© YEAR VII THE Nº 24 DEC 26, 2017 , ISSN 2224-5707 Price: avana eporter 1.00 CUC H YOUR SOURCE OF NEWSR & MORE 1.00 USD A Bimonthly Newspaper of the Prensa Latina News Agency 1.20 CAN The Cuban Revolution Lives on, 59 Years Strong P. 3

*HAPPY 2018*

Tourism Health & Science Sports Cuba’s Enchanted Isle of Youth New Cuban Swine Fever Vaccine Altuve and Rojas, The Year´s Best Athletes P. 2 P. 5 P. 15 2 TOURISM Cuba’s Enchanted Isle of Youth Text & photos by RobertoCAMPOS Those who studied there participated voluntarily in the cultivation of citrus HAVANA.- Previously known as Isla del fruits, an integral part of island life. Tesoro and Isla de Pinos —Treasure and The island was the focus of a dispute Pines Island respectively in English— and between the United States and Cuba at the now named Isla de la Juventud (Isle of beginning of the last century until the U.S. Youth), this picturesque and fascinating conceded Cuba’s sovereignty in 1907 and Caribbean island is the ideal spot for the Hay-Quesada Treaty was ratified in 1925. ecotourism enthusiasts. There are several sites of historical Isla de la Juventud is Cuba’s second significance on the island, including largest island, covering an area of 3,056 the Abra farm where Cuba’s National square kilometers, and is one of more Hero, José Martí, lived and a museum than 600 keys and islets of the south- that was originally the Presidio Modelo western region’s Canarreos Archipelago, prison, where participants in the 1953 in the Gulf of Batabanó. Fidel Castro led assault on the Moncada It lies some 50km south of the Cuban Barracks were detained until 1955. mainland and 162 km from Havana. More than 79,000 people live on the Historical documents indicate that island today and agriculture and the the island´s original inhabitants called cultivation of citrus fruits in particular, it Siguanea, Camarcó and Guanaja. until marble quarrying, fishing and utilitarian on June 13 1494 Christopher Columbus and artisan ceramic making are the landed there during his second voyage principal economic activities. to the New World and re-baptized it La Isla de la Juventud is a unique and Evangelista (The Evangelist). beautiful place and home to a variety of Over the years it has been known tourist attractions that are principally related variously as the Isla de las cotorras (Parrot to sea cruises, diving and fishing. Island) Colonia Reina Amalia (Queen The Hotel Colony’s International Dive Amalia Colony), Isla de los Piratas (Pirate Center and the Cayo Largo del Sur tourist Island) and perhaps most interestingly of resort are jewels in the island´s crown. all, Isla del Tesoro (Treasure Island). Other places ideal for relaxation and During the 19th century the island recreation include the Playa Bibijagua was colonized by the Spanish and its beach with its famous black sands, the capital, Nueva Gerona, was founded on heavenly Cayo Largo del Sur tourist December 17, 1830. complex, Finca El Abra and the Punta del The island was also known as Isla de Este caves and their paintings. los Deportados (Deportees Island) and On the southern side of the island until 1978 as Isla de Pinos there is an important bio-reserve It was then that thousands of young wetland, known as Ciénaga de Lanier people from around the world descended (Lanier Swamp). there to study and it was granted its Isla de la Juventud’s famously friendly present Isla de la Juventud name. and hospitable inhabitants and its During that same year, Cuba hosted stunning panoramic land and seascapes, the 11th World Federation of Democratic make it the perfect place for that Youth’s (WFDY) World Youth Festival. Caribbean holiday of your dreams. Havana Isle of Youth

