Vol. 12, No. 5 May 2004

www.cubanews.com

In the News Tensions rise in Miami and Havana as

Senseless census? panel issues Cuba recommendations Experts wonder why results of 2002 cen- BY ANA RADELAT I restricting the amount of baggage travelers can take to Cuba, so that Havana can’t make sus are being kept secret ...... Page 3 he Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba sent its long-awaited recommenda- money from fees charged for extra weight tions to President Bush on May 3, but beyond the current 40-pound limit. Religion briefs T I eliminating a provision that now allows U.S. details of the plan are shrouded in secrecy. Churches feel threatened by new sects; travelers to bring back from Cuba up to $100 Four out of the five chapters in the 500-page worth of goods, including rum and cigars. Holocaust memorial unveiled ...... Page 5 report deal with proposals from an alphabet I boosting U.S. funds for programs designed soup of federal agencies on how they could help to strengthen civil society in Cuba. Bearish in Berlin a post-Castro Cuba. The fifth chapter focuses on The idea of turning off the flow of dollars to what amounts to “regime change” — specific Diplomat says German companies aren’t Castro appeals to older, largely Republican ways on hastening Fidel Castro’s downfall. Cuban-Americans who came to Florida in the rushing to invest in Cuba ...... Page 6 Bush is expected to announce his support for early 1960s, but not to more recent arrivals who some of those recommendations on May 20, still have strong family ties to the island. Newsmakers Cuban Independence Day. According to the A recent poll by Florida International Univer- Miami Herald, the possibilities include: sity found that 53.6% of exile households regu- Ricardo Alarcón, chief of Cuba’s National I slashing the $1,200 a year that Cuban-Ame- larly send money to their families in Cuba, and Assembly, discusses U.S. politics, dissent ricans can now legally send to relatives in Cuba. that the average household sends $387 per year. and life after Fidel ...... Page 8 I limiting visits by Cuban-Americans to their Interestingly, the poll showed that while only spouses, parents, children or siblings. At pres- 31% of exile households who came to Florida ent, visits to more distant relatives are allowed. before 1965 send money to the island, the figure Flower power I cutting by half the $164 a day that U.S. visi- jumps to 75% for those who arrived after 1985. Tropiflora S.A. hopes to revive flower ex- tors can legally spend in Cuba. See Panel, page 2 ports after years of decline ...... Page 10 New mill in town Alimport conference generates $106m Mexican-financed mills to boost quality of in new contracts for U.S. food exporters Cuban flour, pasta ...... Page 11 BY LARRY LUXNER chased from the United States in cash since late Business briefs ome 405 representatives of U.S. food com- 2001, when those sales became legal. “U.S. suppliers, whether branded companies Venezuela’s PDVSA may buy Cienfuegos panies, farm cooperatives, state agriculture S commissions and non-profit groups or commodity companies, all appreciate the oil refinery; tourism up 13% ...... Page 12 jammed Havana’s Palacio de Convenciones last Cuban market and the potential it represents,” month for four days of negotiations that result- said Thomas Rahn, commercial director at Air-cargo pioneer ed in $106 million worth of contracts. Cargill Americas, during an impromptu inter- view in Havana. “All the business that has hap- IBC Airways enjoys monopoly on Miami- The event was largely a public-relations show organized by Alimport, Cuba’s state-run food pened in Cuba has been very straightforward, Havana cargo route ...... Page 14 purchasing agency. The 173 companies attend- transparent and well-executed. Cuba has per- ing the conference ranged from a tiny Vermont formed as a first-class trading partner.” Bring it on, baby outfit hawking maple syrup to Archer Daniels According to Rahn, Alimport awarded Cargill a $13 million contract for 40,000 tons of corn, Long-stigmatized Cuban rockeros finally Midland (ADM), a $20 billion conglomerate based in Decatur, Ill. 25,000 tons of wheat, 10,000 tons of flour and get their day in the sun ...... Page 15 Many of the contracts had already been ap- 5,000 tons of phosphates. To date, Cargill has proved beforehand, with five large commodity sold Alimport over 500,000 tons of commodities. CubaNews (ISSN 1073-7715) is published monthly companies walking away with 80% of the sales. “I think all U.S. companies would like to see by Luxner News Inc. © 2004. All rights reserved. In fact, ADM and Minneapolis-based Cargill