermont to work Cuba with help from Caribbean Medical Tran- ball players. with and learn from other groups. Dr. Bernard Micke is president of the sport (CMT) of Lyndonville, Vt., the Oct. 1-2 He hoped the conference would help par- gathering in Burlington drew nine groups Wisconsin Medical Project, which ships med- ticipants overcome some of the differences ical supplies to a pediatric hospital in Cama- with expertise ranging from medical supplies, that have kept them from collaborating in the computers and house-building to promoting güey. Micke said he attended the conference past and “find common ground.” At a final to cement ties with other groups and learn travel to Cuba and helping disabled people. wrap-up session participants agreed to work “The work is really difficult,” said CMT about their successes and failures. with anyone as long as politics don’t take Micke said he learned some specifics about founder Rick Schwag, explaining why the precedence over humanitarian assistance. Vermont meeting was held. “We need to obtaining licenses for travel and export — June Safran, executive director of the Cuba- one of the main challenges facing his and share our experience and our knowledge and America Jewish Mission in Berkeley, Calif., the things that work.” said it has been difficult for groups to cooper- other groups. But he also benefitted from just The conference included workshops on ate, partly because “it’s hard to find each being with others who are excited about help- sources of supplies, shipping, distribution and other and because small organizations tend to ing Cuba. licenses. Participants said it was unique in be possessive” about their information. “I think I’ll go back to Madison with a sort that it brought together organizations regard- Walsh noted how the tightening of restric- of renewed enthusiasm about the work — and less of their goals or political agendas. tions by both Washington and Havana has some ideas on how to expand what we’ve At the end, conference organizers agreed made it even harder for humanitarian groups been doing.” to establish a newsletter on the various organ- to accomplish their missions. Details: Marisha Kazeniac, Vermont Insti- izations’ activities and a list of contacts. They “It is extremely difficult and extremely tute on Cuba, 16 Ludwig Court, Burlington, also agreed to host another gathering soon. complicated under the current conditions,” VT 05401. Tel: (802) 864-4334. E-mail: mar- “We’re all wounded travelers,” said Ned he said. “We get caught between the U.S. and [email protected]. ❑ Post-embargo Cuba could mean opportunites, obstacles for Fla. farmers uba’s growing appetite for U.S. food exports is good news for to the United States. If the U.S. embargo were lifted, Cuba’s agricul- U.S. commodity producers, but an outright end to the embargo ture industry could experience significant growth, in which case C could put new pressures on Florida farmers, says a University investors could see big returns.” of Florida expert who’s followed Cuba for years. The new trade policy has had a positive impact on the U.S. chicken “Resuming unrestricted trade and commercial relations with Cuba industry, said Bill Roenigk, vice-president of the National Chicken will provide more opportunities for U.S. agricultural exporters, but Council in Washington. In the first seven months of 2005, Cuba was Florida growers would face additional competition in markets for the industry’s eighth-largest export market, purchasing 53,000 metric crops such as citrus and fresh vegetables,” said William Messina, an tons — a 40% jump over the same time period the previous year. economic analyst at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “Cuba has indicated that it is more efficient for them to import Last year, food sales to Cuba under the 2000 Trade Sanctions chicken than to produce it, and they won’t try to provide their own,” Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSRA) came to nearly $400 Roenigk said. “We expect to see modest growth in the Cuban market million, making Cuba the 25th-largest export market for U.S. food and for U.S. poultry, as Cuba’s domestic economy develops, and as their agricultural products. tourism industry develops.” Since U.S. exports resumed in 2001, Cuba has purchased more In the meantime, the new law allowing exports to Cuba represents than 280 products from 37 states, with a total value of over $1 billion. a significant opportunity for U.S. agricultural producers, Messina “There has been a heavy emphasis so far on grains and poultry said. In fact, with the TSRA requirement that Cuba’s purchases be meat. Cuba was the third-largest export market for U.S. rice in 2004,” made in cash, there is no credit risk, making Cuba one of the most Messina said. “But Cuba also has purchased snack foods, they’ve attractive new markets in the world for U.S. agriculture. bought wine and candy. They’ve even bought microwave popcorn and “We are not trying to advocate a policy position in regard to U.S. retail packages of pet food.” relations with Cuba,” said Messina, who is part of a team of UF/IFAS Investments from other parts of the world could provide better agri- agricultural economists that has collaborated with scientists at the cultural technology to help improve Cuba’s agricultural output, but University of Havana since 1994 to study the potential impacts of these investments are unlikely as long as the U.S. embargo on Cuban renewed U.S.-Cuban trade. imports stands, Messina said. “Our primary goal is to get objective data on the agricultural and “In the late 1980s, Cuba had more acreage planted to tomatoes and fisheries sectors in Cuba into the hands of U.S. agribusiness firms, peppers than Florida, but because of low levels of technology and inef- legislators, industry associations and other interested parties so they ficiencies inherent in its planned economic system, Cuba’s yields in can make informed decisions about the opportunities and challenges these crops were only about 20% of Florida’s,” he said. “Nevertheless, a new policy would present.” Cuba remains a major potential producer of these and other crops. Details: William A. Messina Jr., Food & Resource Economics Depart- “With the proper investments, it wouldn’t take long for Cuban grow- ment, University of Florida/IFAS, PO Box 110240, Gainesville, FL ers to make dramatic strides in increasing crop yields,” Messina said. 32611-0240. Tel: (352) 392-1881 x308. Fax: (352) 392-9898. E-mail: “But the opportunities for payoffs are limited without the ability to sell [email protected] or [email protected]. 8 CubaNews ❖ October 2005 NEWSMAKERS Caleb McCarry’s mission: Coordinating Cuba’s ‘transition’ BY LARRY LUXNER Mauricio J. Claver Carone is executive dir- assist a genuine transition to political and eco- he most controversial thing about ector of the Cuba Democracy Public Advo- nomic freedom for the people of Cuba. We’re Caleb Charles McCarry is his job title: cacy Corp., a nonprofit organization that lob- going to be looking at where we are, and T McCarry is the U.S. State Department’s bies to keep the embargo in place. He says examining what additional steps we can take brand-new “Cuba transition coordinator.” McCarry’s appointment “definitely shows the to help hasten the transition.” Never before has the federal government Bush administration’s willingness” to give According to the commission’s report, “the hired a full-time bureaucrat to help “hasten Cuba the full-time attention it deserves. Castro dictatorship is pursuing every means the end of the Castro regime” and deal with “They’re willing to act on their words, and at its disposal to survive and perpetuate itself its aftermath. The very idea of such a position Caleb is well-versed in the policy,” said Cla- through a succession strategy from Fidel infuriates officials in Havana — as well as a ver, a longtime Bush supporter. “I see Caleb’s Castro to Raúl Castro and beyond. number of critics here at home. role as piercing through the bureaucracy and “Its goal is that the unelected and undemo- “It is blatant intervention in the internal concentrating on [current] as well as post- cratic communist elite now in power remain affairs of another state,” fumed former U.S. Castro implementation. It’s a challenging so indefinitely. The United States rejects the diplomat Wayne Smith in an interview with role, but if anyone can do it, it’s Caleb.” continuation of a communist dictatorship in the Associated Press. “They talk about how Cuba, and this commission recommends we are going to oversee and facilitate the