Vol. 19, No. 4 April 2011

In the News 9 airports win blessing for Cuba flights,

Gross v. DAI? but most won’t offer service — for now Experts: Alan Gross may sue former Md. BY ANA RADELAT “It’s not obvious to me that all those other firm that sent him to Cuba ...... Page 4 n Mar. 8, the Obama administration fol - cities can sustain charters with the numbers of lowed through with its promise to let new people who can go to Cuba right now,” he said. O U.S. airports host direct charter flights to One problem is that the Obama administra - Richardson’s advice tion hasn’t made it clear how broad its new Cuba Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson Cuba. The question now is how many of the nine airports authorized by U.S. Customs and travel policy is. outlines specific steps towards better U.S. Border Protection will ever offer those flights. When the White House announced in Janu- relations with Cuba ...... Page 4 The new airports serve Atlanta, Baltimore, ary that it would lift travel restrictions for aca - Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, demics and members of religious groups, it also Pittsburgh, Tampa and San Juan, Puerto Rico. promised to do the same for “people-to-people” Carbonera calling trips with humanitarian or other “purposeful” Esencia Hotels plans luxury $300 million They join Miami, New York’s JFK and Los Angeles, which for years have had permission goals. But the administration has yet to say how golf resort on Varadero Beach .....Page 6 to offer charters to Cuba. exactly it defines “people to people” travel. Because they’re home to large numbers of “As far as ‘people-to-people’, we still don’t Defending Varadero Cuban-Americans — who under current law can know the guidelines on how to get one of those Mega-hotels threaten architectural gems make unlimited trips to visit family in Cuba — licenses,” Guild told CubaNews . “We’re hoping it Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and San Juan are likely will be easy and therefore a number of people at Cuba’s most famous resort .....Page 7 to become new host cities for Cuba charters. will be able to travel. Then we’ll be able to figure But Bob Guild, vice-president of Marazul Char- out what airports can sustain charter service.” Newsmakers ters Inc., with offices in Florida and New Jersey, Without all the information needed for a pre - Cuba’s Commodore José M. Díaz Escrich said it’s too early to say how many of the other cise estimate, Guild guessed Obama’s policy in Miami to urge development of marinas, six airports will ever fly passengers to Cuba. See Airports, page 2 end to U.S. travel ban ...... Page 8

Doctors who defect Concerned Caribbean tourism officials Cuban health-care professionals take ad- vantage of obscure immigration law to en- prepare for future U.S. opening to Cuba ter U.S. via third countries ...... Page 9 BY LARRY LUXNER travel to Cuba won’t have any effect on the Car- iven the current mood in U.S.-Cuba rela - ibbean because it’s all related to exiles, organi - Tobacco in decline tions, a complete lifting of the travel ban zations or study groups. But when relations be- Yet another once-proud agricultural ex- Gto Cuba is still a long way off. But when it tween Cuba and the United States are normal - port steeped in nostalgia ...... Page 10 happens, more than a million Americans might ized, it’s bound to affect the region. We need to hop on planes or cruise ships to Havana — leav - hope that it happens at a time when the world ing Caribbean tourism officials to wonder what economy is prospering and travel is growing.” Apples and oranges that might mean to their own bottom line. Issa added: “The supply will always be there Cuban people unlikely to revolt Egyptian- According to Cuba’s Oficina Nacional de Esta- despite market conditions, so what we really style, for variety of reasons ...... Page 12 dísticas, the island received a record 296,222 need is an expansion of demand — like the Chi- foreign tourists in January 2011, a 15.9% jump nese coming in large numbers to the Caribbean. from January 2010 arrivals, and 33.9% higher “Cuba will be just another factor to take into Business briefs account. If Cuba opened up this coming winter, Petrobras says it’s giving up search for oil; than the number who came in January 2007. For now, a small percentage of those were the rooms the Americans would occupy are cur - Cuba devalues peso by 8% ...... Page 14 Americans, since U.S. citizens are still banned rently occupied by Europeans and Canadians. from spending money in Cuba as tourists. So they’d have to find somewhere else to go.” CubaNews (ISSN 1073-7715) is published monthly John Issa, chairman of SuperClubs resorts, SuperClubs has 5,000 rooms in 20 properties by CUBANEWS LLC. © 2011. All rights reserved. told CubaNews from Montego Bay that major throughout the Caribbean, including three all- Subscriptions: $479 for one year, $800 for two years. resorts in Jamaica and other islands are moni - inclusive hotels in Cuba: the 270-room Breezes For editorial inquires, please call (305) 393-8760 or Varadero, the 396-room Breezes Bella Costa send an e-mail to: [email protected]. toring the Cuba situation closely. “What’s happened so far with the easing of See Caribbean, page 3 2 CubaNews v April 2011 filled with college students will connect with cleared by BCP will host flights to Cuba, not- Airports — FROM PAGE 1 her Cuba charters in Fort Lauderdale. ing that “if everyone had flights, we’d all go change will result in some 100,000 new U.S. “And I have had calls from people all over out of business because we’d be half-empty.” travelers to Cuba each year. the United States who were hoping Fort Like Aral, Bill Hauf, owner of Island Travel But politics has always played havoc with Lauderdale would be approved because they and Tour, wants to run charter flights out of the Cuba travel business. want to connect through Fort Lauderdale,” Tampa. Hauf has a carrier service provider When President Clinton relaxed travel she told CubaNews , adding that FLL was license from the U.S. Treasury Department. rules to Cuba in the 1990s, a charter compa - R E

ny called Cuba Travel Services began offer - N X ing flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Havana. U L