A Bimonthly Newspaper of the Prensa Latina News Agency SOCIETY.HEALTH & SCIENCE.POLITICS.CULTURE THE YOUR SOURCE OF NEWS & MORE ENTERTAINMENT.PHOTO FEATURE.ECONOMY HavanaReporter SPORTS.AND MORE President: Luis Enrique González. Graphic Designers: Paola A. González Publisher: Agencia Informativa Latinoamericana, Information Vice President: Hector Miranda. Chief Graphic Editor: Francisco González Prensa Latina, S.A. Editorial Vice President: Lianet Arias Advertising: Javier García Calle E, esq. 19 No. 454, , La Habana-4, Cuba. Chief Editor: Luis Melian Circulation: Commercial Department. Telephone: (53)7838-3496 / 7832-3578 Translation: Dayamí Interian/ Sean J. Clancy/Yanely Printing: Imprenta Federico Engels Fax: (53)7833-3068 Interián E-mail: [email protected] CUBA 3 Years of Proud 59 Revolutionary Resistance By LuisBRIZUELA.BRÍNGUEZ Congress policies implemented by the United States on Cuba. HAVANA.- Few, if any, social or pro-independence This instrument has been enforced and strengthened processes could equal the persistence demonstrated by since February 1962, through a number of acts, Cuba’s, in the face of constant hostility by the neighboring regulations and executive decisions by 12 successive US government. administrations. With its 60th anniversary of approaching, the Fidel The Torricelli (1992) and Helms-Burton (1996) Acts Castro led revolution has been subjected to almost reinforced the Blockade’s unilateral and extraterritorial permanent aggressions from the United States, which nature in attempts to undermine Cuba’s domestic predate even the declaration of its socialist character . stability and prevent trade through threats to sanction Such aggressions have spanned malicious and third countries. deceitful verbal attacks, defamatory campaigns and A secret memorandum by the Deputy Assistant direct armed aggressions, such as the Bay of Pigs invasion Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, Lester D. by Pentagon backed mercenaries in April 1961 that was Mallory dated April 6, 1960, unashamedly stated “… defeated in less than 72 hours. The majority of Cubans support Castro (…) the only In their endeavors to prevent a Rebel Army victory, foreseeable means of alienating internal support is the United States government had intensively supported through disenchantment and disaffection based on the tyrannical dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, prior to economic dissatisfaction and hardship (…) by denying January 1959. money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and The subsequent popular support for the real wages, to bring about hunger and desperation to implementation of revolutionary measures, such as overthrow the government.” the lowering of rents and the price of medications, the Since 1992, Cuba has presented a draft resolution confiscation of monopolies such as the electricity and at the United Nations that summarizes the effects of telephone companies and the first Agrarian Reform Act this genocidal act on different sectors of the economic of 1959 which proscribed excessively large land holdings, and social life of the country and calls for its immediate drew the wrath of the White House down on Cuba’s new lifting. government. In November 2017, 191 nations endorsed Cuba’s Attempts to politically and diplomatically isolate the demand, leaving the United States and Israel alone and island accompanied the sponsorship of subversive acts of isolated in their opposition. terrorism and sabotage, the hijacking of planes and ships, There was an explicit acknowledgment of the failure the infiltration of hostile agents, pirate raids and support of this more than half a century old aggressive policy for counterrevolutionary terrorist gangs in mountainous in the formal re-establishment of diplomatic relations regions until they were finally defeated in 1965. on July 2015 . US backed aggressions have also included biological The potential and actual benefits of mutually attacks on civilians, animals and crops that caused respectful bilateral dialogue between both irreversible losses of life and economic damages governments is corroborated by the signing of 23 amounting to millions of dollars. memorandums of understanding and agreements on Some specific examples are documented in a health, environment and law enforceability. law suit entered on behalf of Cuban People against Former US president Barack Obama (2009-2017) the Government of the United States for human and never renounced the ambition of bringing Cuba’s economic damages in 1999 and 2000, respectively. revolutionary project to an end “through other means.” An epidemic caused by the introduction of the Cuban experts were acutely aware of the limited etiological carrier of the type II dengue virus by US based and selective measures adopted by his administration anti-Castro groups, caused the deaths of 158 people, of in an attempt to empower a private sector and convert which 101 were children, in 1981. it into a spearhead to scupper the successful updating In 1978, the highly aggressive sugarcane rust plague of the Cuba’s socialist economic and social model that severely damaged plantations nationwide and affected commenced back in 2010. the prevalent and high yielding industrial Barbados-4362 Measures recently introduced by the administration variety in particular. of president Donald Trump that clumsily attempted to In 1971, 79 and 80, hundreds of pigs infected with affect the nation’s tourist industry, illustrate Washington’s African Swine Fever had to be slaughtered and Blue ill- advised regression to an era of confrontations and Mould destroyed over 85% of the nation’s economically threats, policies that have never been successful and are vital tobacco plantations. Cuba’s State Security bodies have documented 637 anchored in the past. Assassination attempts also formed an integral part plans or attempts to kill Fidel Castro alone. The stoic existence of the Cuban revolution for nigh of the Central Intelligence Agency’s plan to deprive the The economic, commercial and financial blockade on 60 years, since its triumph in January 1959, positively Cuban revolution of its leadership. provides the clearest example of the White House and proves this point. 4 CUBA CARICOM-Cuba Summit Puts The ‘Solid’ in Solidarity

By UlisesCANALES

ST. JOHN’S.- The relationships Cuba enjoys with neighbors to whom it is bound by both a common history and the Caribbean sea, continue to be reinforced and modified in the context of solidarity and cooperation models that effectively respond to the regional challenges of today. A two-day visit by Cuba’s president, Raúl Castro, to Antigua and Barbuda, for the Sixth Cuba-CARICOM Summit and a State Visit, was a timely ratification of the strength and the potential of these regional ties. The strong sense of unity, recognition and gratitude communicated in speeches to the Summit in Saint Mary on December 8, also permeated official talks between the Cuban Head of State and Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and other regional dignitaries. The meeting between both leaders in the capital city, closed with a joint “Declaration of Solidarity and Cooperation” that highlighted a centuries old shared history, eloquently expressed throughout 23 years of bilateral diplomatic relations. Both heads of State “celebrated On greeting the visitor at the Antiguan immediately,” the objectives of the 1992 He added that “the Caribbean can the reinforcement of their friendship Parliament for the Organization of Eastern Framework Convention on Climate always count on a Cuba that will preserve and bonds and reaffirmed theirCaribbean States (OECS) Assembly, Change will be a “dead letter” and that the principles of respect and solidarity as people’s unwavering commitment to the younger leader praised the Cuban the 2016 Paris Agreement to revert global essential values.” their sovereignty and independence, Revolution’s constant solidarity with warming no more than “an illusion.” Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister underlined by a robust determination Africa and the Caribbean in particular. He expressed the view that “we cannot of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, tosafeguard them.” Browne said that he had “not yet permit our nations to be annihilated and described Raúl Castro as “the They also denounced any “measures been born when this man (Raúl) and the our citizens turned into the victims of revolutionary commander who has not that infringe on the right of their states legendary Fidel Castro liberated Cuba persistent and irrational production and only carried on the work of the invictus and people to fully participate in global from the oppressive alliance between consumption patterns of a developed and incomparable Fidel, but has instilled financial and commercial systems.” thieving foreign companies and its world historically responsible for the in us a sense of the immense possibilities Gaston Browne and Raul Castro corrupt government, and was only eight degradation of our environment.” that lie ahead.” strongly emphasized the importance years old when Fidel’s troops volunteered Raul described as “essential” The Vincentian leader said that of the Community of Latin American to help Angola defend itself against the the promotion of an international “Revolutionary Cuba, Raúl and Fidel have and Caribbean States (CELAC) “as a invading Apartheid army of South Africa, environment favorable to the taught us to avoid the desecration of mechanism for political coordination intent on destroying it.” development of the Global South and future that can be ours by accepting that and the promotion of regional unity and As he had previously at the CARICOM small developing islands in particular a better way is possible.” integration.” Summit, Raul cautioned that “the and the strengthening of national and Stressing that “Cuba is and has always They highlighted the effortschallenges of today are new and urgent, collective capacities to confront natural been part of Caribbean civilization,” underway to eradicate poverty, hunger the outcome of which will influence the phenomena and mitigate disasters as Gonsalves expressed his appreciation for and inequality within and between their survival of humankind” and that “it is time “imperative.” “everything done By Cuba with and for States and prioritized the strengthening to close ranks.” The Cuban president also reiterated us,” and highlighted that “the Caribbean of CELAC “as a forum for debate and Describing international efforts to the importance of increasing belongs to us.” an international political actor that stop and revert the damage caused to international cooperation and the These basic concepts define Cuba and represents the region.” the planet as insufficient, Raul stated transfer of resources, technology and the rest of the area, including CARICOM Browne said that welcoming Raúl that “confronting climate change related know-how to Caribbean countries, to and OECS. Castro afforded him the opportunity issues is a priority that the human race ensure the enhancement of national He boldly added that “CARICOM and “to express admiration, respect and cannot postpone and that our region’s strategies. OECS will most certainly not allow some gratitude to the Cuban people and its people in particular have suffered their He reaffirmed Cuba’s “unequivocal presidential hopeful from southern government, which more than any other most devastating effects.” willingness to share the benefits of our Florida or the geopolitical interests of an had established the right of Caribbean He urged the initiation of “ambitious modest progress in climate change irrational wing of modern imperialism nations to exist and progress according and immediate measures to halt the adaptation and disaster risk management to interfere with or prohibit us from to their will, and not with the will of the continuous harm caused to our Mother with our fellow Caribbean nations and strengthening and increasing our powerful.” Earth” and warned that “if we don’t act assume it as a unifying responsibility.” relations with Cuba.” HEALTH & SCIENCE 5 New Cuban Swine Fever Vaccine By NicholasVALDES