tran- measures to focus presure and attention on sition. Who gives us that right?” the ruling elite so that succession by this elite Washington consultant Antonio Martínez, a or any one of its individuals is seen as what it would be: an impediment to a democratic and board member of the Latin America Working LARRY LUXNER Group, calls McCarry’s appointment “foolish free Cuba.” and counterproductive.” COMMISSION TO RECONVENE SOON “This is not the most effective or helpful way to improve relations between the United As such, the Bush administration — acting States and Cuba,” Martínez told CubaNews. on the commission’s suggestions — has “This model is patterned after Iraq — we had already slashed family visits by Cuban-Ameri- a transition coordinator there, too. More than cans to the island to once every three years 70% of Cuba’s population has known only the and has excluded aunts, uncles, nephews, embargo, nothing else. So this appointment nieces and cousins in an effort to further limit won’t offer anything meaningful that the such visits. Cuban people can connect with.” It has eliminated a provision that allows vis- itors to bring back $100 worth of Cuban rum, MAN WITH A MISSION cigars and other souvenirs, and has severely Such criticism doesn’t faze McCarry, who clamped down on Cuba-related academic and cultural exchanges. granted CubaNews an exclusive interview ear- Cuba transition coordinator Caleb McCarry lier this month in Washington. During our 30- Meanwhile, Bush has stepped up Radio and TV Martí broadcasts to Cuba, boosted aid to minute meeting — tape-recorded at the State CAREER FOCUSED ON LATIN AMERICA Department’s request — McCarry discussed dissidents and has dramatically increased fines against Americans who travel to Cuba his objectives in broad terms without giving Fidel Castro had already been in power for illegally or fail to respond to written inquiries away too many specific details. two years when McCarry, 44, was born in Plainfield, a small town in western Massa- about their trips in a timely fashion. “My mission is to get up every day and So, we asked McCarry, how much tougher think about helping the Cuban people free chusetts. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1983 with a on Castro can the White House get, short of a themselves from the dictatorship,” the former military invasion? Capitol Hill staffer told us. “My mandate is to degree in Spanish literature, then spent more than a decade at the Washington-based Cen- If McCarry knows, he isn’t saying. be creative in doing so, and work with my col- “I can’t really give details on that yet,” he leagues here in the State Department and ter for Democracy, which bills itself as a bipar- tisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to told us. “This is a presidential commission, with other agencies on the commission.” chaired by the secretary of state. It is ongo- That would be the Commision for Assis- bringing democracy to the world. In 1997, McCarry joined the House of ing. The commission will reconvene to review tance to a Free Cuba, which in May 2004 pre- where we are, with regard to the recommen- sented a 423-page report to President Bush. Representatives’ Committee on International Relations as a professional staff member, wor- dations in the report.” Headed by then-Secretary of State Colin McCarry declined to say when that review Powell, the commission’s “core group mem- king for Rep. Ben Gilman (D-NY). Four years later, when Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) took over might take place, hinting only that it’ll be “in bers” were the secretaries of Treasury, Com- the not-too-distant future.” merce, Housing and Urban Development and the committee following Gilman’s retirement, Homeland Security, along with the assistant McCarry became staff director at the Sub- ‘98 CUBA TRIP MADE A DEEP IMPRESSION to the president for national security affairs committee on the Western Hemisphere. and the administrator of the U.S. Agency for McCarry held that post until this summer, Unlike many Bush administration officials International Development. when he was appointed to his current position and members of Congress who support the Among its many recommendations was the in a July 28 televised ceremony presided over embargo, McCarry has actually traveled to creation of a Cuba transition coordinator that by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Cuba once — a 10-day trip in 1998. would — in the words of the report’s execu- “I went with Roger Noriega for the Pope’s tive summary — oversee everything from BLOCKING CASTRO’S SUCCESSION STRATEGY visit, and that was my first and last time,” he “improving U.S. outreach to Cuban civil soci- “The job I have is transition coordinator for said. “I was struck by what a complete, totali- ety” and “breaking the information blockade” a free Cuba,” he said. “As such, I am the sen- tarian regime exists there. I remember one to “undermining tourism” and “denying other ior U.S. official in charge of this effort, plan- young Cuban man asked me, ‘do you know sources of revenue to the Castro regime.” ning for U.S. support to encourage and then See McCarry, page 9 October 2005 ❖ CubaNews 9 OVERCOMING ‘LEGACY OF CORRUPTION’ McCarry — FROM PAGE 8 He added: “[After Castro is gone], the fun- Cuba reacts angrily to report what this place is?’ I said ‘no, tell me.’ He said, damental institutions of Cuban society will On Oct. 17, Prensa Latina, a Cuban ‘Have you read George Orwell’s 1984? Then continue to function, including health-care state-run news agency, published a lengthy you know what this place is.’” and education. Very important will be helping article about the Commission for Assistance McCarry said the visit left an indelible im- Cubans overcome the legacy of corruption to a Free Cuba report to the president. We pression on him, and in a way prepared him and ideological contamination which has have reprinted the story verbatim, if only to for his current challenge. impoverished the people. I believe the give our readers a sense of how upset Cuban “The saddest legacy of the revolution is the Cubans themselves will want to support good officials are with the White House: despair and hopelessness that people feel, institutions in their country. It’s not a question particularly those born in the last 46 years,” of destroying and dispossessing.” President Bush’s plan for a “Transition in Cuba” has generated massive reflec- tion throughout the island on the conse- quences of this new program to reinforce the blockade, whose losses have been officially assessed at $82 billion. “My mission is to get up every day and think about helping The principal measures contained in the Cuban people free themselves from the dictatorship.” this document, drafted by a commission led by ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell — CALEB MCCARRY, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT’S CUBA TRANSITION COORDINATOR and implemented in June 2004, have been examined in detail in meetings of Cubans. Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque held the first of a series of meetings with the population to shed light on the intri- he told CubaNews. “It’s not their fault they McCarry said he has a very small staff, and cate U.S. annexation plan, whose six were born under the revolution.” that “there really isn’t a specific budget at- chapters depict the fate of the island Officials in Havana beg to differ. tached to this office.” Funding comes from should the revolutionary process disap- Bruno Rodríguez Parilla, vice-minister of the federal government, primarily via USAID. pear, as well as its connection with the foreign affairs, says Cuba has lost $82 billion “This isn’t a large expansive bureaucracy intensified blockade. in trade since U.S. sanctions were imposed in that we’re setting up,” he said, adding that Chapter One, in force from 2004, 1960, a year after Castro came to power. “the U.S. government already has plenty of shrinks the visits of Cuban-Americans to “We are talking about an economic war resources involved in this effort.” the island, reduces and redefines the con- against our country. It is unfounded, unfair McCarry has held several meetings with cept of family for Cubans and limits mon- and, moreover, deeply illegal,” Rodríguez leaders of Miami’s large and influential Cuban- ey remittances, among other violations. recently told AP, noting that if Americans real- American community, “listening to what they The other five chapters plan the future ly knew the truth about how much damage have to