trade normalized,” he told CubaNews. “The day Subscriptions: $429/year. For subscription or edito- have each sold Alimport over $200 million that happens, we’ll be able to have direct finan- rial inquiries, call toll-free (800) 365-1997, send a fax worth of commodities, together accounting for cial relationships, which we’re not allowed to to (301) 365-1829 or e-mail us at [email protected]. over half the food Alimport claims to have pur- See Alimport, page 4 2 CubaNews ❖ May 2004 “A lot of this is not humanitarian aid,” Pérez These newcomers include Rep. Lincoln Panel — FROM PAGE 1 charged. “It is used for frivolous things like Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Alberto Hernández and “If that’s one of the things that they’re con- parties and prostitutes.” Zuñiga, and millionaires such as banker Car- sidering, the Cuban-American community is Adds the CLC’s executive director, Luís los Saladrigas, entrepreneur Leopoldo Fer- gong to be sorely disappointed,” warned Joe Zuñíga: “The right course of action is to push nández and Ford dealer Gus Machado. All of García, executive director of the 20,000-mem- for a showdown and get the Cuban population them are designing their own transition plans, ber Cuban American National Foundation. to put pressure on their own government. Up would-be cabinets and emergency measures. “Politically, this is extremely dangerous,” until now, we have been solving Castro’s prob- But perceptions, goals and action plans Hispanic pollster Sergio Bendixen told the St. lems by sending money and traveling to the don’t seem to be grounded in reality. Predic- Petersburg Times. “If [Cuban-Americans] not island. If this continues, we’ll have 10, 15 or 20 tions on Castro’s downfall have been flooding allowed to take care of their loved ones, the more years of the same regime.” South Florida’s airwaves for decades, yet his political price would be very high.” “final hour” appears to be nowhere in sight. Adds Philip Peters, vice-president of the CANF OFFERS SUGGESTIONS At the same time, the Bush administration Washington-based Lexington Institute: “It Bush appointed the Free Cuba Commis- knows that opening up another another “hot would have a terrible humanitarian impact in sion last October to examine ways to “hasten front” in Cuba would be extremely costly and Cuba, and it would send a signal that the the arrival of a peaceful transition” in Cuba. offer very few benefits in return. administration wants to make life difficult for The panel is chaired by Secretary of State Even so, Bush desperately needs strong Cubans in the hope that it would bring about Colin Powell and includes Secretary of Home- backing from that important segment of the political change in Cuba.” land Security Tom Ridge, National Security Cuban-American community that votes, and Castro himself referred to the panel and its Adviser Condoleezza Rice among others. not just from its wealthy elite. So his team will recommendations in his traditional May Day While all the panel’s members are govern- have to exploit some low-profile moves that speech at Havana’s Plaza de la Revolución, de- ment officials, exile groups were allowed to would allow him and his die-hard followers to claring that his enemies in Washington are submit some suggestions. say they are doing their part to oust Castro. “once again making themselves hoarse, shou- García said the CANF made four specific These include revising the “wet foot-dry ting threats of upcoming measures to affect suggestions. One is to allow “massive U.S. foot” policy regarding Cuban immigrants; cut- our economy and destabilize our country.” assistance” to civil society in Cuba, including ting charter flights to Cuba; enforcing Ninoska Pérez Castellón, a spokeswoman small businesses. García blamed the U.S. gov- Chapters III and IV of Helms-Burton (though for the Cuban Liberty Council, told the Times ernment for spending most of its Cuba transi- that would spark additional clashes with the that Castro and his cronies personally benefit tion money on USAID grants for South Flor- EU), and finding ways to reduce the flow of from the remittances, which are believed to ida exile groups, instead of sending dollars European and Canadian tourism to Cuba. total $600 million to $800 million a year. directly to dissidents and others in Cuba. García also suggests shutting down Radio KERRY GETS UNSOLICITED ADVICE and TV Martí — the U.S. government broad- Meanwhile, observers wonder if the pre- How they voted in Geneva casts to Cuba that are jammed by Castro — if sumptive Democratic nominee, Sen. John Here’s a look at how the 53-member UN Washington won’t