HAVANA.- The Cuban Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center (CIGB) recently launched its E2CD154 vaccine, for the prevention of classical swine fever. The product has export potential to a number of countries worldwide. Marisela Suárez, a CIGB specialist, told The Havana Reporter that swine fever is a disease endemic to Cuba and that it principally affects pork production. It is one of the world’s most prevalent pig diseases and is caused by the ARN Pestivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family, of which there are various virulent strains. It affects both domestic and wild brown pigs of all ages throughout the world. Although pork is less prized than beef and poultry internationally —for its high fat content slow digestibility— it is a staple meat of Cuban cuisine for both special celebrations and everyday meals. Suárez explained that the CIGB had been working on the development of a multi-beneficial subunit protein vaccine for several years because they are safer than the live attenuated vaccines presently in use. She added that the center had demonstrated through years of study and work that E2CD154 facilitates differentiation between vaccinated and infected animals and had been able to achieve efficacy rates similar to those of the live attenuated vaccines.

The News of Cuba & More at Your fingertips for more news about Cuba & latin America: plenglish.com We want your feedback! Write to us: [email protected] 6 CULTURE Matanzas Hosts Mambo King’s 100th Birthday Celebrations

By WilfredoALAYON mambo!’ book, published by the San Bassilon company of Some believe Orestes López, a member of the Medellin in 2017, during the event. famous ‘Arcaño y sus Maravillas’ band holds claim to the MATANZAS.- The musical influence of the ‘Mambo King’ He told The Havana Reporter that his “birth on San title, others, that it rightfully belongs to ‘the extraordinary Dámaso Pérez Prado and the 100th anniversary of his Andrés Island into a rythmic Caribbean and domestic blind Arsenio Rodríguez’ while a third group firmly believe birth were celebrated during an International Colloquium environment awakened a love for music.” Pérez Prado to be the legitimate king and heir. between December 8 and 10, in the western Cuban But he said that “it was not until at 14 years of age But nobody has ever doubted that Dámaso Pérez province of Matanzas, some 100 kilometers east of in 1974, that I first heard the Mambo del mercado La Prado is the man who made the ‘Rhythm of the ‘40s’ Havana. Merced; a sound that would set me on a particular famous all over the world. A highlight of the event was the unveiling by musical course”. In a lecture delivered to the Colloquium, the Cuban Cuban and Latin American artists and friends of three His high regard for the great Beny Moré also brought researcher Radamés Giró described Pérez Prado as one of commemorative plaques on the façade of the house him closer to Cuba and its music and in 2007 he became the greatest Cuban musicians of all times. where he was born at No.166 Rio Street, between San enchanted by a biography of Pérez Prado, born on He lauded Prado’s talent as composer and told how by Carlos and Compostella, in the city of Matanzas. December 11, 1917. virtue of being born in Matanzas, he was greatly inspired by One of the plaques was placed on behalf of the people Santana stressed that he then “wrote an article about the danzón and rumba beats predominant in the locality. of Cuba, another on behalf of Mexican and Colombian Perez Prado and mambo at his home in Antioquia and The well attended colloquium included discussion friends and the third —signed by the composer and singer made the decision to write a definitive reference book panels, documentary and film screenings featuring Pérez Armando Manzanero— in the name of the Association of that would ultimately take ten long years to research.” Prado’s music and a performance of the Ulises Rodríguez Mexican Authors and Composers. There is still some disagreement in expert musical Febles’s play ‘Yo soy el Rey del Mambo’ (I’m the King of Sergio Santana Archbold, the Colombian researcher circles about who the true founder of the Mambo genre Mambo), by the Conjuro Teatro theater company of and producer, introduced the ‘Pérez Prado ¡Qué rico was. Mexico. Washington’s Kennedy Center to Host Cuban Arts Festival HAVANA.- Cuba’s Culture Ministry has announced that A festival highlight promises to be the prima the iconic John F. Kennedy Center in Washington is to ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso directed performance host a festival of Cuban art between the 8th and 20th of by the at the Opera House and May, 2018. the presence of the Danza Malpaso and Irene Rodríguez Entitled ‘Artes de Cuba’, the event will bring Cuban dance companies at the Terrace Theater are already artists living both at home and abroad together to creating a stir. showcase part of the nation’s artistic patrimony to the The visual artists Manuel Mendive, Roberto Favelo U.S. public. and Roberto Diago will exhibit their work during the The event program includes a tour of the creative festival as will José Parla and Emilio Pérez, both of whom universe to explore traditional and contemporary arts, now live and work away from home. dance and theater performances, a film festival, visual The Artes de Cuba event will also incorporate an arts and design exhibitions, fashion shows and culinary important retrospective to mark the 40th anniversary demonstrations. of Havana’s Latin American New Film Festival, which Performances by Cuban-based musicians Omara will include screenings of the Cuban films Memorias Portuondo, pianists Rolando Luna and Aldo López del Subdesarrollo, Retrato de Teresa, Lucía, Fresa y Gavilán, and the Van Van orchestra will compliment Chocolate, Suite Habana and Conducta. those by Dafnis Prieto, Afro-Cuban Experience and The festival program has been jointly created by the Yaite Ramos Rodríguez ‘La Dame’ and others resident Kennedy Center, Cuba’s Music and Film institutes and abroad. the National Dramatic and Visual Arts councils. (PL) SPOTLIGHT ON 7 Havana’s Film Festival: a Cultural Flagship in the Region