say.” He’s also spoken publicly about of the Caribbean island should the transi- the embargo Cuba, most recently partici- tion occur, presupposing the physical dis- was causing, pating in a panel at Rice appearance of Cuba’s leader Fidel Castro they’d de- University. In addition, he’s — meaning that the United States would mand for it met with several foreign draft a new constitution, and change polit- to be lifted. ambassadors in an effort ical and civil laws and the election system. “Americans to bring other countries There would be a new police force, can be con- in line with Washing- while a coordinator (already appointed) tinually ton’s tough anti-Castro would oversee Cuba’s reconstruction and deceived and policy. whose first task consists of reclaiming manipulated, “We believe that nationalized properties, including mil- but eventually not just the United lions of acres given to 750,000 farmers. they arrive at States but all demo- Another devastating result would be the truth and cratic govern- that more than 80% of Cuban families they act.” ments should do would no longer own their homes, while Yet McCarry the same, and thousands would be made jobless. insisted that this we’re looking Education, social security and health hoped-for “tran- to them to sup- care would also take their toll, especially sition to democ- port a gen- the latter, with a ridiculous vaccination racy” is not being uine transi- plan for the infant population in a country forced on Cuba tion,” where all children are immunized against against the will of McCarry 13 diseases. the Cuban people. noted. And nothing of the classic carrot, for in “This is not an But when this case everything is put in black-and- imposition. It’s a we asked him white as to what would happen with the genuine offer of sup- to name a few of main Cuban revolutionary achievements, port and a promise those countries, and the people themselves, many con- to the Cuban people the State Department’s Cuba demned out of hand for membership in who have suffered 46 transition coordinator said he wasn’t pre- the Communist Party and non-govern- years of dictatorship,” pared to go public on that just yet. mental organizations. he stressed. “You have McCarry did, however, comment on the After listening to the address by to understand that a genuine transition must general perception that U.S.-Cuba relations Deputy Foreign Ministry Manuel Agui- be led by the Cubans themselves, and it is our are at their lowest point since the 1959 revo- lera to farmers and cattle ranchers, an old role to offer significant support in a respectful lution, boldly suggesting that “relations be- Cuban farmer said indignantly, “Now we way. How it will happen will be defined by the tween the United States and the Cuban people are fully aware of the magnitude of this Cubans, but this is all very practical stuff that — and their aspiration to be free — are at stupid plan.” ❑ is fully consistent with all of our values.” their highest point ever.” ❑ 10 CubaNews ❖ October 2005 AGRICULTURE UF: Dennis inflicted damage on Cuban citrus, other crops BY LARRY LUXNER 2004 suggests that a Category 4 hurricane ures are unavailable for the 2003-04 crop. uba’s citrus industry was seriously dam- will destroy 60-80% of the crop. With extensive damage to Florida’s 2004-05 aged by Hurricane Dennis, which Some tree damage occurred, though the grapefruit crop from hurricanes, Cuba has Cpassed over the island in early July, re- peculiar nature of citrus production in Jagüey been enjoying record high prices for its ports the University of Florida’s Institute for Grande may have limited tree destruction. grapefruit. Cuba ranks third in world grape- Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). Most citrus production in this region occurs fruit production, following the United States and Israel. The storm passed directly over some of the in rocky soils where dynamite has been used Nearly all of Cuba’s grapefruit production island’s most important citrus producing to create space for trees to be planted. With root systems well secured in the sur- is processed into juice. Although exact pro- areas, including the groves at Jagüey Grande, duction figures are unavailable, it is likely that the largest contiguous planting of citrus trees rounding rocky soils, the trees are less prone Cuba is the world’s No. 2 grapefruit juice-pro- in the world. to being blown over from high wind, although ducing country following the United States. With Florida suffering a “hangover” effect from the hurricanes of 2004, extensive dam- age to Cuba’s grapefruit crop will add to the likelihood of high prices for grapefruit juice in

LARRY LUXNER the world market. The extent of the damage to Cuba’s largest citrus juice processing facility, which is locat- ed in Jagüey Grande (and operated as a joint venture between the Cuban government and a Panamanian company with Israeli princi- pals), was unknown at the time of this report. Hurricane-force winds undoubtedly struck the facility, given the path of the storm, which Recycled packing crates at the Israeli-managed Victoria de Girón citrus plantation near Jagüey Grande. suggests that the processing plant likely sus- tained significant damage, as was the case In a Jul. 11 speech, President Fidel Castro substantial limb damage likely occurred. when Michelle struck the same area of Cuba reported that “the entire crop of citrus fruits Prior to Hurricane Michelle striking Cuba in 2001. [in the region] was lost — 200,000 tons of in 2001, Cuba’s citrus industry had been While it was too early in the season for the grapefruit fell from the trees, as did 160,000 enjoying a resurgence. Cuba’s total citrus processing plant to have been very active, tons of oranges. At hundreds of dollars per crop in the 2000-01 marketing year was esti- damages may constrain processing fruit ton, that’s a huge loss for our exports.” mated at 950,000 tons. juices in the near term, although there are Separately, a Reuters news service report other juice processing plants on the island. from Cuba indicated that the storm uprooted FULL EXTENT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN Three new processing facilities have citrus trees and that most of the projected In the absence of Michelle, Cuba’s grape- opened in Cuba over the past five years, one 250,000-ton grapefruit harvest was knocked fruit crop in the 2001-02 season would likely each at the extreme eastern and western end off the trees and lost in the groves in Jagüey have been about 350,000 tons. With Michelle, of the island and a third plant located in cen- Grande, along with a similar volume of Cuba’s 2001-02 citrus crop was 477,000 tons tral Cuba. oranges anticipated for the 2006 crop. Other and the 2002-03 crop was 800,000 tons. No fig- reports indicate losses to the citrus produc- SUGAR AND OTHER CROPS tion could be as high as 360,000 tons. Sugarcane crops generally are able to GRAPEFRUITS AND ORANGES WHERE TO SEND ASSISTANCE: largely withstand a hurricane’s heavy winds and rains with minimal damage, although Although the production area for citrus in Readers who’d like to help Cuban victims “lodging” of the cane from heavy winds and Cuba has contracted in recent years, yields in the aftermath of Hurricane Dennis may rains can create problems at harvest. have increased substantially, with production contact any of the following groups: Reuters reported damage at a number of in 2002-03 estimated at nearly 800,000 tons. ■ Catholic Relief Services, 209 W. Fayette sugar mills but interestingly noted that “dam- Of this total, 480,000 tons were oranges and St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Tel: (410) 625- age to the [sugar] industry appeared bal- 227,000 tons were grapefruit. Jagüey Grande 2220 x7497. URL: www.catholicrelief.org. anced by much needed moisture across most accounts for 50% of Cuba’s total citrus pro- ■ Jo McIntyre, St. Augustine-Baracoa of the country.” duction and about 75% of its citrus exports. Friendship Association, PO Box 861086, St. However, sugar is a far less important crop Cuba’s grapefruit harvest typically begins Augustine, FL 32086. Tel: (904) 461-3175 for Cuba now than it was in the late 1980s (see in August, so the fruit was almost ripe when or (904) 806-1400. E-mail: [email protected]. related story, page 11). Dennis struck, and therefore vulnerable to URL: www.staugustine-baracoa.org. Coffee plantations in the mountains in east- the high winds associated with the storm. ■ Rick Schwag, Caribbean Medical Trans- ern and central Cuba reportedly were hit Given the experience