Y

After President George W. Bush restricted R R A

such visits in 2003, CTS ended its flights. L The company started them up again after Obama eased travel restrictions on Cuban- Americans in 2009. But those flights only operated in the summer and Christmas. Now CTS, which provides flights out of Miami, is considering year-round service from LAX. It also plans to offer a new service from San Juan’s Luís Muñoz Marín International Air- port. Puerto Rico is home to some 20,000 Cu- Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) and Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) are two of the nine airports that have just ban exiles. Alberto Escudero Morales, direc - received the Obama administration’s blessing to offer direct charter flights to Cuba (see map below). tor of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, told El Nuevo Día newspaper that direct flights to cheaper to fly into than Miami. Unlike Aral, Hauf has not operated regular Cuba could begin as early as this summer. Maria Aral, owner of ABC Charters, is com - charter service to Cuba before. peting with several other companies to pro - But Hauf said he has been seeking landing MIAMI VS. FORT LAUDERDALE vide air service from Tampa. The likely win - rights in Cuba since 2008, when he became Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International ner will be the first company that wins convinced Obama would win the presidential hopes to start its Cuba flights before the end approval from the Cuban government to election and ease Cuba sanctions. of June. Vivian Mannerud, owner of Airline touch down on the island. Hauf also hopes to run flights to Cuba from Brokers Co. and a veteran of the Cuba char - Aral, who runs charters out of Miami, BWI. He said the number of government offi - ter business, plans to run those charters. believes she stands a chance. “I have put my cials, college students, religious groups, Besides siphoning off some South Florida request in,” she said. “Optimally I’d like to diplomats and other licensed Cuba travelers travelers, mostly Cuban-Americans, from provide flights twice a week.” in the Baltimore-Washington area may sus - MIA, Mannerud hopes flights from Boston Aral also said it’s unlikely all nine airports See Airports, page 7 April 2011 v CubaNews 3 would not come to Puerto Rico if not for the Airports — FROM PAGE 1 Caribbean — FROM PAGE 1 brands and flags being developed.” tain at least one flight a week. But ultimately, PRTC’s González added: “Puerto Rico is (also in Varadero) and the 240-room Breezes not any less exotic because we’re under the he said, “Cuba will decide which cities it Jibacoa. wants flights from.” U.S. flag. The fact that Cuba has been a for - Last month, officials of Cuba, Jamaica and bidden place for U.S. citizens is of course an Some airports seem to have asked for per - the Cayman Islands met during the Miami mission to host charters to Cuba in anticipa - attraction. But that by itself doesn’t mean we International Boat Show to draft a strategy to will lose a big chunk of market share.” tion of future cracks in the embargo — or handle the predicted influx of pleasure boats even a complete end to sanctions. Pittsburgh heading south once the travel ban ends. International Airport seems to be in this cate - U.S. Coast Guard figures show that at least JAMAICA: U.S. MARKET STILL UNTAPPED gory of applicants. 600,000 boats in Florida alone are capable of Jamaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bart- “Travel to Cuba is not a priority for us right making the 90-mile sea voyage to Cuba. The lett told CubaNews that he’s not too worried now. But we wanted to make ourselves avail - concern is that opening a floodgate of vessels about the travel ban’s eventual demise. able,” said PIT spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny. may rapidly inundate Cuba’s few marinas. “English-speaking tourists are far more Meanwhile, more airports are applying to The representatives — Commodore José comfortable with English-speaking destina - host Cuba flights including Houston’s George Miguel Díaz Escrich of Cuba’s Marinas y tions,” he said during a recent visit to Wash- Bush Intercontinental. CBP said it will keep Náuticas Marlin ington. “When there is a choice of similar authorizing airports that met requirements. SA, Dale Westin of products, invariably the destination with the That’s infuriated Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), the Port Authority same language gets the benefit of the doubt.” a Cuban-American who opposes expanded of Jamaica and He added that Jamaica enjoys the highest travel to Cuba and any easing of sanctions. Neville Scott of the rate of return visitors in the Caribbean — 42%. Along with Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Cayman Islands — “The loyalty factor is huge,” said Bartlett. Rubio recently sponsored an amendment that say any relaxation “You go to any beach in Jamaica today, and I would ban new U.S. charters to countries des - of the U.S. travel assure you that one out of every two people ignated state sponsors of terrorism by the ban to Cuba would you talk to has been to Jamaica at least once State Department, which includes Cuba. effectively create a before. I have America, the world’s largest The lawmakers failed in their attempts to new Caribbean market, at my doorstep. There are so many attach the amendment to a Federal Aviation cruising ground gateways we have not yet opened.” Administration authorization bill. While Rubio encompassing the Rafael Romeu, author of an IMF study on and Menendez vow to keep fighting for their three countries. that subject, suggested that Cuba’s opening legislation, it probably won’t win enough sup - The three offi - Jamaica’s Edmund Bartlett will prove a mixed bag for nearby islands. port in the Senate. q cials also agreed to “They would gain from redirected Canad- form a Caribbean Marine Trades Association ians and Europeans who now vacation in Washington-based journalist Ana Radelat has that would serve as an umbrella group to pro - Cuba,” he says. “But heavily U.S.-dependent been covering Cuba-related issues on Capitol Hill mote yachting tourism to the Central and destinations that do not have the ability to for CubaNews since the newsletter’s birth in 1993. Western Caribbean. capture redirected Canadians and Europeans displaced by U.S. tourists will lose. Some of CHARTER SERVICE PROVIDERS PUERTO RICO, VIRGIN ISLANDS NOT WORRIED the most vulnerable include the Turks & Cai- ASC International USA (Tampa) Today, the Eastern Caribbean — consisting cos Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cancún A Better Choice Travel (Miami) of the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto and perhaps Jamaica.” Aero Leasing Inc. (Ft. Lauderdale) Rico, the Bahamas and smaller islands south CASINOS IN CUBA: BACK TO THE FUTURE Air MarBrisa (Tampa) to Trinidad & Tobago — is far more signifi - Airline Brokers Co. (Coral Gables, FL) cant when it comes to yachting. I. Nelson Rose, one of the world’s top ex- American Airlines Inc. (Fort Worth, TX) Lisa Hamilton, president of the USVI Hotel perts on gambling law, predicts Cuba will C&T Charters Inc. (Coral Gables, FL) & Tourism Association, said she’s not espe - have casinos within the next 10 years. Continental Airlines Inc. (Houston) cially worried that the Virgin Islands will suf - “The initial breakthrough will probably Corporate Air Charters (Homestead, FL) fer once U.S. tourists flock to Cuba. take place on cruise ships, with casinos, re- Cuba Travel Services (Long Beach, CA) “This Cuba opening has been talked about turning to the Port of Havana,” he wrote in RGT Online, a gambling site. “Initially, gam - Cuba Travel USA (Metairie, LA) for years,” she said. “There might be some ing will only be permitted on the high seas. DMI Travel (New Orleans) impact on our demand, but we have a very distinct market — the U.S. Northeast — that But it is a short step from there to allowing Delta Airlines Inc. (Atlanta) will continue to be loyal to the Virgin Islands.” casinos to be open while ships are docked.” Golden Air Charters Inc. (Miami) Mario Gonzalez, executive director of the Rose said it’s relatively easy to distinguish Gulfstream Air Charter Inc. (Ft. Lauderdale) Puerto Rico Tourism Company, feels much the increasingly popular bingo devices from Island Travel & Tours Ltd. (San Diego) the same way. true slot machines, at least for political cover. MK Cuba LLC (Coral Gables, FL) “The opening of Cuba to the U.S. market “True casinos, with true slots and table Machi Community Services Inc. (Miami) for tourism will have an impact on the number games, are common in much of Central and Marazul Charters Inc. (Miami) of visitors we’ll receive in Puerto Rico. South America, but even more so in the Carib- Margo Travel Inc. (New York) However, that impact won’t be as harsh as bean. A free Cuba will quickly allow casinos to National Jets Inc. (Ft. Lauderdale) some may perceive — no more than 50,000 reopen in high-quality hotels designed for — Personal Jet Charter Inc. (Ft. Lauderdale) the first year,” said González, citing a study and possibly even limited to — tourists.” Tico Travel (St. Petersburg, FL) done on that specific possibility. Asked about future competition from ViajeHoy Charters (Miami) “You need to conduct studies based on sup - Havana, Michele Paige, executive director of Wilson International Services Inc. (Miami) ply currently available in Cuba, rather than the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, Xael Travel Servies (Miami) how many people will want to go,” he said. said the Cuba factor could cut either way. Yellow Air Taxi (Ft. Lauderdale) “The important thing isn’t only the number “There’s a lot of pent-up demand for Cuba, of people who come to your island, but the and as cruise executives we’re excited about NOTE: In last month’s issue of CubaNews, we quality of customers and what type of expen - the prospect,” she said. “Once Cuba opens up inadvertently forgot to include Cuba Travel Servi- ditures they make. With the development of and as soon as it’s feasible, the cruise indus - ces Inc. of Long Beach, Calif., in a listing of U.S. the high-end luxury market, we’ll be attract - try will be there. We’re very successful at tak - government-approved Charter Service Providers. ing a specific segment of the market that ing passengers where they want to go.” We reprint the list here and regret the omission. q 4 CubaNews v April 2011 US-CUBA RELATIONS Alan Gross, sentenced to 15 years, may sue ex-employer BY LARRY LUXNER man, Malcolm Hoenlein, told Castro in a letter through Judy if I should look forward to jump - ith former President Jimmy Carter that “Mr. Gross has lived his life following the ing back into this matter with you upon my visiting Havana’s Jewish community Jewish teachings of tikkun olam [repairing the release,” he told his friend. “Between my legal Was this issue of went to world] as demonstrated by the multiple huma- costs plus supplementing Shira’s medical CubaNews press, speculation is growing that Alan Gross nitarian projects he has developed around the insurance, I will definitely need to generate — despite the 15-year jail sentence imposed world — from the Middle East to Latin revenue ASAP.” on him Mar. 12 by a Cuban court — could be America. His work has touched and improved Interestingly, Gross’s Cuban-appointed law- released on humanitarian grounds in a matter the lives of thousands of people. If his work yer at his trial was Nuris Piñero Sierra, who of weeks or even days. had any political implications, this was some - also represents the families of five Cuban There’s also talk the Gross family may file a thing he did not, or could not, appreciate.” intelligence agents being held in U.S. prisons lawsuit against Maryland-based Development The Gross family’s attorney, Peter Kahn, a for having spied against the United States. Alternatives Inc. for having sent the 61-year- partner at the D.C. law firm of Williams & Miami lawyer Tim Ashby, a well-known old telecom expert to Cuba in the first place. Connolly LLP, did not returnd phone calls. Cuba consultant who has followed the Gross During his Havana trial, Gross accused DAI But in a statement, Kahn — who represent - case carefully, said he doubts the Obama administration would agree to release the so- of “having endangered him and ruining the ed Israel during the 1987 Jonathan Pollard spy case — said: “Alan’s health continues to dete - called “Cuban 5” in exchange for Gross — lives and economy of his family,” according to though other deals may be in the works. a court statement read on Cuban state TV. riorate as a result of his dramatic weight loss, other physical ailments and the extreme men - “The Cuban government absolutely does Gross was arrested in December 2009 not view him as an evil agent of the CIA. He while on a USAID-backed project to spread tal stress and anguish he continues to endure. “The recent lung cancer diagnosis of his was portrayed during the trial as a victim, not democracy in Cuba. Both his wife Judy and as an intelligence operative,” said Ashby. the U.S. government insisted he went there to elderly mother and his 26-year-old daughter’s ongoing recovery from a double mastectomy “I’m almost positive that Alan and Judy help the island’s 1,500-member Jewish com - Gross would say nice things about the Cuban munity connect to the Internet. have created an even more urgent need for Alan to be reunited with his family.” government once he gets out,” Ashby said. But the regime accused him of setting up an “He does believe he was used, and he’ll say illegal satellite communications network and nasty things about USAID and that he was “crimes against the integrity of the state.” CUBA NEVER VIEWED GROSS AS ‘EVIL CIA AGENT’ Gross cited his daughter’s illness in a hand - treated well by the Cubans. That could be part DAI occupies the five top floors of a modern of a deal. I’ve heard from a number of sources office building along Wisconsin Avenue in written letter he wrote in August to a Mary- land friend. He was lodged in Havana’s Carlos that he will be released in a matter of months.” downtown Bethesda, Md., where it has 300 Ashby says it’s “very likely” that the Gross employees. Federal records show that from J. Finlay Military Hospital at the time. “I am basically OK and my captors have family could sue DAI even while the prisoner 2000 and 2009, the company won more than — who’s appealing his sentence to Cuba’s $2.7 billion in USAID contracts around the been making improvements in conditions here for the last several months,” said the let - Supreme Court — remains incarcerated. world, for projects in countries ranging from “It wouldn’t hurt him, not in the least. In fact Afghanistan to Honduras to the Philippines. ter, scrawled on a yellow legal pad. “Naturally, I am becoming increasingly anxious to come it could actually help him, because it would DAI President James Boomgard couldn’t be further his case in that Gross was an unwilling reached for comment; nor could Judy Gross. home, especially after learning that my older daughter is now battling breast cancer. dupe,” said Ashby. “It could have gone ex- And while spokesman Steven O’Connor tremely badly. If he were a younger man, they wouldn’t say whether the Gross family has Timing is never good for this kind of battle.” Gross also discussed a pending business could have put him in prison and thrown away filed a lawsuit against his firm, he did express the key. But that’s not going to happen.” q hope the case would be resolved soon. project involving Palestinian-Israeli trade that “We’re all too aware of the ordeal Alan has he was anxious to continue pursuing once he Washington-based journalist and photographer been through over the past 16 months and we gained his freedom. “Please let me know Larry Luxner is the editor of CubaNews. have nothing but sympathy and respect for him and his family,” he told CubaNews . “We’re also aware of various misconcep - tions that have crept into media coverage of Richardson outlines steps to better ties the case. While we would like to address these he United States and Cuba won’t see believe this man should be released. That issues, now is not the time. Right now, our pri - any improvement in their hostile rela - should be the next step,” Richardson said. orities are to say nothing that might jeopard - Ttionship until Maryland resident Alan “Beyond that, there are other steps the ize Alan’s standing in what remains a highly Gross is freed from his Havana jail cell and United States should consider taking.” sensitive legal and political situation, and to allowed to come home. Among them: removing Cuba from the keep the focus on efforts to bring Alan home.” That’s the word from Bill Richardson — State Department’s list of state sponsors of former member of Congress, U.S. ambassa - terrorism; expanding cooperation on oil JEWISH GROUPS ASK RAÚL TO LET GROSS GO dor to the United Nations during the Clinton spills and other common environmental The continued incarceration of Gross in a administration and popular two-term gover - threats; lifting restrictions on U.S. citizens Havana military hospital has received world - nor of New Mexico who is now U.S. envoy opening bank accounts for their families in wide media attention because of the damage it to the Organization of American States. Cuba, and allowing U.S firms to export tele - has done to U.S.-Cuba relations. Richardson, speaking Feb. 15 at a Brook- com equipment to the island. It’s also spurred the Conference of Presi- ings Institution event on Cuba, has been to “If they let Gross go, it will open a huge dents of Major American Jewish Organiza- the island three times in the last 18 months, panoply of potential discussions that will tions — which speaks for 51 Jewish groups — among other troubleshooting missions that lead to continued progress. Without talking to appeal directly to President Raúl Castro to have taken him to hotspots from North about a quid pro quo , the last good move was release Gross for time already served. Korea to Iraq to Sudan over the years. the president’s [relaxing of] travel restric - Conference of Presidents Chairman Alan “The Cubans need to free Alan Gross. I See Richardson, page 7 Solow and the group’s executive vice-chair - April 2011 v CubaNews 5