in attendance also highlighted the lead beginning of a new era of high-quality By MarthaSANCHEZ roles played by women in the movies works and despite some very visible and HAVANA.- The recent 39th International selected for screening during the other invisible mishaps, the event had Festival of New Latin American Film in Festival. accomplished its goals. Havana reestablished the importance Argentinean director Anahí Berneri’s He revealed that the 40th Latin of providing Latin American countries a ‘Alanis’, took the Coral Award for Best American Film Festival will pay tribute to cultural platform to narrate and portray Fiction Film and the Best Actress Coral the iconic Cuban director Tomás “Titón” the finer details of their own histories and was shared by its leading lady Sofía Gala Gutiérrez Alea (1928-1996). Havana’s identities. and the Chilean actress Daniela Vega, for cinemas screened a 10 day veritable feast Between December 8 and 17, an her role in the film “Una mujer fantástica” of films from Latin America and countries international panel of judges reviewed and (A Fantastic Woman). such as Germany, Spain, the United selected the best of 19 fiction, 18 short and The Sebastián Lelio directed “Una States, Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Japan medium-length, 18 first, 23 documentary mujer fantástica” won the jury’s Special and France. and 16 animated films -- and a further 20 Best Fiction Award and the Dominican Those that depicted the negative unpublished scripts and 24 posters. actor Jean Jean walked away with the consequences of social prejudices passed RonPERLMAN Most of the movie’s themes touched Festival’s Best Actor accolade, for his down for decades or centuries, the on issues caused by the violence, impressive performance in “Carpinteros” effects of emigration, the traumas left corruption, patriarchal social structures, (Carpenters). by dictatorships and repression, were dictatorships and poverty that have such The Coral for Best Filmmaker went to tastefully balanced by others displaying an impact on continental societies. Argentina’s Lucrecia Martel for “Zama,” our continent’s diversity and its best But they also reflected the extraordinary the Festivals most lauded entry which elements. Some movies that made it degrees of diversity within Latin America, took among others, the International to the screen despite limited technical the native languages of some communities, Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and other resources, masterfully happiness, optimism, culinary customs and Award and the Coral for Best Sound communicated human qualities and cultures, the importance of dreams and (Guido Berenblum) and Artistic Direction great artistic sensitivity. interpersonal relationships. (Renata Pinheiro). Such works shine like rays of hope James Ivory, the U.S. filmmaker who The Cuban film “Sergio & Serguei” on financially challenged and under brought a total of nine films to Havana — by Ernesto Daranas was selected for The resourced movie-makers in countries and two scripted by the 2017 Nobel Literature People’s Choice Award and the Coral for parts of the continent and inspire them Prize winner, Japanese novelist Kazuo a Best First Work went to “La novia del to compensate with creativity and skill in Ishiguro— was honored at this, the 39th desierto” by Valeria Pivaro and María the arena of the ‘seventh art’ to combat Festival. Cecilia Atán of Argentina. oblivion and ignorance. JamesYVORY The renowned 89-year old director “Matar a Jesús”, a film by Colombian spoke about his long and successful Laura Mora, won both the Special Award career with industry experts and film for Best First Work and the Glauber Rocha buffs at Havana’s . Award, sponsored jointly by the Casa de Havana’s largest film festival satisfied las Américas the and Prensa Latina News the desire of its director Ivan Giroud to Agency. address issues affecting Latin American During the opening ceremony, Carlos societies such as migration and historic Diegues, a leading light of Brazil’s Cinema memory. Novo movement, was presented with the He expressed his satisfaction that Coral of Honor Award. He co-produced 34 percent of the films considered were “La película de mi vida” (The Film of My directed by women and selected on the Life) by Selton Mello, which was chosen basis of quality. to open the festival. In fact, 25 of the 34 coveted prizes According to Giroud, this latest awarded went to women and film critics edition of the festival marked the EmilioHERRERA PHOTOS: 8 CULTURE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT [email protected] (THR is not responsible for any changes made by sponsoring organizations)

Jazz Plaza UPCOMING 2018, Jan 17-21 EVENTS National Fine Arts Museum Palimpsesto Exhibit: Works by Cuba´s 2016 National Visual Arts Laureate José Manuel Fors (thru. Feb)

Galería Orígenes () Collective exhibit of Mozambican works of art ( thru. Jan 22) Havana’s International Book Fair (Feb 1-11)

Exhibit of Paintings by Cuban Artists at José Martí Memorial thru. Jan 23 LATIN AMERICAN & THE CARIBBEAN 9 Chile’s Rightwing Celebrates Piñera’s Return to La Moneda By FaustoTRIANA Internet PHOTOS: Caribbean Tourism