of the Indian River port, 1393 Cold Hill Road, Lyndonville, VT hard, with much damage from winds and citrus-producing region of east Florida with 05851. URL: www.cubacaribe.com. flooding. Mango and papaya crops also suf- hurricanes in 2004, it is likely that Dennis ■ Disarm Education Fund, 113 Univer- fered considerable damage, along with grain destroyed the region’s entire grapefruit crop. sity Place, New York, NY 10003. Tel: (212) and cabbage crops and irrigation systems. Nearly all of Cuba’s round orange produc- 353-9800. Fax: (212) 353-9676. E-mail: One report indicated that 30,000 acres of tion is Valencia. Given the relative immature [email protected]. URL: www.disarm.org. bananas were destroyed by the storm. state of the Valencia crop, it is likely that ■ Stanley Falkenstein, Jewish Cuba Con- Another report indicated that 127,000 tons of Valencia production will be less affected rela- nection, 4 Lighthouse St., Marina del Rey, CA vegetables also were lost, along with large tive to grapefruit, but the experience of 90292. E-mail: [email protected]. volumes of other fruits and tubers. Hurricane Charley in southwest Florida in Reports also indicate that 27 greenhouse October 2005 ❖ CubaNews 11 AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURE BRIEFS HONEY EXPORTS RECOVERING FROM DROUGHT Cuban sugar restructuring takes its toll Honey is becoming an increasingly impor- tant Cuban export to Europe and Japan, hav- n Cuba’s rust belt, mounds of scrap iron, to get everybody up,” she said. ing recovered from the effects of a pro- rusting railway cars and cannibalized Former mechanic Ernesto Eduardo Reina longued drought. Imachinery lie scattered beneath palm got off his bicycle to pick his way through the These exports are now mostly aimed at trees and giant smokestacks that once proud- rubble and old railway tracks under Peru’s markets in Germany, Spain, Sweden, Holland ly announced dozens of picturesque rural smoke stacks. “I decided to stay put. I’m get- and France, and its quality standards are sugar towns. ting full pay to become an agricultural engi- determined by Cuban experts in cooperation “Sugar is central to Cuban culture, but for neer,” he said. “I think there is a future. Fidel with a team of German specialists who are in decades it has been a protected, propped-up leaves no one behind.” charge of certifying such standards. industry,” says Phil Peters, vice-president of But new industries have yet to replace the More than 2,000 beehives are again produc- Washington’s Lexington Institute. “Its down- mills, and plans to put land to forestry, live- ing throughout the provinces of Granma, sizing makes sense on the balance sheet, but stock and new crops have barely got off the Camagüey, Cienfuegos, Matanzas and Pinar each dismantled mill leaves a void in the ground. Castro this year lambasted what was del Río. countryside and in many Cubans’ hearts.” Cuba’s life blood for now being its “ruin.” Productivity has increased, with Cienfuegos Until 2001, the sugar industry employed The Sugar Ministry blamed a two-year having the best yields — up to 80 kilograms 400,000 workers and 20% of Cuba’s 11 million drought for this year’s output of 1.3 million per beehive. inhabitants depended on it, while cane plan- tons of raw sugar, well below the govern- Production figures show that bulk honey tations covered more than 70% of arable land. ment’s post-restructuring target of 4 million exports have surpassed 1,000 metric tons. In 2002, Cuba shut 71 of 156 state-run mills tons. It was the lowest harvest since 1908 and Special emphasis is placed on organic honey, and relegated 60% of 2 million hectares of compares with 8 million tons when Cuba still particularly in eastern Cuba, where such sugarcane plantations to other uses, in a received Soviet subsidies in 1990. exports have already reached 1,500 tons. restructuring that left the countryside in “This country will never again live off limbo but failed to halt the industry’s decline. NEBRASKA DELEGATION TO RETURN FOR FIHAV A European diplomat said President Fidel sugar,” Castro said. “The industry belongs to A $30 million trade deal between Nebraska Castro was carrying out one of the most the epoch of slavery and when our people and Cuba could get even sweeter as Gov. important transformations in Cuban history. were 30% illiterate and unemployed and thus ready to do the work of animals.” Dave Heineman and ag delegates from across “What’s underway is perhaps the biggest the state anticipate returning to Havana in social engineering job since private property The government plans to do away with the once all-powerful Sugar Ministry, and close November, reports the North Platte Telegraph. was nationalized in the 1960s,” he said. An August trip to Cuba led by Heineman “Alcoholism and suicide are up even 43 of the 85 remaining mills, according to people who have seen the plan. But resist- netted Nebraska a sale of 5,000 metric tons of though the government is paying everyone Great Northern beans and the $30 million their salary to study or do agricultural work,” ance within the industry and Communist party have forced a temporary compromise. commitment by Cuba to import Nebraska says a family doctor in Jobabo, in eastern Las agriculture products — not to mention a Tunas province. Industry insiders say many experts and local party leaders believe it is a strategic meeting with Castro himself. Maria, with five years in the sugar industry “I think this will benefit [Heineman],” said in the town of 50,000, said drugs were not a error to close so many mills. “They are going too far and closing some of our more efficient Dave Hilferty, Nebraska Wheat Board mem- problem, but crime had increased and people ber who was one of the 10 delegates, refer- mills,” said one local expert, “because they were moving out since the local Peru sugar ring to Heineman’s decision to lead the trip. mill closed three years ago. can’t grow sugar and refuse foreign offers to “Their country can’t raise enough food to “There is no focus any more; no harvest invest in mills and plantations.” support themselves, so they have to buy a big plan to move the people or morning whistle – THE FINANCIAL TIMES percentage of it,” he said. Hilferty noted that although the August deal wasn’t huge, it’ll be a way for the Cornhusker other structures undoubtedly was significant, Dennis — FROM PAGE 10 State to “get its foot in the door” with Alim- especially in areas over which the eye of the port, Cuba’s state-run food importing agency. structures for the propagation of vegetables storm passed. Also accompanying Heineman on the Aug- for domestic consumption were damaged or Feeding the Cuban people continues to be ust trip was a bean-processing manager who destroyed by the storm. a difficult challenge for the government and actually signed the bean contract with However, in Matanzas province, it is report- this storm certainly will not help that situa- Alimport, Hilferty said. These included man- ed that 40 lightweight vegetable propagation tion, as Hurricane Dennis also was reported agers from bean processing plants in structures erected by German Agro Action to have ruined some 3,000 tons of stored food. Scottsbluff, Bridgeport and Clearwater. (one of Germany’s largest private or-ganiza- According to the UN Office for the Coordi- Besides the bean contract and the $30 mil- tions working in the area of development nation of Humanitarian Affairs, damage to lion agreement, Cuba has also asked Neb- cooperation and humanitarian aid) were dis- agriculture and the food industry was very raska to have a booth at the Feria Internacio- mantled and stored in advance of the hurri- heavy in all the affected 12 provinces of Cuba, nal de la Habana (FIHAV) in November. Hil- cane, and have since been rebuilt and are mainly fruit, vegetables, and edible roots. ferty said he was happy to be invited on the once again in production. Urban agriculture, a very significant agri- trip, adding it was a chance of a lifetime. cultural production system supplying populat- On that note, Hilferty said Cuba is desper- LIVESTOCK ed areas, sustained heavy damages. ately trying to work a deal to allow U.S. Nearly 500,000 animals and livestock were Cienfuegos and Granma provinces report- tourists to visit the island nation. The income reportedly moved into protective shelters ed the loss of 27,000 hectares of the most brought in by tourists would be a big boon to prior to the storm. Despite these prepara- diverse agricultural crops, a figure very close the nation’s economy, he said. tions, Cuba’s official newspaper Granma re- to total planted areas. The storm also Details: Keith Olsen, President, Nebraska ported that Dennis killed 73,000 head of poul- destroyed agricultural storage facilities, struc- Farm Bureau Federation, PO Box 80299, try. As has been the case in prior hurricanes, tures for farm animals, egg farms and other Lincoln, NE 68501-0299. Tel: (402) 421-4402. damage to barns, dairy milking parlors, and agribusiness installations. ❑ Fax: (402) 421-4432. E-mail: [email protected]. 