POLITICAL BRIEFS PROSECUTION CONCLUDES CASE AGAINST POSADA In their own words … The prosecution rested its case Mar. 24 in the “We have expanded remittances, we expanded travel, we have sent a strong Luís Posada Carriles perjury trial after 11 weeks signal to the Cuban people. The Cuban government made some gestures about and 23 witnesses, reported The Miami Herald . releasing political prisoners and starting some market-based economies with “The United States has concluded its case in small business opportunities. [But] we haven’t seen as much follow-through as chief and, at least for now, the government rests,” we would like.” lead prosecutor T. J. Reardon III told the jury and — , U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone, the federal President Barack Obama discussing his Cuba policy with Miami Herald columnist judge presiding over the case. Andrés Oppenheimer during an exclusive interview Mar. 23 in El Salvador. Prosecution witnesses included a former New reporter, Ann Louise Bardach, who said “When I slowly and partially recovered my health, it never crossed my mind York Times that I needed to formally and expressly resign from any position.” the Cuban exile militant claimed credit for bomb - ings in Cuba in 1997 and two Cuban government — Fidel Castro , in a Mar. 23 opinion piece explaining his revelation the previous day officials — Lt. Col. Roberto Hernández Caballero that he has not been in charge of Cuba’s Communist Party for the past five years. and Dr. Ileana Vizcaino Dime — who described the bombings and the autopsy of the sole fatal vic - “This is a symbolic endorsement of his brother’s leadership. The shadow of tim, Italian tourist Fabio Di Celmo. Fidel has been removed symbolically and otherwise. If this revolution — good The witnesses’ statements are central to the gov - or bad — is going to survive, it needs to go the next step, and the next step is ernment’s case against Posada, who was indicted without Fidel, and then past Raúl.” for lying about his alleged role in the bombings. — Andy Gómez , senior fellow at the University of Miami’s Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies, telling the Miami Herald what Fidel’s declaration means. PROVINCIAL STATE LAYOFFS WAY BEHIND SCHEDULE Cuba’s program to slash 500,000 state jobs has “The truth is, Raul’s experience with young leaders hasn’t been very good barely gotten off the ground in the provinces, as these past few years, so I think he will name a historic figure. That said, if the officials deal with anger over the layoffs, Reuters’ younger generation could take a step forward it would be a great signal, includ - Marc Frank reported Mar. 8 from Camagüey. ing for Raúl, that things are finally moving and Cuba’s long paralysis is over.” Confusion about how to implement the cuts, a — Eduardo Bueno , professor of international relations at Mexico’s Iberoamerican lack of alternative jobs and worker resistance have University, speculating on who might head the Communist Party from this point on. led President Raúl Castro to drop a deadline to carry out the plan by the end of March. “Prior to the events of Feb. 24, 1996, and up to the present time, I knew and Some 3,000 jobs have been cut in Granma pro- know nothing about any alleged plan to shoot down aircraft of the Brothers to vince since the program started in October, a simi - the Rescue. None of the actions that I did take in advance of Feb. 24, 1996, were lar number in adjacent Santiago de Cuba and 1,000 intended to be part of any such alleged plan, nor was I aware that any of my in Camagüey province, local officials told Reuters. actions would contribute to any such alleged plan, if it existed.” But that’s just 10% of the 70,000 jobs to be elimi- — Convicted Cuban spy Gerardo Hernández , 45, declaring his innocence in a sworn nated in the three provinces — and already the ex- statement asking a Miami federal court to throw out his life sentence for murder. perience has proved wrenching for a society that viewed secure jobs as guaranteed for life. “The announcement that 9 new U.S. airports have been authorized to provide “We never know now if tomorrow we will wake air service to Cuba highlights the preferential treatment given air over ocean up with a job or not and it was never like that passenger service. There is a need for ferry service to Cuba. It is fundamental before,” said a middle-aged woman in Santiago de to this country’s values that people be allowed that choice and that the govern - Cuba, asking Reuters that her name not be used. ment does not favor one element of the transportation industry over another.” — Daniel Berrebi , chairman of United Americas Shipping, which seeks to operate a ACLU SEEKS HIGH COURT’S HELP TO NIX FLORIDA LAW daily overnight South Florida-Havana ferry (see CubaNews, March 2011, page 3). The U.S. Supreme Court may weigh in on Florida’s controversial ban against scholarly travel “We welcome the release of the last of the 75 peaceful Cuban activists who to Cuba and three other countries, the South were unjustly arrested for exercising their universal rights and fundamental Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Mar. 15. freedoms during the 2003 ‘Black Spring’ crackdown. The release of political The law, passed by the Legislature and signed prisoner is a step in the right direction. However, human rights conditions in by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2006, bans faculty and stu - Cuba remain poor. The Cuban government continues to limit fundamental free - dents at public colleges and universities from doms, including freedom of speech, the press, and peaceful assembly.” using public or private dollars to travel to any — State Department’s Mark Toner , commenting on Cuba’s latest prisoner release. country deemed a sponsor of terrorists. The law currently applies to Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria. “Yes he did, in a hundred ways he admits to the bombing campaign. He was A U.S. district judge ruled the law unconstitu- proud this was a success, minus the death.” tional but the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals over - — , turned it in 2008. Now, the American Civil Liber- Former New York Times correspondent Ann Louise Bardach who interviewed Luís ties Union wants the U.S. Supreme Court to rule. Posada Carriles in 1998. Posada, on trial for perjury, now denies any role in the “This law allows Florida to be the only state in 1997 bombings against Cuban tourist sites in which an Italian tourist was killed. the country with its own foreign policy which runs over, above and contrary to the foreign poli - “Cyberwar is not a war of bombs and bullets, but of information, communica - cy of the United States,” argued Howard Simon, tion, algorithms and bytes. It is the new form of invasion that has originated in the developed world.” executive director of ACLU Florida. “Having 50 individual states setting individual policies for — Narrator on Cuban TV attacking blogger Yoani Sánchez. The Mar. 22 travel, commerce and communication with foreign program aired in the wake of the trial of USAID subcontractor Alan Gross. nations is a clear violation of federal law — not to mention foolish and dangerous.” 6 CubaNews v April 2011 TOURISM Esencia plans luxury Carbonera golf resort near Varadero BY LARRY LUXNER “Today, the only one left is London. It’s This is the 5th in a series of special report s on been very successful,” Macdonald told us. he 2011 Esencia & Montecristo Cup golf and marina projects in Cuba. For more in- golf tournaments — to be held Apr. 15- “That’s what we’ve been doing while we were T formation, contact Johnny Considine, marketing developing relationships in Cuba.” 16 in Varadero — will attract top-ranked manager, Esencia Hotels & Resorts, Provident golfers from many countries including Great Esencia’s 50-50 joint venture with Palmares House, Suite #7, Havilland Street, St. Peter Port, focuses on golf, he explained, “because of Britain, Canada, Spain, China, Vietnam and Guernsey GY1 2QE, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 South Korea. 1481 714898. Email: [email protected]. Cuba’s desire to attract a more discerning, The event is being hosted by the Varadero higher level of tourist. Obviously, we have a Golf Club and Palmares SA together with but also 650 mixed villas and apartments. lot of experience in golf, being a British sport. Esencia Hotels & Resorts, whose planned There will also be a luxurious 120-bed, five- In Scotland alone, we have 650 golf courses $300 million Carbonera Country Club aims to star boutique hotel “and quite a lot of restau - and only five million people.” become Cuba’s premier golfing destination. rants, not only for the residents but also for The new resort will be located about 15 other tourists and people coming from U.K. IS WORLD’S TOP SOURCE OF GOLF TOURISM minutes west of the existing Varadero Golf Havana to spend the day,” said Macdonald. Despite the lack of substantial trade Club, currently Cuba’s only 18-hole professio- The 45-year-old Scottish entrepreneur told between the two countries, the fact is that nal golf course. us he’s been coming to Cuba for the last eight Great Britain is the second-largest source of “We’ve been working on this for over three years. Among other ventures, his company tourism to Cuba after Canada. It also sends years, and the project is now in the final owns the brand license for the Floridita, a more golf tourists abroad (six million last stages of approval,” Esencia’s CEO, Andrew popular restaurant in London patterned after year) than any country in the world. Macdonald, said by phone from Spain. “We’ve its famous namesake in Old Havana. “So that combination of factors represents been told informally that the Ministry of “We had a very successful restaurant in an interesting possibility,” Macdonald said. Tourism will approve four projects in the first Madrid, but had to close it because of the eco - Due to Europe’s lingering economic crisis, he wave, and that we’re one of the four.” nomic downturn. We also had one in Dublin, told CubaNews , “we’re not going to see expo - Esencia’s oceanfront project encompasses but sadly our partners there — TRG, one of nential, huge growth in British tourism to 170 hectares and includes not only a 70-hec- Ireland’s biggest restaurant and pub compa - Cuba this year, but our fingers are crossed tare PGA championship 18-hole golf course nies — went bankrupt,” he told CubaNews. See Carbonera, page 7 April 2011 v CubaNews 7 will be distributed over the site; with ground- energy partnership is now in the works, Carbonera — FROM PAGE 6 floor apartments (covering 148 square thanks to Wilson’s efforts. that the worst is over.” meters) enjoying access to their own walled It goes without saying that Carbonera will Tourists staying at the Carbonera Country garden space. utilize the latest in renewable energy technol - Club — named after a nearby village that’s Carbonera is “quite small” compared to ogy, said Macdonald. currently home to 90 people — will obviously Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic, said “With such a big development, it would be be well-heeled. While Macdonald didn’t spec - Macdonald. “Maybe it’s because we’re quite unethical not to make it as environmentally ify how much rooms at the boutique hotel conservative. But we feel very comfortable friendly as possible,” he told CubaNews. “All will cost per night, he did say that Club with the size. It’s small and manageable.” the buildings, villas and apartments will have Havana charges foreigners living in Cuba their own solar panels. And the golf courses around $2,500 a year to use its facilities, and ESENCIA HOPES TO BREAK EVEN IN 3-4 YEARS will be irrigated by seawater.” that “we’ll be above that.” Macdonald estimated Esencia’s investment Esencia’s partners include Galeon, a prop - In fact, he said, “one of the things we want in the $300 million project at around $100 mil - erty asset management boutique focusing on to create is a colonial, art-deco feel. You lion. He expects to recoup that investment the Spanish and Latin markets; One Works, a might think Carbonera Country Club has within three or four years, and hopes to break leading Italian architecture, infrastructure been here for the last 60 years. You won’t see ground sometime this year. Once that hap - and urban engineering practice, and PGA modern designs in this project.” pens, buildout will take another 28 months. Design Consulting, which serves the 7,000- According to Esencia’s website, the luxury “Everybody is overwhelmed by the level of member PGA of Great Britain and Ireland. villas by Rafael de La-Hoz will boast “tradi - technical understanding. Our experience is Also involved are global real-estate service tional colonial architecture, stunning airy among equals,” he said when asked about Savills, the architectural and interior design interiors, sleek fixtures and stylish decor.” Esencia’s venture with Palmares. “In terms of studio Conran & Partners, and Madrid-based Homes will include two-story, three-bed - doing business with Cuba, once there’s a rela - Rafael de La-Hoz architectural studio. room properties ranging from 180 to 220 tionship of trust, doing business is enjoyable “This is one of the most exciting projects square meters, arranged in small clusters and fairly swift.” we have been involved with for some time,” with individual shared pools. Four- and five- Macdonald also has interests in Cuba’s po- said Sir Terence Conran, founder of Conran & bedroom villas will range from 300 to 500 tential for renewable energy. The company’s Partners. “It is something new for Cuba and square meters, some with private pools. chairman is a former member of parliament, something new for us as architects and Apartments will be available in one, two Brian Wilson. Scotland is seen as a European designers. I look forward to being able to and three bedrooms, duplexes and penthous - center of research into renewable energy, par - smoke a few cigars on my balcony with a es forming a traditional Spanish village with ticularly biomass — and a Scottish-Cuban glass of fine Cuban rum.” q integrated shops, bars, restaurants and pools. Separately, the Conran Residences — situ - ated in their own community within the Carbonera Club — will consist of clusters of Big hotels threaten Varadero’s charm three or four three-story buildings around a BY DALIA ACOSTA / INTER PRESS SERVICE “The decision has already been reached.” shared courtyard pool. “There are contradictory versions,” Two, three and four-bedroom apartments mportant architectural works from the modern movement are expected to be Roberto Fernández García, a poet who lives Idemolished as a result of the expansion in Varadero, said in an email message that of massive hotel complexes, which will re- sums up the results of his inquiries and PGA objects to Cuba deal place the original landscape in Varadero, those of others interested in the case. Leisure Canada Inc. and the Professional Cuba’s most famous beach resort. Fernández García said officials told him Golfers’ Association Ltd. of the United The alert was first sounded in 2010 when that the Hotel Internacional, which opened Kingdom on Mar. 14 unveiled an exclusive rumors began to spread about the demoli - on Dec. 24, 1950, “is very old, small and old- agreement to develop golf facilities in Cuba. tion of the Hotel Internacional and the Ho- fashioned, with few rooms, and no longer Leisure Canada has three luxury resort tel Club Cabañas del Sol, two 1950s struc - meets the requirements of today’s tourism.” projects under various stages of develop - tures located in Varadero, 140 km east of He said the 161-room hotel would be de- ment in Havana, Jibacoa and Cayo Largo Havana in the province of Matanzas. molished to build, on the same site, a mod - (see CubaNews, February 2011, page 6-7) . Two statements issued by ICOMOS, the ern 800-room structure. Cabañas del Sol, “The PGA looks forward to working with Cuban branch of the International Council other tourist installations from the first half Leisure Canada and their Cuban partners on Monuments and Sites, have received no of the 20th century — when architects of to bring world-class golf facilities to Cuba,” response, architect Jorge Fornés told IPS. the modern movement were seeking a said Guy Moran, the PGA’s head of proper - Fornés is chair of the National Commit- fresh expression of the Cuban identity — ty and development. “Working with the gov - tee of ICOMOS, an independent NGO that and buildings in the old city in Varadero ernment and the people of Cuba, we hope works closely with UNESCO and is dedicat - also apparently face the same fate. to further develop the game of golf for the ed to conserving the world’s historic monu - But the Matanzas office of the historian benefit of tourist and Cubans alike.” ments and sites. offered a different explanation. But PGA of America objects to the deal, “Independently of any decisions, I have According to a message circulated by the saying it never authorized use of the PGA no doubt as an architect that it is not neces - Cofradía de la Negritud, a NGO represent - mark and that “we intend to pursue all legal sary to eliminate something valuable to ing black people, in this case the response avenues to prevent the use of this mark for build something new. If there is interest in was that “the hotel’s plumbing system is in this project in Cuba.” preserving a valuable piece of heritage, a state of collapse, so it is more economical In a Mar. 18 press statement, it declared there is always a way to do so,” he added, to demolish it and build from scratch, than that “PGA of America adheres to the poli - citing cases like the conservation of colonial to repair it.” cies of the United States ... which limits fortifications in Old Havana. But tourism authorities did not mention American businesses from conducting bus- Nor have demands from intellectuals and poor structural condition to the hotel’s iness with Cuban interests.” academics, mainly circulated by email, re- employees. “They told us the hotel would Details: J.J. Jennex, Investor Relations Dir., ceived an official public response from the be demolished because of environmental Leisure Canada Inc, Vancouver, BC .Tel: (888) Tourism Ministry or Cuban media. An em- regulations, and that it was useless to turn 600-8687. URL: www.leisurecanada.com. ployee at the Hotel Internacional told IPS, See Varadero, page 15 8 CubaNews v April 2011 NEWSMAKERS Commodore Díaz Escrich pushes marina development BY DOREEN HEMLOCK “But on the other hand, we’re also grateful Federal Regulatory Compliance Services. hen it comes to marinas and recre - to the president of the United States, because Ashby said he’s spoken with many potential ational boating, Cuba could do well to we’re not ready to handle the number of U.S. investors about marinas in Cuba and found Wgo back to the future, the chief of boats that would come [if they could visit].” interest even from private equity groups on Cuba’s largest marina group told yacht enthu - Boaters attending the presentation asked Wall Street. But they’re waiting for Washing- siasts at the Miami International Boat Show. about rules for investing in Cuban marinas ton to end its travel restrictions — an unlikely Before 1960, Cuba had a thriving boating and resort projects, raising concerns that prospect until after the 2012 elections. industry and shined as a global pioneer in de- Cuba’s government might expropriate prop - “The Obama administration is running veloping a residential-marine community, erties as it did in the 1960s. scared” about alienating Cuban-American vot - complete with canals and homes with docks. The commodore said Cuba’s days of expro - ers and donors in Florida and New Jersey by Half a century R later, Cuba — E N X with its myriad U L