SANTIAGO DE CHILE.- Although Chile’s presidential Confronting Challenges election balloting was not as hard-fought as expected, Sebastián Piñera’s return to La Moneda Palace is being By VictorCARRIBA is now an everyday reality rather than a theoretical celebrated with great delight by the right wing party. issue for Caribbean countries. The win was unequivocal and included a quasi- HAVANA.- The year 2018 will be very significant for Commitments made at the UN were as follows: honeymoon period between the winner and the the tourism industries of those Caribbean countries Holland ($702 million), the European Union (352), the defeated, independent senator and center-left wing devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September World Bank (140) Canada (30), Mexico (27), Italy (12) representative Alejandro Guillier, in addition to a 2017 and commitments worth some $2.3 billion in aid and the United States (4.3). phone call by the current president, Michelle Bachelet. and loans made at the UN really must materialize. World Tourism Organization statistics reveal that According to the Electoral Service (SERVEL), Piñera The funds were promised during a recent high during the first semester of 2017 and prior to the won by 54.58 percent of the votes, while Guillier level meeting convened by the Caribbean Community disaster, the Caribbean welcomed 16.6 million tourists, reached 45.42 percent – the biggest defeat of the (CARICOM) and the UN Development Program to support a 5.2 percent and 800,000 tourist rise over the same center-left wing party since the return of democracy in the reconstruction of islands pounded by the storms. period of 2016. 1990. Almost 400 senior government, multilateral The recent CARICOM-Cuba Summit in Antigua “In spite of our differences, we share a common love organization, civil society and private sector and Barbuda ratified the importance of promoting for Chile. I hold Guillier in great esteem; we worked representatives at the meeting responded to calls to sustainable tourism and agreed to strengthen together in the past and I trust we can do it again. I assist Caribbean nations address the consequences of cooperation on issues such as multi-destination hope that unity makes a real difference in our country,” climate change. tourism to the region’s islands. stated Piñera. Aid promised amounted to less than half of an During the forum, Cuba’s President Raúl Castro led In the two separate speeches he gave –first, when he estimated $5 billion required by Dominica, Antigua and delegation signed a document with CARICOM to foster welcomed Guillier in his campaign command, and then Barbuda, Anguilla, the British Virgin Island, Turks and such mutually beneficial regional cooperation. in front of a huge crowd gathered outside a downtown Caicos, Bahamas and Saint Kitts and Nevis in particular. The Summit also agreed to reinforce the combat hotel of the capital – the conservative tycoon promised Other territories hit by one or both of the hurricanes against the negative effects of climate change and a nation without inequalities. were Saint Martin, Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic participants ratified commitments to hold average “We want a more prosperous country, with quality and Puerto Rico. global temperature increases at less than two degree education and healthcare; we want to fight crime and In Barbuda alone, 76 percent of the island’s tourism Celsius, a goal set by the Paris meeting on climate drug trafficking; we want fair pensions, the right to live infrastructure was lost and reconstruction will cost a change. in peace and democracy, along with our people, both total of $220 million. The meeting stressed in this regard the need to children and adults,” he added. Dominica saw decades of development disappear respect the principle of common but differentiated Piñera also committed himself to the development and the $1.3 billion in damages to homes and responsibility, a call repeatedly issued by Caribbean of culture and sports and the protection of nature and infrastructure caused by Hurricane Maria exceeds 200 countries in support of their endeavors to adapt to the environment, and highlighted that he wants to percent of its GDP. the consequences of climate change and to promote turn Chile into a developed country in the short term. The UN General Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak sustainable tourism as their principal source of Guillier himself embraced his opponent tightly and warned the meeting’s participants that climate change income. said that in the future, he will be part of a responsible and constructive Republican opposition. Piñera had a working breakfast with Bachelet at his residence to look at the details of the transition, until the holding of the swearing-in ceremony, to take place on March 11, 2018. For the time being, statements and exchanges from both sides have been conducted in a respectful and diplomatic environment, and calls for cooperation have been made. But it’s well-known that this scene won’t last long. The three months left for Bachelet to stay at La Moneda will be very difficult, as the elected president will be watching her closely. Piñera is a successful multimillionaire who already ran the country from 2010 to 2014. He’s a highly educated man who has a PhD in Economics at Harvard University, and according to Forbes, he has a fortune amounting to 2,7 billion dollars. 10 CULTURE ’s Decorative Doors