12 CubaNews ❖ October 2005 km in Cuba’s exclusive economic zone. basis of economic need. He said all eight want- BUSINESS BRIEFS “The hydrocarbon resource potential in the ed to further their education, but lacked funds. blocks is estimated to be in excess of four bil- Students don’t have to pay for anything CUBA-CHINA TRADE TO SET RECORD IN 2005 lion barrels. One exploratory well drilled in other than their airfare. They will be going to Cuba and China are experiencing solid and one of these blocks indicated presence of different universities within Cuba and will be promising economic cooperation, said Yang- hydrocarbons,” the release said. required to study Spanish for the first nine shi Di, commercial counselor at the Chinese These blocks are in the third exploration months. Kamarakafego said he believed the Embassy in Havana. period. Work program during this period students will be able to adapt to a more basic Yangshi Di spoke during the inauguration of includes acquisition of 3,000 sq km of 3-D seis- way of life in Cuba, even though they have a biological products processing plant in the mic data. Drilling wells on selected prospects grown up in materially rich Bermuda. province of Matanzas. The new facility, with will be decided in the next exploration phase. Kamarakafego is hoping a second group of $2.9 million in Chinese technology, will manu- Said OVL’s chairman, Subir Raha: “With students will be able to go to Cuba next year. facture products to protect food crops in cen- proven presence of petroleum in Cuba’s EEZ, tral and western Cuba. the area has drawn the attention of many GRANMA TO GET CO2 PLANT The plant will be able to produce 200 metric international oil companies. The blocks have a The province of Granma will soon get a new good potential and is especially significant for tons a year of Verticillum Lecanil, the organic facility to produce 1,000 tons a year of carbon product used in Cuba to fight the Thrips OVL as it would open doors for other opportu- nities in Latin America’s hydrocarbon sector. dioxide, enabling Granma to sell excess pro- palmi plague, which Cuban media said “was duction to other provinces. the result of a U.S. terrorist attack in 1996.” With this acquisition, the company is now present in 13 countries.” The modern plant, in its final phase of con- Production will benefit Havana, Matanzas, struction, will use as raw material the gas Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and Sancti Spíritus, Details: Yeoman Thomas, Business Develop- ment Dir., OVL, 6th Floor, Kailash 26, Kasturba resulting from the fermentation of molasses and will complement production from another used to make alcohol. three plants will lower capacity and older Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110 001, India. Tel: +91 11 2373-0368. Fax: +91 11 2372-1755. Located at the Arquimides Colina sugar mill, technology. the factory will utilize modern technolgoy for The diplomat said Cuban-Chinese bilateral BERMUDA SENDS STUDENTS TO CUBA the washing, purification and drying process- trade reached $520 million in 2004, and that in es, guaranteeing the high quality of the final the first half of 2005 alone, trade had sur- Eight young Bermudians have flown to Cu- product, and reducing enviromental impact of passed $480 million — higher than ever. ba to begin university studies, courtesy of Fid- China is currently involved in 13 investment el Castro, the Bermuda Sun reported Sep. 28. emissions, reports Prensa Latina. projects in Cuba in the areas of agriculture, The scheme was arranged by Bermuda ART AUCTIONED ONLINE IN HAVANA tourism, light industry and telecommunica- Friends of Cuba, whose president is Pauulu tions. Meanwhile, both countries are boosting Kamarakafego, formerly Roosevelt Brown. He The Cuban capital will host the 4th Havana joint programs in the nickel and oil produc- told the newspaper that the opportunity for Artworks Auction through the Internet some- tion sectors, said Yangshi Di. the students came about because of his friend- time in October. The Chinese-Cuban Biotech Pharmaceutical ship with Lazaro Fleitas, who runs the Cuban Officials from the National Council of Fine Co. opened its Beijing factory on Sep. 28, on Institute of Friendship in Havana. Arts said 46 lots of paintings from different occasion of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic Fleitas said Cuba routinely sponsors the periods and styles will be auctioned. relations between the two countries. education of students from overseas on the At the same time, 64 lots will be auctioned at According to the Cuban newspaper Ahora, this facility will produce the TheraCIM h-R3 monoclonal antibody to treat neck and head S. Korea boosts ties with KOTRA office in Havana cancer. The German drug maker Oncosci- ence is also interested in this medicine. he Korea Trade Investment Promo- KOTRA signed cooperation agreements Two days before the Beijing plant was tion Agency (KOTRA) has opened an with Cuba’s Centers for Export Promotion opened, a vaccine factory using Cuban tech- T office in Havana’s Miramar Trade and Investment Promotion, and with the nology started up in China's northeastern Center, marking South Korea’s first official Chamber of Commerce. Jilin province. In 1999, Cuba had donated over presence in Cuba. In August, Unión Electrica, Cuba’s main $1 million worth of hepatitis B vaccines to KOTRA inaugurated the branch Sep. 12, electric power utility, purchased 244 diesel- areas in China that suffered floods. bringing to 13 the number of KOTRA trade powered generators from Korean conglom- offices in Latin America; the others are erate Hyundai Heavy Industries. INDIA’S OVL BUYS 30% STAKE IN ENERGY BLOCK located in Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Caracas, The generators are equipped with ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL), the overseas arm Guatemala City, Lima, Mexico City, Monter- Hyundai’s self-developed HiMSEN engine of India’s state-owned Oil and Natural Gas rey, Panama City, Santiago, Santo Domingo and will be delivered by late 2007. They will Corp. (ONGC), has acquired a 30% stake in and São Paulo. generate a combined capacity of 510 MW, seven oil and gas blocks in Cuba, which hold “The main purpose of this office is to pro- or 20% of Cuba’s entire electricity output. over 4 billion barrels of oil reserves. mote trade between our two countries, and The deal, worth $330 million, is more Spain’s Repsol-YPF is the operator of the to get Korean companies to invest in Cuba,” than twice Korea’s $150 million in annual Block 25-29, 36 and a part of Block 35 with KOTRA’s new local director, Cho Young- exports to Cuba. The South Korean newspa- 40% stake, and the remaining 30% is owned by soo, told CubaNews by phone. per Chosun Ilbo quoted Fidel Castro as say- Norway’s Norsk Hydro. Established in 1962, KOTRA facilitates ing that the deal is tantamount to “entrust- “OVL has entered into an agreement on Korea's rapid export-led economy through ing Hyundai with the care of the entire Sept. 15 with Repsol-YPF of Spain to acquire various trade promotion activities such as nation’s electricity generation.” 30% participating interest in the deepwater surveys of foreign markets and consultation South Korean entrepreneurs are also exploration Blocks 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 36 and services for prospective business deals. interested in Cuba’s agricultural sector, part of Block 35 in Cuba,” said a company KOTRA has 105 representative offices in especially sugar and tropical fruit, in addi- press release issued in New Delhi. 