offshore keys — Y R R has just 15 mari - A nas with 814 L slips. It received only 2,000 for - eign pleasure - craft last year, less than it once did and far less than it could, said José Miguel Díaz Escrich, presi - dent of Cuba’s Grupo Empre- sarial de Marinas y Náutica Marlin SA. “Cuba has great potential for nautical tourism,” he told several dozen people in Commodore José Miguel Díaz Escrich (left) and the Marina Hemingway Yacht Club, which he manages. Spanish at the Feb. 18 event in Miami Beach. Díaz Escrich helped launch and has long run the Hemingway International Yacht Club, which opened in 1992 as an NGO and the “We’re sad and disappointed that American boaters can’t visit Cuba. country’s first yacht club in decades. The club now has more than 2,000 mem - But on the other hand, we’re also grateful to the president bers from 60 countries. It provides all its own of the United States, because we’re not ready to handle the funding, with “not one cent from the Cuban government,” the commodore said. number of U.S. boats that would come [if Americans could visit]. ” More recently, Díaz Escrich also became president of the Marlin group, which actively — JOSÉ MIGUEL DÍAZ ESCRICH, PRESIDENT OF CUBA’S GRUPO MARINAS Y NÁUTICA MARLIN SA promotes new marine projects. Those include bringing charter boat companies to Cuba, developing scuba and fishing resorts, adding priation are long gone, as Havana instead opening up too much with Cuba, said Ashby. new marinas and expanding existing ones. seeks out foreign investment to boost its Chances are uncertain even for Washing- Development plans are ambitious both for economy. He quoted President Raúl Castro, ton to ease approvals for U.S. yachts and Marlin and for Gaviota SA, a Cuban conglom - who has said Cuba must reform. crews to participate in regattas with Cuba, as erate that also runs marinas. Marlin envisions Still, investing in Cuba has some limits now they did during the Clinton administration. the Hemingway Marina adding 500 slips, its – beyond Washington’s embargo on U.S. busi - Ashby said he worked with the Sarasota Varadero marina adding 400, and its Tarara ness. The Cuban government prefers joint Yacht Club for the past two years seeking marina adding 200 slips. ventures with foreign investors. approval to join in a Cuba regatta, with no suc - Meanwhile, Gaviota has already started on And it won’t allow foreign individuals to buy cess. The Treasury Department’s Office of a marina near Varadero area that’ll have 1,200 homes at marina resorts, recently offering Foreign Asset Controls, which oversees the slips, making it one of the Caribbean’s largest leases on the properties for up to 99 years, U.S. embargo, never turned down the Sara- marinas, said Díaz Escrich. said Antonio Zamora, a Cuban-American sota request. “They just sit on it,” Ashby said. These projects are being developed with lawyer who helped organize the event. Once the U.S. restrictions are lifted, Ashby foreign partners, “who bring not only capital is especially bullish on foreign investment at but know-how and markets to Cuba,” he said. LIFTING OF U.S. TRAVEL BAN IS KEY TO SUCCESS the Hemingway Marina, the 1950s residential- They look toward a day when Americans — Other consultants active on Cuba agree marine community that was a pioneer in its the largest potential market for Cuba — can there’s great potential for Cuban marinas. But day and now seems “frozen in time.” He sees freely visit the island without restrictions. some see key U.S., Latin American and Euro- opportunity to dredge the canals, add condos “We’re sad and disappointed that American pean investment all waiting until Washington and expand docks. boaters can’t visit Cuba,” Díaz Escrich said in lifts travel and business restrictions. Yet Díaz Escrich wants non-American in- Spanish, pointing to opportunities for thou - “Now there’s no demand for marinas in vestors to act sooner to help Cuba prepare for sands of boats from South Florida alone to Cuba. They need American visitors,” said Tim U.S. boaters. He’s already taking with Spain’s cross the straits to Cuban waters. Ashby, chief executive of Miami-based See Marinas, page 13 April 2011 v CubaNews 9 MEDICINE Cuban doctors use immigration loophole to get into U.S. BY VITO ECHEVARRÍA ily Center of Rochester, N.Y., to help them get Details: Solidaridad Sin Frontera Inc., Blanche nybody who’s checked into a hospital or Morton Neighborhood Services Center, 300 East 1st professionally re-established in this country. clinic in South Florida in recent years Ave., Suite #124, Hialeah, FL 33010-4808. Tel: Sometimes, former doctors have to settle for Ahas probably noticed an increase in the work as surgical assistants and nurses. (305) 884-4110. Email: [email protected] or number of Cuban health-care professionals. [email protected]. URL: http://helpexperts.org. The most prominent organization involved Chances are, these doctors and nurses are with such immigrants is Solidaridad Sin not U.S.-born exiles but more recent arrivals denied that former President George W. Bush Fronteras Inc., based in Hialeah, a predomi - from Cuba itself. personally gave the order to set it up. nantly Cuban suburb of Miami. In 2006, the State Department and the De- Rhatigan said that as of December 2010, a Also known as Health Experts Leadership partment of Homeland Security (DHS) initiat - total of 1,574 Cubans had entered the United Program (HELP), the group comprises 2,543 ed the Cuban Medical Professional Parole States thanks to CMPP, with the largest num - health-care professionals and is headed by (CMPP) program. It’s administered by U.S. ber coming from Venezuela (824), followed by Cuban exile physician Julio César Alfonso. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), Colombia (291). He established HELP in 2004 to secure an agency within DHS. work permits at U.S. hospitals for Cubans— USCIS uses this program to convince FINDING JOBS iN MIAMI ALSO A CHALLENGE mainly by offering them courses on how to pass medical exams, and by providing finan - Cuban doctors, nurses, paramedics, physical Various press reports suggest that Colom- therapists, lab technicians and sports trainers cial aid to cover the costs of those exams. bia’s second-place ranking occurred not be- Alfonso, who arrived from Cuba in 1999, to defect to the United States. cause Cuban doctors were initially sent there To qualify, these health-care professionals told us in his group has helped 430 Cuban by Havana, but because they couldn’t leave doctors resettle in the Miami area. In addi - — who can approach any U.S. embassy on the neighboring Venezuela by legal means. That globe — must already be working or studying tion, HELP has assisted nurses, medical assis - forced them to cross overland to Colombia, tants and technicians find temporary work as in a third country under contract with the their point of departure for the United States. Cuban government. Additionally, they may waiters or warehouse employees until they According to USCIS, Cuban health-care were able to land jobs in their specific fields. not have criminal records. professionals were also granted visas from In effect, CMPP is the one exception to Back in 2003, long before CMPP came Bolivia (60), Ecuador (28), Dominican Repub- along, HELP set up its “Barrio Afuera” pro - existing immigration law, which — aside from lic (30), Guatemala (25) and Brazil (21). the 20,000 immigrant visas issued annually by gram for doctors flee Havana’s overseas med - the U.S. Interests Section in Havana — only Visas were also handed out to Cubans liv - ical missions. allow Cubans into the United States after their ing in 58 other countries including Timor- This assistance came in the form of every - arrival on U.S. soil via land or sea. Leste, Qatar and Namibia. thing from safe houses in host countries to Rhatigan also acknowledged the limits of food and cash to facilitate their trip to the U.S. DENYING CASTRO A ‘PROPAGANDA VICTORY’ the program. “They are paroled into the coun - — with some of that coming from Venezuelan try,” she told CubaNews . “As far as direct doctors opposed to the Chávez regime. CMPP is the creation of Emilio González, a involvement with [getting them] job opportu - q former U.S. Army colonel who headed USCIS nities we do not do that.” from 2006 to 2008 and is now president and Vito Echevarria, a New York-based freelance That’s why these Cubans have had to rely journalist, writes regularly for CubaNews about CEO of the U.S. subsidiary of Spanish high- on private nonprofit groups like Catholic Fam- tech firm Indra Sistemas SA. business, e-commerce, the arts and entertainment. González is a longtime critic of the Castro regime’s medical diplomacy initiatives that have resulted in thousands of Cuban doctors and health-care professionals being sent N.Y. professor criticizes ‘Barrio Adentro’ around the world, but mostly to Venezuela uban-American academic Angela Had- enough for the Cuban people. Cuban com - under the Chávez government’s “Barrio dad, associate provost at New York’s plaints about declining health services and CBarnard College, has studied Venezu- access to family doctors is confirmed by the Adentro” program. “These people were being abused by the ela’s “Barrio Adentro” program rise in emergency room visits to Cuban government,” González told CubaNews extensively. polyclinics, the rise in maternal — referring to low pay and poor work ing con - She’s also spoken about the mortality, and the decline in outpa - ditions the doctors often endured in Vene- harsh working conditions and tient medical consultations.” zuela and elsewhere. “We want to deny the lousy pay Cubans grapple with In 2004, said Cuba’s Oficina Cuban government any propaganda victory in in Venezuela — and the pro - Nacional de Estadísticas, there using these doctors abroad.” gram’s negative impact on Cuba were 18,893 emergency-room vis - Partly because of the Chavez regime’s itself. its, rising to 22,256 by 2006. interest in keeping Cuban doctors in “Cubans complained that Although the number had declined Venezuela, local immigration authorities have they’re being pushed into clin - by 2009, it was still well above 2004 reportedly prevented would-be defectors ics [ever] since the government levels. from leaving — even when they had visas began sending doctors to In contrast, during the same issued by the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. Venezuela,” Haddad told us in five-year time period, the number Similar practices have reportedly occurred an email. Barnard’s of outpatient medical consultations in other countries benefiting from Cuban gen - “Many Cubans I spoke with Angela Haddad rose from 42,997 in 2004 to 54,568. erosity in the past, such as Zimbabwe. That, complained that before they Between 2004 and 2006, Cuba says González, made CMPP necessary. could see their doctor whenever they also reported a jump in maternal “It’s a big shame that Cuban professionals pleased and now they had to wait. mortality rates, from 38.5 to 49.4 per must do this to feed their families,” he said. “They also expressed dismay that the Cu- 100,000 live births. In 2009, the rate had USCIS spokeswoman Chris Rhatigan told ban government exported medicine and as- climbed to 46.9, well above 2004 levels. CubaNews that the CMPP program came from sistance to Latin America, but there was not – VITO ECHEVARRíA the executive branch, not Congress. But she 10 CubaNews v April 2011 AGRICULTURE Tobacco — another once-proud export now in decline BY ARMANDO H. PORTELA At the heyday of Cuba’s centralized econo - Relatively small plots have been cared by obacco has been part of Cuba’s agricul - my in the late 1980s, the government owned individual families — assisted by a handful of tural sector for more than four centuries 35% to 40% of all tobacco lands under cultiva - workers who often know and treasure the T— ever since two sailors traveling with tion, accounting for one-fourth of national out - most prospective leaves of each plant. Christopher Columbus in his first voyage to put. Even so, that was much less than the This way of growing and caring subse - the island in 1492 came across a group of govenrment’s involvement in the sugar, cat - quently requires a large rural population, a natives carrying the rolled-up leaves. The tle, rice and citrus sectors. condition that prevails in the southwestern word “tobacco” comes from the language of Today, state interference in tobacco is even plains of Pinar del Río province and in the cen - those natives, and Cuban tobacco is without lower, with barely 1.1% of output coming from tral areas of the country, where people live in doubt considered the best in the world. state lands in 2009. isolated farms rather than in towns. Even so, profits from tobacco exports have One reason for the state’s hesitance to con - Although tobacco is grown almost every - never been a major factor in the Cuban econ - trol all tobacco cultivation is the specialized where in Cuba, the plant prefers well-drained, omy, and the industry never developed to the way in which Cuban tobacco is handled, loose, loamy soils with a relatively cool and extent other industries did. In the last few requiring individualized attention for every dry season. Those are precisely the condi - years, Cuban tobacco production has recov - single plant and leaf. That is why tobacco has tions found in the well-known Vueltajabo ered after plummeting during the Special never been produced in large farms. growing region of southwestern Pinar del Río Period of the early 1990s to its second-lowest province, noted for its landlocked valleys. point in recent history (see chart, page 11). Tobacco from this region, considered the However, after rising to 37,870 metric tons Cigar sales up 2% in 2010 island’s best, is used in premium cigar manu - in 1998, tobacco leaf output fell by 44% to Habanos SA, exclusive seller and expor- facturing. 21,100 tons last year — largely a consequence ter of Cuban cigars, said sales rose by 2% in The Partido zone of Artemisa province, of declining cultivation of lower-quality leaf southwest of Havana, produces special broad for domestic consumption. 2010 to $368 million, AP reported Feb. 21. It is the first positive growth in two thin leaves, cultivated almost obsessively. Cuba’s traditional growing zones in eastern These leaves are used for the capa , the exter - and central Cuba, where tobacco is used years, but still down significantly from the nal cover of each cigar. Since perfection is largely for cigarettes, have shrunk substan - $402 million recorded in 2007. Sales fell 3% demanded, this type of tobacco is grown in tially in output, to the point that Cuba’s and 8% respectively in 2008 and 2009, said netted plots that filter the sunlight while pro - Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas doesn’t even company vice-president Javier Terres. tecting the plants from the damage of bugs report output from those zones anymore. Habanos officials say sales have been and excessive wind. Tobacco growing was largely spared from hurt by increasingly strong anti-smoking Central Cuba, known traditionally as the wave of nationalization and collectiviza - ordinances in Spain, the top market for Vueltarriba, includes parts of Villa Clara and tion that wiped out all private farms in Cuba in Sancti Spíritus provinces that produce strong - the early 1960s. premium, hand-rolled Cuban cigars. France retains the No. 2 spot, though ly scented dark tobacco — which is preferred Many tobacco farms remained in private for blends in cigarettes and for some curious - China has now replaced Germany as the hands, especially farms producing premium- ly strong cigars. Before 1959, it was exported class leaf for the best cigars. By 1975, the world’s 3rd-largest buyer of Cuban cigars. to the United States for blending with state owned 32% of tobacco lands in central Habanos is a joint venture between British- American tobacco in cigarettes. Cuba, 18% in Pinar del Río (where premium owned Altadis and state-run Cubatabaco. leaf is grown) and 100% in Havana. See Tobacco, page 11 April 2011 v CubaNews 11