Buildings like those around the famous Plaza Texts & Photos by RobertoCAMPOS Vieja —one of five in Old Havana— feature a charming array of contrasting colors, chiaroscuros HAVANA.- Certain aspects of Havana’s rich and heavy, large wooden doors, adorned by colonial architectural heritage stand out during exquisite doorknockers, many masterly crafted dedicated tours of the capital, and decorative by artisan Renaissance ironsmiths. doorknockers and adornments certainly feature The most common of these resemble two predominantly among them. contrasting s-shaped figures. They are of interest to art historians, the Hernán, Hernando and Hernández, three Office of Havana’s City Historian, Eusebio Leal, prolific ironsmiths who were part of a force and a multitude of visitors that stroll through Old formed by Hernán Cortéz to participate in the Havana. conquest of Mexico, later left their distinctive Door knockers, adornments and decorative marks on Havana and other Latin American cities. ironworks are singled out for attention on During the 18th century, balcony cultural tours of Havana’s old quarter and help ironworks, conventional grilles, building bases, bring participants´ minds back to bygone days doorknockers, keyholes, padlocks and robust of yore. studs became important and beautiful stylistic A tour of the plazas, alleys, streets and components that today still inspire local and corners of the capital’s historic district can reveal visiting photographers alike. cultural treasures inherent in the nation’s rich The City Historian’s Office has a museum architectural history, something that appeals to dedicated to the exhibition and preservation of many European tourists in particular. such gold, silver and iron-made Havana treasures. The city’s first doorknockers date back to the During a most worthwhile visit to the Havana Middle Ages and although some were shaped City Museum, very attractive antique doorknockers, like little hammers that hung on front doors, the spurs, studs and the intricate ironwork on a chest oldest and most typical were iron rings, hinged bought in Europe by Dionisio Velazco Castillo in on to bronze lion heads. 1926, can be studied and appreciated. Cuban Movie To Portray A Dark Day in History By YanisbelPEÑA This decision however was rejected by the Volunteer Corps and General Romualdo Crespo HAVANA.- A particularly dark chapter in Cuba’s was forced to convene a retrial in front of a jury history surrounds the execution of eight medical comprising six Regular Army captains and six students in November 1871. members of the Volunteer Corps. The horrific state murder outraged the nation This arbitrary, biased and manipulated then and the appalling manner in which the process sentenced Alonso Álvarez de la Campa, incident was addressed still evokes a strong Anacleto Bermúdez, Eladio González, Ángel sense of indignation today. Laborde, José de Marcos Medina, Juan Pascual Cuba’s contemporary film industry has Rodríguez Pérez, Carlos de la Torre Madrigal and developed a strong and audacious tradition of Carlos Verdugo Martínez to death, all of whom presenting significant historical events on the were between just 16 and 21 years of age. big screen. They were executed on November 27 in an Since the triumph of the Revolution in 1959, open area facing the Morro Fort, known as La Cuban filmmakers have creatively portrayed the Punta Fortress. country’s history and the Revolutions nascent The killings provoked a nationwide wave film industry’s first feature was the Tomás of indignation and led to a deterioration of Gutiérrez Alea classic, “Historias de la Revolución” relations between Spanish and Cuban-born (Tales from the Revolution). islanders. The Alejandro Gil directed “Inocencia” ‘Inocencia’ tells the story of the search by (Innocence), currently being shot on location Fermín Valdés Domínguez, who served six in Havana, is the latest offering in the now months in prison, to find the eight student’s traditional treatment of such topics and depicts mortal remains, 16 years after the executions. the events surrounding the wrongful execution The retrospective plot covers almost of the eight young students. everything related to the incident, including the innocence of the students, as definitively HISTORICAL FACTS established years later. On November 23, 1871, a group of 45 first-year The film follows two parallel narratives, one Havana Medical School students were maliciously about the cruel executions and the other about and knowingly charged by colonial Spanish Valdés Domínguez’s search. The latter is played authorities with a crime that they did not commit. by the young Yasmani Guerrero. They were accused by the guard at the The cast also features some of Cuba’s Espada Cemetery of having profaned the grave of finest screen actors, like Héctor Noas, Edwin Spanish journalist and director of the anti-Cuban Fernández, Rini Cruz, Carlos Solar, Ray Cruz, independence newspaper ‘La Voz de Cuba’, Fernando Echavarría, Omar Alí and Caleb Casas. Gonzalo de Castañón. Gil has said that although “Inocencia” is The then colonial governor of Havana, based on fact, it uses fictional elements to attain Dionisio López Roberts, supported charges being a certain creative expressiveness. brought. It will also undoubtedly make a valuable An initial court-martial absolved some of the contribution to preserving the memory of an students and imposed relatively minor sanctions important event from Cuba’s troubled colonial on others. past. PHOTO FEATURE 11 Iconic Hotel Nacional’s 87th Birthday By TinoMANUEL

HAVANA.- In recognition of its history, elegance and extraordinarily well preserved documents, Cuba’s premier Hotel Nacional was listed on the UNESCO World Register of National Memorials in 1992. The Nacional celebrates the 87th anniversary of its opening on December 30 and its historical significance and the archives that preserve the names of its globally renowned guests, are just two of its many attractions. The Hotel Nacional de Cuba has more strings to its bow than any of its five star rivals, including an entire Executive Floor that is lauded and much appreciated by members of the world’s business community who frequent the institution. It is also a designated National Monument, offering beautiful views over much of Havana and a sixth floor dedicated exclusively to the provision of VIP services. The Gran Caribe hotel group run Nacional enjoys iconic status within Cuba’s extensive and growing luxury hotel network. It was designed by the New York based McKim, Mead and White firm of architects and the Purdy Henderson Company supervised its construction. Johnny Weismuller, Ava Gadner, Buster Keaton, Errol Flyn and Frank Sinatra are among many illustrious names on the hotel’s register. Most of the 457 rooms —including its 16 suites and one presidential suite— offer splendid sea views and it is also one of Cuba’s most important meeting venues.

OTHER FAMOUS GUESTS The Hotel Nacional de Cuba has its very own Hall of Fame where photographs of many of the personalities that have strolled the corridors, spent a night or visited its bars and restaurants hang. The honorable list of guests —to name but a few— includes Sir Winston Churchill, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Alejandro Fleming, Rómulo Gallegos, Carol II of Romania and the King and Queen of Belgium. Stars such as Rita Harwood, John Wayne, Gary Cooper and Walt Disney have also passed through the hotel’s front doors and more recently, Robert Redford, Kevin Costner, Johnny Deep, Danny Glover, Stephen Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Oliver Stone, Gabriel García Márquez, Eduardo Galeano, Kofi Annan and the Prince of Monaco have enjoyed its world famous hopitality, comfort and first class service. It would be impossible to list them all, but other guests of interest that spring to this writer’s mind include Jean- Paul Belmondo, Kate Moss, Klaus Maria Brandauwer, Michael Keaton and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Hundreds of other worldly figures from all walks of life treasure precious memories of a stay in, a visit to or an interview conducted in the beautiful grounds or elegant interior of Cuba’s iconic Hotel Nacional. EmilioHERRERA PHOTOS: 12 POLITICS Mexico’s July 2018 Presidential Elections