75 countries, and its presence in Havana is tion to oil, nickel and the biotech industry. The acquisition, which marks OVL’s first aimed at benefiting from Cuba’s potential. Details: Cho Young-soo, KOTRA, Centro de foray into the Cuban oil and gas industry, will Even though South Korea has no diplo- Negocios Miramar, Edif. Santa Clara, Ofic. be completed after formalization of the con- matic relations with communist Cuba, bilat- #412, Miramar, La Habana. Tel: +53 5 280- tract by the Cuban government. The blocks eral trade is rapidly increasing. In 2002, 1902. E-mail: [email protected]. are spread over an area of nearly 12,000 sq October 2005 ❖ CubaNews 13 the Hotel Nacional’s Taganana Hall. Last against other products used to clean up tail, rendered quite artistically. Why does this year’s auction, which attracted galleries and hydrocarbon spills, Cuban scientists told the matter? If you are of the generations that grew private collectors from all over the world, news service Tierramerica. up using paper charts, beautiful maps that raised $725,000, said official sources. “We have achieved more than 90% remedia- they are, you will find comfort in Nobeltec’s At this year’s event, dedicated to the artist tion (cleanup) in a maximum of 30 days of traditional approach and sense of aesthetics.” Fidelio Ponce de León, artworks by Valentín application,” said chemical engineer Roberto Details: Nobeltec Corp., 15160 NW Laidlaw Sanz Carta and Antonio Rodríguez Morey, in Nonez, director of the marine biological Road, Suite #100, Portland, OR 97229. Tel: addition to paintings from the 18th century, research center Cebimar. (503) 579-1414. Fax: (503) 579-1304. E-mail: including a Nazarene by Armando Tarazona, Expert sources from various countries con- [email protected]. URL: www.cubacruising.net. will be open to bidding. sider a satisfactory biological clean-up for Among artists whose works will be sold for spills of petroleum and its derivatives to be SPANISH VENTURE PROMOTES CUBAN WINES the first time: Mirta Cerra, Carlos Quintana, 55% in three to four months. Cuban media reports that Bodegas del López Derube, Carmelo González, Jorge Bioremediation is a technique for environ- Caribe S.A., a Cuban-Spanish joint venture, Rigol, Cleva Solís and Conrado Massaguer. mental detoxification through microorgan- “has a thick portfolio of offers” that have Proceeds from these sales go to cover part isms that break down dangerous organic allowed the company to gain a foothold in the of state expenses in arts education and mate- waste and turn it into less harmful com- Cuban market. rials. For more details, visit www.cubarte.cu. pounds. This method, available for the past 25 The firm sells several wine brands including years, exploits the ability of some bacteria, GUANAHACABIBES SHOWS ITS STUFF Castillo del Wajay, Palacio de Arganza, yeast or molds to incorporate part of the dan- Señorío de Peñalba, Señorío de la Antigua, Cuban officials promoted the attractions of gerous compounds into their metabolism, for Torre Modejar and Alba Real. the Guanahacabibes Peninsula last month to growth or for energy of the organism itself. Company executives said that Bodegas del tour operators and visitors attending Turnat The Oceanology Institute of Cuba began 10 Caribe S.A. will soon bottle Spanish wines in 2005, the International Meeting on Nature years ago to collect more than 400 strains of Cuba, with an eye to entering the Caribbean Tourism, in Pinar del Río. marine bacteria. Of that total, “70% are capa- market. As part of the company’s expansion The difficult-to-pronounce peninsula, at ble of degrading petroleum and five of them strategy, Bodegas del Caribe has opened an Cuba’s westernmost tip, covers 1,000 sq kms are very effective,” said Nonez. agency in Guardalavaca Beach, in Holguín and is home to the María La Gorda Interna- Bioil-FC, formed from those five strains, province, to supply wines to eastern Cuba. tional Diving Center. was tested following a 500-ton crude oil spill The company plans to produce nearly one The strip of land also holds a 121,000- in Cuba in 1998 from a collision of two ships million bottles of wine next year, and four mil- hectare Biosphere Reserve that includes a in Matanzas Bay, 98 kms east of Havana. lion bottles by 2007. 39,901-hectare national park and two natural According to Cebimar, “the ecosystem reserves: Cabo Corrientes and El Veral. recovered completely” some 30 days FLORIDA EXECS BULLISH ON POST-CASTRO CUBA after the application of 100,000 liters of MARINE BACTERIA MAY HELP AFTER OIL SPILLS Nearly 65% of respondents in a poll of South Bioil-FC. The bay was left clean, as was Los Florida executives say they hope to do busi- Scientists think a product used in Cuba Pinos beach, a popular swimming area for the ness with a post-Castro, democratic Cuba. since 1992 to clean up oil spills with marine local population. The survey, conducted by pollster Sergio bacteria could prove useful for other warm- Some 5 million barrels of fuel move Bendixen, involved phone interviews with 417 weather countries. through the Caribbean Sea each day on business leaders and high net-worth individu- Bioil-FC has proven effective in changing tanker ships. The Caribbean sees some of the als in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach the toxic compounds in hydrocarbons into most intensive maritime traffic in the world, counties. The interviews were conducted in biodegradable substances, turning them back with an average of 50,000 trips a year. both English and Spanish during the first two into carbon dioxide and water. This inexpen- Details: Roberto Nonez, Centro de Bioactivos weeks of September. sive “bioproduct” also compares favorably Marinos (Cebimar), Loma y 37, Alturas del A total of 61% of respondents said a post- Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, La Habana. Castro Cuba would have a positive impact on Tel: +53 7 81-1298. E-mail: [email protected]. their business, with those in import-export LUXNER PHOTO SITE REVAMPED most likely to be bullish; only 11% thought it NOBELTEC TO PRODUCE MARINE MAPS OF CUBA Luxner News Inc., which publishes this would hurt their own business. newsletter, is proud to announce the re- Nobeltec Corp., the premier maker of PC- About half of South Floridians with high net design of its global stock photo website. based marine charting software, will soon worth are likely to personally invest in a dem- Visitors to www.luxner.com will find a share its charts of the Cuban coastline with ocratic Cuba, while 70% of Cuban-Americans sleek new look, a completely revamped CubaCruising.net, says the website’s founder, mention Cuban heritage and even “a sense of Peter Swanson. user interface and easy access to more duty” as the reason they’d plan to invest in a “Unless there’s a Russian company out post-Castro Cuba. than 11,000 color images from 75 coun- there doing the same, Nobeltec is alone and While Hispanics are most interested in ex- tries in Latin America, Caribbean, Africa, outfront in their decision to map Cuba’s har- panding their business into Cuba after Castro Middle East and Europe. bors,” says Swanson. “It is reassuring that a leaves power, a majority of Anglo and black The site boasts extensive coverage of big company such as Nobeltec can time the executives also showed interest, according to Cuba, with some 850 pictures taken in 11 market as badly as we have. Maybe they, too, the poll, which was commissioned by South of the island’s 14 provinces. were just tired of waiting.” Florida CEO magazine. The site is an ideal resource for compa- Nobeltec, whose parent company is Boeing “There’s been a consensus over the last 25 nies needing photographs to illustrate bro- subsidiary Jeppesen, purchased the chart years that only Cuban-Americans care about chures, annual reports or presentations. data from Canadian hydrographic authorities Cuba,” said Bendixen. “This may well be one Use our searchable database to find who, in turn, had bought them from the of these issues that unites this community.” exactly what you need. We offer quality Cuban government. Interestingly, Broward business leaders photos at competitive rates and can e- Cuba’s excellent hydrographic skills are were more likely to be concerned about com- mail high-resolution scans or have CDs believed to have been developed during their petition from a post-Castro Cuba than their overnighted to our clients in most cases. Cold War relationship with the Soviet Union. counterparts in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach. Details: Luxner News Inc., 10454 Parth- In any event, the data is excellent, and Details: Bendixen & Associates, 2800 Ponce enon Ct., Bethesda, MD 20817. Tel: (301) Swanson says Nobeltec has put it to good use. de León Blvd., #1111, Coral Gables, FL 33134. 365-1745. E-mail: [email protected]. Says he: “What is particularly good about Tel: (305) 529-9916. Fax: (305) 529-9069. Nobeltec’s charts are their high level of de- E-mail: [email protected]. 