BUSINESS BRIEFS ROCA, MARAMBIO FACE LONG PRISON TERMS Alejandro Roca Iglesias, 75, Cuba’s former minister of food, faces a 15-year sentence on charges of “bribery and acts detrimental to economic activities or contracting,” Miami’s El Nuevo Herald reported. Havana’s Provincial Court also tried, in absentia, Chilean exporter Max Marambio Rodríguez on charges of “bribery and falsifica - tion of banking and commercial documents.” Prosecutors are asking for a 20-year sentence in his case. Marambio now lives in Chile. The two trials appear to be related, because Marambio, while living in Cuba, imported and exported foods and beverages through Roca’s ministry. And Roca’s son Alexis moved to Chile and works for a real-estate company owned by Marambio’s relatives. In a writ sent last year to Chile’s Attorney General’s Office, Cuban prosecutors stated they hoped to examine transactions Marambio conducted with Roca until March 2009. According to the Santiago newspaper El Mercurio , “Roca was one of Fidel Castro’s trusted ministers and held the post for 37 years.” He and Marambio “were very close and maintained a friendship over more than 30 years. The relationship was built through the commercial activities between [Marambio’s company] Río Zaza and Coralza, a company overseen by Roca’s ministry.” Roca was relieved of his duties Mar. 2, 2009, as part of a major shakeup involving several government officials. The Council of State gave no reason at the time for his dismissal.