Secretary for Social Development and fraud —something accepted by some head of SHPC and he unequivocally and denied by others— will weaken his endorsed his presidential election chances of success next July. aspirations. But in favor of López Obrador is the fact Meade is set to become the first that he chairs the country’s newest and independent presidential candidate fastest growing national political body. (he’s not a PRI member) since the party He cannot however count on support which has held power in the country for from the Frente Ciudadano por México( decades introduced some changes to the The Citizens’ Front for Mexico), which relevant statutes. was already registered with the National Although Peña Nieto will have Electoral Institute. considerable influence over the choice He will be backed by the National of the official candidate, the PRI of today Action Party (PAN), a right-wing alliance is a changed party and other candidates that ruled for two consecutive six-year will put up a spirited fight for the terms, by the obscure and nominally designation. center-left Democratic Revolution Party LópezOBRADOR JoseAntonioMEADE It is however hard to envisage a division and by Movimiento Ciudadano (MC), within the president’s own party on the which can swing either way during By OrlandoORAMAS SHCP and Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) issue of his successor to the Presidency and election campaigns. department heads were sworn in as this is not Peña Nieto or Enrique Ochoa’s The impending election panorama MEXICO CITY.- If José Antonio Meade part of July 2018 federal election related —the PRI National Executive Committee’s promises to be complex and the PRI becomes Mexico’s next president, he will cabinet reshuffle. chairman— primary concern, given their will need to fully exploit its well oiled be the first independent Institutional It is then that a new president of the party’s monopoly on office in Mexico’s electoral machine and the support of Revolutionary Party (PRI) candidate to Republic and the members of both the modern history. the United States —a factor never to be hold office. Chamber of Deputies and the Senate will That arises under the name of Manuel underestimated— if it is to retain its hold Before officially commencing his be chosen by the electorate. López Obrador, chairman of the National on power. election campaign, he took the necessary Other positions to be filled include nine Regeneration Movement (MORENA) and MORENA was tested under fire during step of resigning his position as head of provincial governments and city councils who presently leads the opinion polls. elections last year when they lost the the Treasury and Public Credit Secretariat and members of municipal councils. Obrador has stated that he represents State of Mexico, an indication that they (SHCP), one of three senior posts he has There was nothing left to chance sectors frustrated and angry about may still lack the strength and other held during the current president Enrique at the aforementioned ceremony or in the corruption and other malaises elements to take the vote. Peña Nieto’s mandate. Peña Nieto’s praise for Meade, who the affecting Mexico’s social and political They will have to fare better in the test The president formally accepted his incumbent hopes will be his successor. environment. they face in 2018 if López Obrador’s third resignation during a ceremony at the Los The president highlighted that Meade The fact that he has twice run for office attempt to take the Presidency is to be his Pinos presidential residency, where new had been his Foreign Affairs Minister, and claimed that he was a victim of vote lucky one. Brazil Tormented by Widespread Violence

By MoisésPÉREZ The South American United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) BRASILIA.- The picture postcard and patrimonial city and the Inter-American Commission for Human of Río de Janeiro is also renowned for being 2017’s Rights also expressed ‘profound concern’ about the most violent city in a country that over a four-year measure. period registered more violent deaths than the war in Syria. FURTHER UN CONCERNS Some 2,723 homicides were reported in the city The United Nations body in Brazil , UN Women, of Río de Janeiro in the first semester of 2017 alone, also recently made known its concerns about “the 10.2% more than during the same period in 2016, alarming and unacceptable figures on violence while the number of theft related deaths rose by 21.2 against Brazilian women and girls and those of percentage points. African descent in particular.” Statistics however indicate that the rise of 45.3% The entity issued a statement about the death in —from 400 to 581— in deaths attributed to ‘acts of Río of a black 13-year old adolescent who was shot by resistance’ to police intervention, is the sharpest of all. a stray bullet while taking part in her school activities. An average of nine people die at the hands of The text quoted the 2015 Violence Map statistics, the Brazilian police force every day, a rate of 1.6 such which attribute a 191 percent rise in the victimization deaths per 100,000 inhabitants – higher even than in of black women over a decade to Brazil countries such as Honduras (1.2) and South Africa (1.1). In that same period, the number of African- The number of police officers killed both on and descendants who died violently also rose by 54 off-duty is also high in Brazil and in Río in particular, percent – from 1,864 to 2,875. where more than 110 police were shot dead in 2017. A recent survey in Río de Janeiro by the Dialog Despite this alarming panorama, last October the Institute revealed that the scourge of violence does nation’s unelected president Michel Temer granted not only affect Brazil’s biggest cities. state forces what some regard as a license to kill by Between 2005 and 2015, the nation’s smaller cities sanctioning a draft bill overturning the indictment of with populations of between 20 and 100 thousand Brazilian police officers for causing civilians’ deaths. and especially those in the country’s northeast and The enactment of Temer’s changes to the Military northern regions, recorded rises of 107.4 percent in Penal Code ignored an official National Human Rights homicide rates. Council (CNDH) request to fully veto the proposal as The Institute’s Deputy Chairman, Sergio an infringement of Democracy and its potential to Marcondes, explained that the increased deaths facilitate extrajudicial executions by police officers. occurred in the town’s outskirts, near federal roads The CNDH also argued that because of its nature and and close to the border with Paraguay in particular, structure, Military Justice is not impartial in processing indicating that they are possibly drugs or arms serious crimes against civilians by police officers . dealing related. Internet PHOTOS: ECONOMY 13 Cuba Targets Increased Solar Energy generation By TeyunéDIAZ