14 CubaNews ❖ October 2005 EDUCATION Special education offers unique opportunities for exporters BY OUR HAVANA CORRESPONDENT of Havana’s employment plan for disabled cit- elaborated by multidisciplinary teams made efore 1959, Cuba had eight schools with izens. up of health professionals, teachers, physio- 134 mentally or physically disabled chil- According to Icart, the biggest incentive for therapists, speech therapists and paramedic Bdren, managed by only 20 people, accor- her staff of doctors, psychologists, psychia- staff, all trained in the most modern tech- ding to official statistics. Today, the island has trists, social workers and teachers is to disco- niques for rehabilitation of disabled people. 429 such facilities assisting 51,000 children. ver the potential of each patient and see them These disabled students have the right to Despite this achievement, the demand enjoy life in spite of their natural handicaps. study any career — just as their physically remains well ahead of existing capacity. Icart still remembers the visit of former and mentally fit peers — according to their Cuba’s imports for special education activi- President Jimmy Carter during his 2002 visit abilities. The less fortunate are trained in ties in 2002 amounted to $11.7 million. This to Havana. Ministers and personalities are re- trades and technical specialities that at least was supplied mostly by Asian markets be- gulars in health system tours to La Castellana, make them socially useful. cause the embargo prevents American com- says the director — whose personal effort of In the teaching process developed within almost 40 years shows in the outstand- these facilities, special emphasis is made on ing education results of her patients. preventing secondary defects suffered by One of them, Marcos, 18, was born children as a consequence of their illnesses. with fairly severe Down syndrome. Diagnosis of children and evaluation with His parents divorced shortly after special teaching needs is carried out by 193 his birth and, although the father has multidisciplinary teams that work within 193 occasionally helped out, the mother Centers for Guiding and Diagnosis (CDO in had to handle situation by herself. Spanish) located throughout the island. Marcos received preferential medi- Such centers are staffed by psychologists, cal attention at the neighborhood hos- speech therapists and social workers who pital, but it wasn’t enough. So his also consult the specialized opinion of experts mother took him for more spe- cialized care at La Castellana. There he learned to read and write and care for himself. Marcos is presently under eval- uation to be given a job accord- ing to his abilities — all without any cost to his family. Dr. Emelia Icart, director of Havana’s La Castellana center. La Castellana is also one of the 252 institutions that treat panies from doing business with Cuba. retarded children, 86 of which If those restrictions did not exist, Cuba care for mildly retarded children. could have bought much more for the special Another 15 schools are for the deaf education system. and hearing-impaired, while eight are Specifically, the purchase of pencils, note- for blind and visually impaired chil- books, paper and other resources for printing dren, 11 for cross-eyed kids, 41 for books, texts and complementary literature kids with behavioral problems and two has fallen short of existing needs. facilities for children suffering from Just to mention some examples, the blind autism. and visually impaired need writing machines The number of specialists staffing with the Braille system, for which the state these special schools has increased to Mildly retarded girls learn how to dance at La Castellana. has to spend around $1,000 per typewriter — 10,204 professionals, all with universi- compared to $700 per machine when import- ty degrees. This indicator places Cuba among of different health branches, where one can ed from the United States. the most advanced nations in the formation find psychiatrists, neurologists and specialists The same situation exists with Braille and attention of disabled children. on genetics. paper, vital for this kind of disability. From the preschool age, children suffering CDO also carries out preventive work at Lack of financial resources and the addi- from some kind of anatomic or psychological schools in different municipalities, mainly tional cost of importing equipment and medi- dysfunction receive training for their later those facilities with children and teenagers cines from distant markets are a perennial evolution and social integration through 13 who learn slow or show some kind of behav- problem, explains Dr. Emelia Icart, director of caring centers and 42 special centers dedicat- ior problems. Teachers receive professional the Psychopedagogical Medical Center “La ed to their attention. sponsorship from these highly specialized Castellana.” For children hospitalized during long peri- centers. Long gone are the times when com- The 335 children at La Castellana — located ods, those institutions have classrooms so puter techniques were only used in labs and in Havana’s Arroyo Naranjo district — are they can keep up with their school programs. research centers in Cuba. taught skills like forming musical and dance Cuba also has 1,223 children suffering from Today, Cuba boasts 1,263 computers with groups. The center has a handicrafts shop severe physical or mental limitations that are diverse devices and advanced technology pro- where they learn to make maracas; they can so severe they are unable to attend special grams, among them individual sets of micro- also work in a vegetable garden. schools. These kids receive classes at home phones and audio, magic screens, intelligent Very soon the school will get a canning fac- by teachers fully dedicated to this task. This boards, switches, scanners and Braille print- tory, thanks to a donation from the Gijon City educational group has 21,019 professionals, of ers located in 15 facilities. Significant results Council in Spain. which 14,000 are teachers working at differ- have been achieved with the help of comput- ent school levels. ers in the socializing process of kids suffering La Castellana is now preparing 15 patients ❑ for permanent jobs, as part of the municipality Study programs for special education are from Down syndrome and autism. October 2005 ❖ CubaNews 15 TOURISM Depleted copper mine to lure tourists to Santiago de Cuba BY PATRICIA GROGG large sculpture depicting those events stands especially sulphurs, suggests “it has medici- he people now at the helm of the oldest atop the hill. nal properties, but that needs to be verified by copper mine in Latin America, located The monument to that rebellion of cimar- the Ministry of Health,” said Yasell. T in eastern Cuba and shut down in 2001, rones — as those who sought refuge in The dream of the experts and El Cobre offi- want it to be recognized as a national and glob- Cuba’s forests to escape slavery were known cials is to turn the area into a recreational site al heritage site. — was erected in what was left of the old with a guesthouse for visitors, including the That goal is a key part of the plans for reha- Cardenillo hill, currently Los Chivos, whose pilgrims who visit the sanctuary of El Cobre bilitating an ecosystem damaged by the min- insides were carved out by nearly five cen- Virgin of Charity. ing industry, drawn up by experts from the turies of mining. They also seek to preserve the mine’s tow- governmental agency Geomining of the East, er and refurbish the entrance. In each area of and for revitalizing the village of El Cobre, the project there’ll be a nursery for reforest- ing the surrounding 40 hectares, whose soils which emerged from the exploitation of the require technologies to revive fertility. metal reserves discovered there in 1530. “Everything will be done with workers The environmental damage is immediately from here, because it is about connecting the visible, and reversing it requires patience and local population to these projects,” says Er- a healthy budget. nesto Steven, president of the town council. “This was farmland, with many groves of He says the project will cost $1.2 million. fruit trees, but all that was lost. The area was El Cobre today has a population of 17,000, degraded and the change to the environment and 45% of its inhabitants have some relation- was total,” engineer Alina Yasell told the ship, direct or indirect. to the mine, which Tierramérica news service. had 325 workers when it closed four years The mine is inside a hill 12 km from Santi- ago. Eighty-five remain with the company, ago