BRASCUBA’S NEW BLACK MENTHOL CIGARETTES The Brazilian-Cuban venture BrasCuba will, starting Apr. 1, begin exporting a new line of Tobacco is grown also in the eastern pro- This is the fifth in a series of articles on vari - black menthol cigarettes made with the same vinces, along the highlands of the Cauto River ous aspects of Cuba’s agriculture industry by kind of leaves as Cuba’s famous Cohiba cigars. Valley in the Central Valley north of Santiago Havana-born Armando H. Portela, a contributor Sales manager Anderson Moraes said the de Cuba, and in Holguín province. This kind to CubaNews since the newsletter’s birth in 1993. new product, with its exquisite aroma, will be of tobacco is used for domestic cigarettes. q Portela has a Ph.D. in geography from the Soviet targeted at Spain, France, Morocco, Japan and Academy of Sciences and resides in Miami, Fla. other top consumers of black cigarettes. Brands to be exported: H. Upmann, Monter- rey, Vega, Hollywood, Lucky Strike and Cohíba. Details: Fernando São Thiago, marketing dir- ector, BrasCuba Cigarrillos SA, Calle Princesa #202,e/Reyes y San José, Luyano, 10 de Octubre, Havana. Tel: +53 7 696-7510 x206. Fax: +53 7 866-9306. Email: [email protected].