HAVANA.- The recent 7th International “Cuba The expert explained that solar energy production Fotovoltaica 2017” Workshop here addressed increasing was very expensive initially, but has become eight solar energy generation in Cuba, related scientific, times less so over the past ten years and concluded technological and innovative advances and how they his remarks by saying that more than 700 megawatts might be applied and developed domestically. of this energy will be available within 13 or 14 years The President of the ’s (UH) and that production targets set for 2030 may well be Photovoltaic Energy Consultancy Group, Daniel Stolik, surpassed. . told the Prensa Latina News Agency that the Cuban Talking also to Prensa Latina, the UH Vice Rector, Ministry for Energy and Mining, the national Electricity Vilma Hidalgo, told how the workshops provide an Company and the University of Havana are working important platform to strengthen links between closely together to increase photovoltaic energy output. research and production, an example of which was Photovoltaic energy uses the sun’s rays to generate the inauguration in January of a laboratory jointly electricity, is eco-friendly and —like wind and biomass— developed by the Ministry for Energy and Mining, the is an important renewable energy resource. Electricity Company and the University of Havana. Stolik said that because rapid developments have She said that the laboratory will facilitate research ensured a steady increase in photovoltaic energy into photovoltaic and other renewable energies and production in Cuba, the yearly workshops keep provide a range of services, indispensable for the stakeholders up to date on national and international insertion of solar energy into the national grid. advances. On the same topic. the director of the UH Institute This year’s workshop focused on finance and the of Science and Material Technology, Nancy Martínez, incorporation of solar energy into the national grid. explained that in addition to research, the center He pointed out that contractual sales opportunities will also have a staff training role and will have a exist for foreign capital investment, through which photovoltaic energy ‘solar classroom’ to serve both an investor would cover the operational costs and the regional and national training needs. country would pay a per kilowatt rate in hard currency The 160 workshop participants included for between 20 and 30 years. representatives from Cuba and delegates from the US, He clarified this is both cleaner and more cost Mexico, Denmark and Germany that have renewable effective for Cuba than the continued use of fossil fuel- energy related cooperation ties to the island and produced electricity. support various human capital training projects. 14 ECONOMY

LATIN AMERICA Gender Inequality Stunts Regional Development

By MariaJuliaMAYORAL Laura Thompson, the deputy director general of the International Organization for Migration HAVANA.- In this, the 21st century, poverty still (IOM), outlined that there has been a five-fold has a predominantly female face in Latin America increase in the number of immigrant Latino and the Caribbean, where United Nations women over the past 30 years. statistics confirm it affects 118 women for every Women from the region accounted for 56 100 men. percent of those who migrated to the European An Economic Commission for Latin America Union between 1998 and 2012 and 46 percent of and the Caribbean (ECLAC) study reveals that 29 all immigrant women in the US. percent of women affected are without income For some, leaving their homelands represents and economically dependent and that almost an opportunity to study and participate in half are unemployed. economic and public life, but many others, forced Gender inequality was the principal topic into irregular migration, become the victims of addressed by the 56th Meeting of Presiding abuse, rape, extortion, people trafficking. Officers of the Regional Conference on Women According to ECLAC, the Montevideo in Latin America and the Caribbean held recently Strategy for Implementation of the Regional in Havana. Gender Agenda within the 2030 Sustainable It is encouraging on the legislative front that Development Framework identifies critical at least 16 countries have the crime of femicide elements of gender inequality and proposes on the books or in criminal code reforms as is the concrete policies to be followed, and is an fact that 10 countries now have comprehensive important instrument in this regard. laws to protect women from violence. “We know that the road is long and the goals The ECLAC report indicates that even cannot be attained overnight, but every decade though a total of 23 nations in the region are in of joint work makes our mission more realistic the process of implementing gender equality and tangible,” Bárcena commented. programs in their national development and The meeting in Havana decided that ECLAC’s budgetary plans, there is a need to go even next Regional Women’s Conference will be held further. in Santiago de Chile in 2019 and will focus on According to Alicia Bárcena, the Commission´s economic autonomy. Executive Secretary, sustainable development cannot exist in the absence of enhanced support systems for women and gender equality. She recognized that significant progress had indeed been made since the first conference on the role of women in the region’s economic and social development in Havana in 1977, but stressed that despite such advances, the region still suffers seriously from gender inequality, a lack of social protection policies for women, and unacceptably high levels of teenage pregnancy, poverty and illiteracy. The official explained that “countries in the region have educated women forced to stay at home because the requisite care systems and opportunities to fully exercise their right to work are lacking.” Internet PHOTOS: SPORTS 15

LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN Altuve and Rojas, The Year´s Best Athletes By YasielCANCIO

HAVANA.- Venezuelans José Altuve and Yulimar Rojas and the Brazilian National Soccer Team have been selected as 2017’s top athletes in the Prensa Latina (PL) annual poll, that since 1964 has recognized Latin American and Caribbean’s best sporting personalities. Altuve was granted Major League Baseball’s Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) and led his Huston Astros team to the coveted World Series title this year. Nicknamed “Astro Boy,” Altuve received a total of 43 votes to come out ahead of the Argentinean footballer Lionel Messi and winner of both the 2011 and the 2014 polls with 31 and his compatriot tennis player Juan Martín del Potro, who received 7, like Cuban Alfredo Despaigne (baseball) and Brazilian Neymar (football). Rojas, triple jump gold medalist at London’s World Athletics Championships, was awarded an impressive 63 votes by the 117 media personnel that took part in the survey, to finish ahead of Colombian triple jump star Caterine Ibargüen with 15, who was previously first to pass the post in the 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016 polls, and the Brazilian judoka Mayra Aguiar, who received 12 . The Brazilian soccer team was unsurprisingly selected again, for a record ninth time since the Prensa Latina Poll commenced. Overall winners of the South American Russia 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, the team popularly known as “Canarinha,” won 43 votes this year to add their title to those won in 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2009 and 2016. Second was the Brazilian volleyball female squad (31), followed by the Peruvian and Panamanian National Soccer Teams which were awarded 25 and 13 respectively. The Tokyo 1964 Olympics 100-meter silver medalist, Cuban Enrique Figuerola was the first winner of the very popular PL poll. In 1980, the year’s Best Team category was added and in 1988 men and women were independently selected for the first time. Costa Rica’s famous swimmer Silvia Poll was first to come out on top on the female category. Last year Colombia’s triple jumper Caterine Ibargüen and the Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt were selected while the Brazilian Soccer Team that won the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, took the team award. Bolt has been the Prensa Latina poll’s most successful participant, winning in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, giving him just one more award than the beloved Cuban high jumper Javier Sotomayor, who to the delight of his home fans, won in 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993 and 1994. 16