de Cuba, capital of the province of the now known as the Mining Services Unit. same name. It was at its peak in the first half Of the rest, some were relocated to other of the 19th century, when it produced 67,000 “We want to preserve for future genera- employment sectors, some are receiving pro- tons of copper. Four years ago, scant produc- tions this historic legacy of mining, and one of fessional retraining, and some retired. tion and low prices for the metal on the global the mine’s galleries will be turned into a Nobody was surprised by the mine closure, market led to the mine’s closure. museum,” says Yasell, lead expert of the reha- but not everybody approves of that decision. “What its discoverers were looking for was bilitation program, the great scope of which “I was really upset by the news. I worked gold, and they even sent to Spain a sample of led to division into several projects. there since I was 17,” says Jesús Calzado calcopirite, one of the mineral sulphurs from The plan includes the restoration of what Falcón, who adds that despite his 63 years, he which copper is obtained, believing it was that was the quarry. Along its borders there is would return to working in the mine. precious metal,” said geologist Miguel Ruíz. already — although somewhat timid — new “It was a terrible thing, a huge blow,” he growth of wild vegetation. In this area work is PRESERVING THE PAST said. “I think the mine could still produce. under way to prevent landslides and to recon- They were overly hasty in closing it down.” ❑ Blacks brought from Africa and local indige- struct the fortifications and slopes. nous people were ruthlessly forced to work The quarry turned into an enormous pit, Patricia Grogg is a correspondent for Inter the mine, and in the 18th century the first now a big lake whose water is being tested by Press Service. This article was originally pub- great uprising of slaves in Cuba occurred. A experts, because its high mineral content, lished by the UN-funded Tierramérica network. Egrem, U.K. music company sign distribution agreement BY VITO ECHEVARRÍA Egrem did so through licensing agreements. mogul Sir Terence Conran. avana-based record label Egrem has In an effort to capitalize on global interest Apparently, Conran opened that restaurant entered the British music market with in Cuban music — triggered by the success of to pay homage to Ernest Hemingway’s Old 10 CDs released through a venture with “Buena Vista” — Egrem is poring through Havana haunt of the same name. It’s perhaps H the 40,000-plus tracks in its archives. U.K.-based Proper Music Distribution Ltd. no coincidence that the partnership also runs “In the past, people have taken advantage the Casa del Habano cigar lounge within the Artists featured in the release include old- of the quality of our music,” said Minerva same building. school Cuban favorites such Beny Moré, Rodríguez Delgado in a recent interview with Lisa McGovern, a spokeswoman for Conran Chucho Valdés and Los Van Van, as well as The Guardian. “We want to do the same.” Restaurants, said Floridita has already wel- newer acts like rapper Triangulo Oscuro to 20- Egrem’s plan to penetrate the U.K. market comed Eliades Ochoa, Taicuba, Buena Fé and year-old songstress Leticia to the pop-friendly consists of releasing CDs every two to three Triangulo Oscuro, as well as Grupo Patria, duo Buena Fé. months — both new material, as well as tunes Eliades Ochoa’s back-up group, which There’s also material from ex-Van Van pian- from its archives. includes his son Eglis Hidalgo. ist Pupy (Egrem’s best-selling artist in 2003). According to Delgado, as part of its mar- In June, Floridita also hosted the Cuban The next wave of Egrem releases in Great keting strategy, Egrem has teamed up with Music Awards in association with Havana Britain, set for November, will include a boxed the owners of the upscale 1950s Cuba-themed Club Rum, a three-day event that attracted set of previous recordings made by members restaurant and club Floridita, located in 2,000 fans. On Oct. 24, Buena Fé will do a one- of the Buena Vista Social Club. London’s Soho district, to book Egrem’s week gig at Floridita, followed by the six- Egrem’s deal with Proper Music marks the bands there for six nights a week. member female band Septeto Moreno Son. ❑ first time the state-owned record company The owners of that venture are the U.K.- Details: Egrem, Calle 3ra, #1008, e/10 y 12, makes its music available through direct inter- based investment group Havana Holdings, Miramar, La Habana. Tel: +53 7 209-0687. national distribution agreements. In the past, while Floridita’s other owner is furniture URL: www.egrem.com.cu. 16 CubaNews ❖ October 2005 CALENDAR OF EVENTS CARIBBEAN UPDATE If your organization is sponsoring an upcoming event, please let our readers know! You already know what’s going in Cuba, Fax details to CubaNews at (301) 365-1829 or send e-mail to [email protected]. thanks to CubaNews. Now find out what’s happening in the rest of this diverse and fast-growing region. Oct. 19: “After Fidel: The Inside Story of Castro’s Regime and Cuba’s Next Leader” Subscribe to Caribbean UPDATE, a Book presentation by Brian Latell explores relationship between Fidel and Raúl Castro. monthly newsletter founded in 1985. Cor- porate and government executives, as well No charge. Details: Institute of Cuban and Cuban-American Studies, 1531 Brescia Ave., as scholars and journalists, depend on this Miami, FL 33124. Tel: (305) 284-2822. URL: http://casabacardi.iccas.miami.edu. publication for its insightful, timely cover- age of the 30-plus nations and territories of Oct. 20: “The Chosen Island: Jews in Cuba,” Wayne State University, Detroit. Cuban his- the Caribbean and Central America. When you receive your first issue, you torian Maritza Corrales discusses her new book as well as the history of Jewish life in have two options: (a) pay the accompany- Cuba. Details: Kris Cumming, Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. Tel: (313) 577-3453. ing invoice and your subscription will be processed; (b) if you’re not satisfied, just Oct. 31-Nov. 5: 23th Annual Havana International Fair (FIHAV). Major trade show write “cancel” on the invoice and return it. There is no further obligation on your part. which last year resulted in $247 million in deals. Details: Pabexpo, Ave. 17 e/174 y 184, The cost of a subscription to Caribbean Siboney, La Habana. Tel: +53 7 271-6614. Fax: +53 7 271-9065. URL: www.cpalco.com. UPDATE is $267 per year. A special rate of $134 is available to academics, non-profit organizations and additional subscriptions Nov. 8: “Common Goals, Different Strategies: Options for a Transatlantic Agenda on mailed to the same address. Cuba,” Fondation Universitaire, Brussels, Belgium. One-day conference is co-sponsored To order, contact Caribbean UPDATE at 116 Myrtle Ave., Millburn, NJ 07041, call us by Spain’s Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE) at (973) 376-2314, visit our new website at and Washington-based Freedom House. Details: Susanne Gratius, FRIDE, Madrid. Tel: www.caribbeanupdate.org or send an e-mail to [email protected]. We accept +34 91 523-7625. E-mail: [email protected]. URL: www.fride.org and www.freedomhouse.org. Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Dec. 1-3: U.S.-Cuba Energy Summit, Westin Resort & Spa, Cancún, Mexico. Officials of CubaPetróleo, various Cuban government ministries to attend. Co-sponsors: Caterpillar, Port of Corpus Christi, Valero Energy, Louisiana Department of Economic Development. Cost: $1,900. Details: Kirby Jones, Alamar Associates, 2300 M St. NW, #800, Washington, DC 20037. Tel: (202) 530-5234. Fax: (202) 530-5235. URL: www.uscubasummit.org.

Dec. 5-7: 29th Miami Conference on the Caribbean Basin, Inter-Continental Hotel. In- Editor & Publisher ■ LARRY LUXNER ■ vited speakers include OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, Florida Gov. Jeb Washington correspondent Bush, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz and various Caribbean heads of state. Cost: ■ ANA RADELAT ■ $600. Details: Caribbean/Central American Action, 1818 N Street NW, Suite #500, Political analyst ■ DOMINGO AMUCHASTEGUI ■ Washington, DC 20036. Tel: (202) 466-7464. Fax: (202) 822-0075. URL: www.c-caa.org. Feature writers Dec. 5-9: 3rd Latin American Congress of Health Psychology (ALAPSA 2005), Pabexpo, ■ VITO ECHEVARRÍA ■ HELEN J. SIMON ■ Havana. Details: Jorge Grau, ALAPSA. Tel: +53 7 55-2574. E-mail: [email protected]. Cartographer ■ ARMANDO H. PORTELA ■

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