Marinas — FROM PAGE 8 Grupo Pisan for the Hemingway project, the Dutch group Romar Finance for Tarara and with French yacht broker Camper & Nichol- sons International for possible business. There’s also talk of a venture to develop a marina-resort project with a golf course and airport on long-admired Cayo Esquivel in the Sagua del Grande area of Villa Clara. q Doreen Hemlock, former Havana bureau chief and now business writer at the South Florida Sun- Sentinel, is a regular contributor to CubaNews. 12 CubaNews v April 2011 POLITICAL ANALYSIS Tahrir Square and Plaza de la Revolución: Nada que ver! BY DOMINGO AMUCHASTEGUI and go wherever he was needed. Fidel, in its pattern of behavior during this recent cri - hroughout Miami’s Cuban quarters, a short, remains a man of extraordinary charis - sis followed the guidelines set by the Obama new obsession has taken root: the idea ma and political skill. Likewise, Gamel Abdel administration after this spontaneous revolt T that Cuba should follow the path of Nasser’s personality ensured him a consider - unfolded. On the contrary, Cuba’s Fuerzas Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and other Arab coun - able following, but more in line with the Armadas Revolucionarias (FAR) is the most tries witnessing a wave of social revolts — a Pharaohnic tradition until his early death. respected institution in Cuba and has always sort of long-distance domino effect. Nasser was influential in the Middle East been inseparable from Cuba’s leadership. In late January, the usual Calle Ocho talk and to a lesser extent in Africa. Cuba was — shows and bloggers appealed to the people of and remains — a source of inspiration APPLES AND ORANGES Cuba to take to the streets, following the throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, There is no doubt Cuba’s economic and example of Cairo’s Tahrir Square. They urged capable of rallying considerable mass support social standing has eroded considerably. The mass demonstrations to openly challenge and and from influential figures, well beyond the older generations are frustrated with all the confront the Cuban government. limits of the left. blunders and misguided policies. An entire In the end, however, nothing much hap - Raúl Castro now commands on his own generation has suffered extreme shortages pened. A few dissidents phoned in from Cuba, merits and just because he’s Fidel’s brother. and material hardships; corruption touches while 4,000 older folks staged a small demon - He relies not on charisma but on teamwork, the lives of Cubans in many different ways. stration in Miami’s Little Havana. It was, as Yet as sociologist Aurelio Alonso recently usual, “all quiet on the Western front.” EIU VULNERABILITY INDEX stated: “You may even find some levels of Was this a surprise? Of course not. Former poverty, although you will not find any form of CIA analyst Brian Latell — an expert on COUNTRY RANK INDEX destitution.” Many Cubans don’t entirely Cuban affairs, said that despite his wishes, Yemen 147 8.8 blame their old leaders. In contrast, Sadat and Mubarak ransacked “Could something similar happen in Cuba? Egypt 138 8.8 There are many reasons to suppose not.” Egypt’s economy but raked in billions BBC correspondent Fernando Ravsberg Tunisia 145 8.2 through corruption schemes. True, Cuba’s dismissed any possibility of such a domino Zimbabwe 146 7.6 leadership doesn’t have the credibility it used to have — and the new leaders have yet to theory hitting Cuba, noting that the island’s Jordan 117 7.3 dissidents were absolutely incapable of ach- gain the respect and acceptance of the people ieving significant mass mobilization (a view Iran 159 7.3 — but in terms of magnitude, there is simply fully shared by the U.S. Interests Section in Saudi Arabia 161 7.3 no comparison to Egypt. Havana, according to Wikileaks revelations). Afghanistan 150 6.7 A recurrent argument has been the role of More recently, fellow British correspondent repression and fear. Is there repression in David Usborne quoted a Canadian diplomat Nigeria 123 6.4 Cuba? Yes, but mostly by control and preven - in Havana as saying, “We write to our capitals Côte d’Ivoire 139 6.1 tive action, along with a systematic display of every day and say it is not going to happen in Tajikistan 149 5.8 isolation and “infiltration” techniques that call for selective action against certain dissidents. Cuba. Change is going to come not at once, Azerbaijan 135 5.5 but bit by bit.” Indeed, there’s a world of dif - When protests erupted in 1994 throughout ference between Cairo’s Tahrir Square and Belarus 130 5.2 Havana, there was no deployment of FAR Havana’s Plaza de la Revolución. Vietnam 140 5.2 units, no tanks, bayonets or tear gas. North Korea 167 4.9 Some police action and Fidel Castro walk - FIDEL AND NASSER: DIFFERENT APPROACHES ing straight into the crowd of demonstrators Qatar 137 4.6 put an end to this one exceptional outbreak of What Egypt had in 1953 was a coup d’etat that got rid of the monarchy but suited the CUBA 121 4.3 violence. A few minutes later, the same dem- needs of pro-British local oligarchs. The over - China 136 4.0 onstrators were cheering and chanting, “Fidel! whelming majority of the Egyptian people Fidel!” No one was killed or massacred. saw no tangible benefits as a result. Cuba, on This chart shows how various nations stack up in One last point: observers often note that the other hand, staged a deeply rooted revo - the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy In- the Castro regime sees emigration and family lution that “enjoyed” U.S. hostility even dex 2010 (rank out of 167) and their potential vul - remittances as two “airbags” that cushion the before its victory in 1959. nerability to political revolt, on a scale of 1 to 10. impact of Cuba’s economic crisis. A major collision with Cuba’s oligarchy was institutions, successful results, sound discus - It’s partly true, but there’s a catch. This followed by a radical course of action, includ - sions and greater transparency. suggests that such “airbags” didn’t exist in ing civil war and foreign intervention. The Corruption in Cuba, while it flourishes Egypt — yet the fact is that emigration and re- vast majority of Cuban citizens in the early especially in the middle and lower echelons of mittances are much more crucial to Egypt years following that revolution saw many tan - state bureaucracy, pales in comparison to the than to Cuba. gible benefits and felt empowered and truly gigantic and institutionalized proportions of Tahrir Square was a fine example of a spon - represented by the young leadership. corruption in Egypt and other Arab countries. taneous revolt lacking organization and lead - For the Egyptians, their recurrent defeats Institutions and highly qualified techno- ership. Now the protesters are gathering again because they feel cheated. vis-a-vis Israel and its allies — and the ulti - crats support the Cuban system. On the con - mate compromise — meant humiliaton, trary, Sadat and Mubarak eroded whatever On May 1, Havana’s Plaza de la Revolución demoralization and the growing loss of credi - merits Nasser had and transformed Egypt’s will witness hundreds of thousands of people bility of its nationalist foundations. petty corruption into a full-scale system while marching in support of the latest economic In Cuba’s case, Fidel Castro’s dominant the vast majority suffered in poverty. reforms undertaken by the Cuban leadership. personality was an overwhelming factor for Their political tools — Party, parliament, So much for comparisons. q almost 60 years, and not just because of his mass organizations — were not at all similar Former Cuban intelligence officer Domingo authoritarian style — but also because of his to how these tools are utilized in Cuba. Amuchastegui has lived in Miami since 1994. He ability to gain followers, persuade, infuse Over the last 30 years, Egypt’s military has writes regularly for CubaNews on the Communist hope and enthusiasm, personally take risks become a creation of the United States, and Party and South Florida’s Cuban exile community. April 2011 v CubaNews 13 BOOKSHELF FIU’s Pérez-Stable discusses book on U.S.-Cuba relations BY DOREEN HEMLOCK States and keeping Cuba in her heart. Havana Remarking on current U.S.-Cuba relations, elations between a great power and its hasn’t let her back into the island since 1991. Pérez-Stable rejected the embargo as a tool weaker neighbor are rarely easy. The Pérez-Stable said U.S-Cuban relations are for regime change in Cuba. She said the near - RUnited States and Cuba have never had influenced by far more than the Cold War. For ly 50-year-old U.S. policy has not isolated normal relations that are mutually beneficial at least a century, Cuba has held an expecta - Cuba, gives Cuba’s leaders a scapegoat and tion that the more powerful unintentionally props up the and respectful. That task is still pending. United States would treat the So begins Cuban government. “The United States and Cuba: Inti- island as an equal. “But Cuba “We have to de-Americanize mate Enemies,” the latest book by Cuban-born never will be a great power, academic Marifeli Pérez-Stable, a sociology the problem of Cuba,” she even though we Cubans may said, quoting Cuban dissident professor at Florida International University think it is,” she joked. and non-resident senior fellow at the Inter- Oswaldo Payá. Cuba’s woes In writing the book, Pérez- are fundamentally the respon - American Dialogue, a think tank known for its Stable said the hardest task sibility of Cubans themselves progressive stances. was describing the Cuban-Am- and not outsiders, she added. Pérez-Stable’s 208-page book (ISBN 978-0- erican exile community. She Asked about future U.S.- 415-80451-6; paperback, $38.95) takes a prag - wanted “to be fair,” giving cred - Cuban ties, Pérez-Stable saw matic approach to U.S.-Cuba ties. She argues it when due but also criticizing Cuba losing importance for that it’s up to Washington and Havana to com - as needed — for example, the United States except on mit to what will be “a slow, incremental, some - denouncing violence against issues linked to immigration times regressive process of overcoming mis - moderate exiles. and drug-trafficking. trust accumulated over more than five Although that community She said Cuba will need to decades” to establish normal relations. has long has allied itself with adapt to its role as a weaker “Conditioning the process to impossible Washington, it has its own neighbor. In the end, Wash- demands — the United States that Cuba move agenda, separate from that of ington may find that it best toward a democratic transition, and Havana the U.S. government. Those differences may serves its own interests “to look on from afar that Washington life the embargo wholesale emerge more starkly once the United States as Cubans, and to a lesser extent, Cuban-Am- — only extends the stalemated status quo … relates to a democratic Cuba, she said. ericans, determine the island’s future .” q Both capitals sorely need to make a concert - Asked why Cuba isn’t seeing the kind of ed effort at realpolitick ,” she wrote. protests now shaking the Arab world, Pérez- Details: Routledge Publishers, c/o Taylor & Pérez-Stable presented her new work at a Stable cited two key reasons: first, the high Francis Inc., 7625 Empire Drive, Florence, KY Coral Gables book store Feb. 24 to about 50 hopes many held for the Cuban revolution 41042-2919. Tel: (800) 634-7064. Fax: (800) people in a session that was brief with few fire - ended in disenchantment. Ordinary Cubans 248-4724. Email: [email protected]. works, highlighting the shift in South Flo- today don’t necessarily believe in fighting for rida’s Cuban-American community away from something else, she said. ideology and toward greater pragmatism. Also, Cubans have one of the world’s lowest Daughter of the Caribbean The long-time scholar described herself as rates of Internet usage, so spreading informa - “Daughter of the Caribbean,” a rich saga straddling two worlds, living in the United tion or planning protests is more difficult. by Norma Jennings that ties Jamaican his - tory, politics and culture with a riveting family tale, also includes two key chapters ‘My Seductive Cuba’ a uniquely personal travel guide that connect nough books have been written about of practical information on where to go in the family Cuba to fill an entire library, but few Cuba, what to pack and how to get there, “My tree to Cuba Etake the approach Chen Lizra does with is also filled with advice on Seductive Cuba” and the 1959 “My Seduc- fun subjects like how to spot opportunists and revolution. tive Cuba.” where to find Havana’s best reggaetón, fla - Chapter 9, Deeply menco, jazz and salsa clubs. “Letters from personal and A glossary of Cuban slang and a description Cuba,” des- always en- of the Santería religion — along with a vivid cribes how gaging, Lizra chapter titled “Getting Possessed” — makes members of — an Israeli- this travel guide even more captivating. the Jennings born dance When she’s not writing, the Vancouver-base d family winds instructor businesswoman devotes her time to perfect - up in Cuba and entre - and eventual - preneur now ing her dance moves and leading specialized ly how the living in Can- tour groups to her beloved adopted island. revolution ada, fuses Details: Chen Lizra, Latidos Productions. Tel: tears them history and (604) 708-2170. Email: info@latidosproduc - apart until all communication is broken. politics with tions.com. URL: www.latidosproductions.com. Later on, in Chapter 14, “A Trip to Cuba,” her real-life these family members reconnect under dif - experiences “Bookshelf” is an occasional feature of ficult circumstances — including a harrow - among the people of this often-visited but lit - CubaNews . If you’d like your book, novel or ing escape attempt that puts the main char - tle-understood island. scholarly publication to be featured in an acter out to sea only to find himself landed The result is a moving portrayal of Cuba on upcoming issue, please mail a press release at Guantánamo Bay. the verge of historic change. to Larry Luxner, PO Box 1345, Silver Details: Michelle Gamble-Risley, 3L Publi- Edited by Larry Luxner (who also happens Spring, MD 20915, fax it to (301) 949-0065 shing. Tel: (916) 726-1333. Fax: (916) 726- to be editor of CubaNews ), Lizra’s book will or send an email to [email protected] . 2983. Email: [email protected]. be published this summer. In addition to lots 14 CubaNews v April 2011 approximately 2.8 million incandescent bulbs joint venture for oil production. BUSINESS BRIEFS being replaced in more than 540,000 houses. Venangocupet, a venture between PDVSA, This has reduced carbon-dioxide emissions Angola’s Sonangol and Cuba’s Cupet, will APOLOGETIC PETROBRAS SAYS IT’S GIVING UP by more than 500,000 tons a year. focus on oil production, in addition to trans - Brazilian oil giant Petrobras has withdrawn Noting that fluorescent bulbs use approxi - portation and refining, Eulogio del Pino, from an offshore oil exploration block in mately 20% of the electricity used by the PDVSA’s vice-president of exploration and Cuba’s waters that it leased amid great fanfare incandescent ones, Energy Minister James production, said in a statement. in 2008, a Brazilian official said Mar. 10, citing Robertson said Jamaica would save $79 mil - The company is scheduled to work on the poor prospects. lion a year in energy costs, which would mean Migas and Melones oil fields in Venezuela's Reuters quoted Marco Aurelio Garcia, for - an 87-megawatt reduction in peak demand.” eastern state of Anzoategui. PDVSA will own eign policy adviser to President Dilma Rous- 60% of the project, while Sonangol and Cupet seff, as saying that exploratory work off CUBA IN OIL J-V WITH PDVSA, SONANGOL will each hold 20%. Cuba’s northern coast had not shown good Venezuelan state oil giant Petroleos de Del Pino said initial production is estimated results and that Brazil wanted to concentrate on its own oil fields. Venezuela said it has signed a contract with at 20,000 barrels per day, with a possibility of Asked if state-run Petrobras had abandoned counterparts in Angola and Cuba to form a increasing to as much as 60,000 barrels a day. the offshore Cuba block, he said: “Yes, that was already decided some time back. We’re I sorry, but the truth is you have to work with U G E tangible elements and there wasn’t any securi - T S A ty of that in this block.” H C The decision is a blow to Cuba’s hopes for U M A

an oil bonanza from still-untapped offshore O G N fields it says hold 20 billion barrels of oil. I M

Petrobras signed up for one of Cuba’s 59 O offshore blocks in October 2008 in a ceremo - D ny attended by then-Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Cuba’s Raúl Castro. The Petrobras block was just offshore from Cuba’s biggest oilfield, east of Havana. Garcia apologized for Brazil deciding to drop its Cuban block. “We’re very sorry, and the truth is that Brazil will have to concen - trate on our prospecting,” he said. “You know that we now have big reserves, maybe one of the biggest reserves in the world.”

GOVERNMENT TO END SUGAR SUBSIDIES Cuba’s government says it is liberalizing the sale of sugar, after decades of subsidizing its Antique truck waits for passengers in Havana, where private transport networks freely operate. price. It’s the latest step in President Raúl Castro’s plan to reduce the state’s role in the economy and encourage private enterprise. Cuba devalues convertible peso by 8% Cubans — whose island was once among uba has devalued its currency by ing domestic production, especially food. the world’s largest sugar exporters — will still about 8% compared to the U.S. dollar In a statement published in the be able to buy a limited amount of sugar at a Cas part of efforts to revive the econo - Communist Party newspaper Granma , subsidized rate with their ration books, but my, state media reported Mar. 14. The Central Bank President Ernesto Medina these too are due to be gradually phased out. hard-currency peso convertible used by said limits imposed in 2008 that restricted The state newspaper Juventud Rebelde said tourists and foreign firms — which until payments to foreign companies had been sugar would “gradually” be freed from state recently had been set at $1.08 — will now eliminated, and that there have been “sig - control and sold in shops and supermarkets be on par with the dollar . nificant advances” in Cuba’s renegotiation where prices are much higher, though it did The central bank said the aim was to of debt with its main foreign creditors. not say how quickly this would happen. boost exports and local production. The Last year, Cuba launched key economic move will increase the value of remittances reforms to slash the state’s overwhelming CUBAN LIGHT BULBS SAVE JAMAICA MONEY received by many Cubans with relatives in role in the economy. Under the plan Two Cuban experts will assist Jamaica’s the United States, and is intended to make announced by President Raúl Castro last Energy and Mining Ministry in executing the the island more affordable for tourists. September, some 1.3 million state workers final phase of the Jamaica-Cuba Compact The government says it’ll keep a 10% tax were due to be laid off and encouraged to Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Energy Saving on exchanges with the dollar, as compensa - find jobs in the emerging private sector. Project. The project involves delivery of some tion for what it calls the “irrational and As of late 2010, some 80,000 self-employ - 160,000 light bulbs, said Cuba’s ambassador unjust” U.S. embargo. ment and small-business licenses had been to Jamaica, Yuri Gala López. Each convertible peso will still be worth given, according to CubaNews estimates. Under the program, which commenced in 24 of the standard pesos in which most By the end of January 2011, that number 2006, the government is replacing high ener - Cubans are paid under the communist had reached 113,618. Of these licensees, gy-use incandescent bulbs in homes and island’s two-tiered currency system. 63% were people who had previously been offices with energy-saving compact fluores - This marks the first time Cuba has reval - unemployed, 20% were starting paladares , cent bulbs donated by the Cuban government. ued its currency in six years. cafeterias and catering services, 15% hoped The initial five phases were completed by The decision will make foreign imports to hire other workers, 6% were launching August 2007, with the sixth slated to take more expensive, but the Castro regime is transport services, and 3% were seeking to upwards of the next five weeks. hoping to compensate for this by increas - rent out facilities for foreign tourists. López said that the initial phases saw April 2011 v CubaNews 15 “I believe we need to review, but not neces - Varadero — FROM PAGE 7 Richardson — FROM PAGE 4 sarily eliminate, some of the democracy proj - to Eusebio Leal to save the hotel,” one worker tions. Hopefully someday, there’ll be a total ects we have. The budget for that is about the told Inter Press Service. lifting of the travel ban so everybody can go to same as last year’s, but perhaps some pro - Supposedly Leal, a lawmaker and head of Cuba. I believe the Cubans are moving in that grams have outlived their usefulness. I’m not the ICOMOS National Committee, would be direction by settling it with this charge.” saying all these things should be done unilat - unable to do anything to preserve a structure In addition to Richardson, the Brookings erally, but in the context of expanding migra - built on a sand dune, like more than 100 other event featured trade attorney Stephen Propst tion talks to include humanitarian issues.” buildings and thousands of meters of walls and of Hogan & Lavalles, as well as Patrick What should the Castro regime do? For fences that will have to be demolished. Kilbride, a former deputy U.S. trade represen - starters, said Richardson, Havana should eli- Alfredo Cabrera, director of the office that tative in the Bush administration and now sen - minate the requirement that Cubans living manages Varadero’s beaches, had assured IPS ior director of Latin America at the U.S. abroad who want to visit the island must carry in 2007 that before a decision was reached Chamber of Commerce. two passports — one from Cuba and the other about a demolition, his office would consider R

“the cultural heritage or historical value of the E N structure,” and whether it served “an impor - X U L

tant social function.” Y R

Sources close to the Tourism Ministry con - R A firmed that the Hotel Internacional has L reached an agreement with another country to build a modern hotel, similar to so many oth - ers built in Varadero in recent years near the Internacional and Cabañas del Sol hotels. Half of the 2 million tourists who visit Cuba annually go to Varadero, which has 18,000 rooms in 49 hotels on 22 kms of beaches. The municipality of 26,600 people, which in- cludes Varadero and two neighboring towns, received a record of more than 31,000 visitors in one day in February, in the context of the expansion of resort tourism in Cuba. “This is a preview of what could be about to hit us on a much, much larger scale, because the country needs money urgently,” Mario Coyula, winner of the National Architecture Prize in 2001, told IPS. Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson speaks about U.S.-Cuba relations at the Brookings Institution. Coyula, an architect and urban designer, pointed out that “for many people these two Richardson said the “big issues, the issues from the naturalized country. hotels are distinctive features of the local land - that really divide us” — the embargo, which is “This can cost as much as $400 per person scape, which are fast disappearing in controlled by Congress, the Cuban 5, the and $200 every two years. Abolish the costs Varadero, as is coexistence [between the future of Guantánamo — should be put aside and conditions when Cuban nationals visit the tourists] and the local population, which is and dealt with later. The U.S.-Cuba relation - country,” he said. “Eliminate the category of increasingly marginalized and isolated.” ship should not be viewed as ‘you do some - salida definitiva, which is applied only to Cu- Architects, artists, writers and journalists thing, we’ll do something.’ ban-Americans. They should be allowed to who have called for saving what’s left of the “My view is that the United States and Cuba visit Cuba without hindrance. This includes Varadero of the 1950s point to the enormous each take steps and not wait for the other to those who left the country in boats and rafts.” potential for the promotion of cultural tourism, act. Both nations need to establish a process Richardson added: “There should also be with an offer that differs from the standardized by which these improvements continue. It’s expedited procedure so Cubans can travel sun-and-sand tourism in all-inclusive resorts important that we somehow we find a way to that can be found on any Caribbean island. freely. They should reduce the fees Cuba expand migration talks and eliminate the petty charges for planes to land in Cuba, which “I see this as a natural result of excessive differences.” centralization, which stands in the way of deal - comes to almost $160 per passenger.” ing with thousands of small and medium RICHARDSON: TAKE CUBA OFF TERROR LIST In addition, he said, embargo restrictions should be waived for all non-governmental, investors who could generate more stable and The former governor says the first thing balanced wealth,” Coyula said. q individual cash purchases of U.S. goods. President Obama should do is remove Cuba “OFAC should allow people to open bank from the State Department’s list of terrorist- accounts for their family and friends [in Cuba] supporting countries (Iran, Sudan and Syria IN MEMORIAM: LEONARD WEINGLASS are blacklisted as well). to transact family business and extend micro- Leonard Weinglass, who represented five “Cuba is not a terrorist nation,” he said, loans to the new and legal business sector to Cuban intelligence agents convicted of spy - complaining that the State Department has increase independent sources of revenue. ing in the United States on behalf of the not been very consistent. “President Bush “Small private businesses in Cuba would Castro government, died Mar. 23 in New took North Korea off the list. I just don’t think have an opportunity to expand,” he said, York. He had pancreatic cancer. there’s any validity to Cuba being on it.” insisting that restrictions involving Paypal and Weinglass, 77, had long championed left - He noted that the designation frustrates Google transactions should be lifted on Cuban ist and radical causes. Among his most fac - U.S. telecoms’ ability to transact business with citizens, especially bloggers. “While the mous defendants: Abbie Hoffman, Jerry the island. It also stymies bilateral efforts to Venezuelan government will soon finish an Rubin, Jane Fonda and Angela Davis. deal with potential oil spills, he warned. underwater cable to Cuba, the U.S. should The firebrand lawyer is best-known for “Put an agricultural extension agent at the facilitate more communications such as roam - defending Vietnam War critic Daniel Ells- U.S. Interests Section in Havana, since agri - ing agreements and the sale of U.S. telecom- berg, leaker of the Pentagon Papers. culture is the primary commercial contact munications infrastructure.” q between the United States and Cuba,” he said. – LARRY LUXNER 16 CubaNews v April 2011

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