spend the money on tech- Kerry of Massachusetts, will be able to turn Human Rights Commission voted Apr. 15 on nology to get the broadcast signals through. the frustration of Miami’s Cuban exile com- a resolution introduced by Honduras con- “Why are we pushing this ridiculous fanta- munity to his advantage. demning Cuba for last year’s jailing of 75 sy if it’s not going to be seen?” he said. “Fix it Kerry once criticized the embargo as a dissidents and other human rights abuses: or spend the money on something else.” “frozen, stalemated, counterproductive policy A lot is riding on what Bush decides to do, that is not in humanitarian interests” and said IN FAVOR: (22) AGAINST: (21) because Cuban-American votes could make “it speaks volumes about the American elec- Armenia Bahrain the difference in the swing state of Florida toral process.” Now, he claims to support the Australia Burkina Faso and its 25 electoral votes come November. embargo, but hints that if elected he’d keep Austria China According to the FIU poll, conducted in the remittance program intact and allow more Chile Congo March, 56.2% of respondents said they expect Americans to travel to the island. Costa Rica Cuba to vote for Bush — down from 64% for Bush in CANF’s García told CubaNews that even Croatia Egypt 2000. Meanwhile, 18.3% of respondents said though Kerry had a “horrible voting record” Dominican Republic Ethiopia they’d definitely or most likely not cast their on Cuba issue in Congress, he’d keep an open France India vote for Bush, up from 15% in 2000. mind about the candidate. Germany Ann Louise Bardach, author of “Cuba Indonesia RACE FOR INFLUENCE HEATS UP IN MIAMI Guatemala Nigeria Confidential: Love and Vengeance in Miami Honduras Pakistan Expectations are running high, and Miami’s and Havana,” argued in a recent opinion piece Hungary Qatar Spanish-language media is fostering these that “there’s no space on the right” for Kerry. Ireland Russia expectations, especially after repeated assur- “Hardline exiles — for whom Cuba is the Italy Saudi Arabia ances and reassurances by adviser Otto Reich only issue — are dedicated Republicans,” she Japan wrote. “However, there is an opening on the Sierra Leone and Under Secretary Roger Noriega that Mexico Castro’s downfall is imminent. left. A viable position for Kerry would be to Netherlands South Africa Indeed, over the last few months Miami’s declare himself fiercely anti-Castro and then Peru Sudan Calle Ocho has witnessed a feverish race for point out that Bush has no Cuba policy other South Korea Swaziland influence among the city’s exile groups — than the embargo — a 45-year failure that has Sweden Togo and after Iraq and Haiti this rivalry has gained yet to make any progress toward its stated United Kingdom Ukraine momentum. The names of Ahmed Chalabi goals: free elections in Cuba and an end to United States Zimbabwe and Gerard Latortue are paradigms of what Castro’s reign. might be expected from a U.S. plan on Cuba. “Kerry should then champion what the ma- ABSTENTIONS: (10) Subsequently, Miami’s older Cuban “presi- jority of exiles want — unlimited remittances Argentina Mauritania dential candidates” like Roberto Rodríguez de and unrestricted travel,” wrote Bardach, “and Bhutan Nepal Aragón, Armando Pérez Roura, Jorge Mas argue that increased contact with Cuba will Brazil Paraguay Santos, Guarioné Díaz and Frank Calzón are lay the groundwork for civil society in the Eritrea Sri Lanka now being joined by newer candidates who post-Castro years.” Gabon Uganda hope to win this race with more money and Political analyst Domingo Amuchastegui in closer connections in Washington. Miami contributed to this report. May 2004 ❖ CubaNews 3 DEMOGRAPHICS Experts still waiting for results of botched 2002 census BY DOMINGO AMUCHASTEGUI So what happened? Some sources suggest lar area generated results and figures that did ncredible as it may seem, nobody knows that the information collected showed some not match, and contradict in many ways, pre- what happened to the September 2002 cen- embarrassing revelations; others pointed at vious official statistics contained in the Isus conducted by Cuban authorities. the poor quality of the information itself. Anuario Estadístico and other reports. The figures were to be disclosed by the end Yet embarrassing revelations don’t seem to For example, the population of several of 2002, but nothing was disclosed. In July be the real reason for witholding the results, large municipalities, including Havana’s 10 de 2003, Fidel Castro made a short reference to because previous sociological research by the Octubre municipality, the second-largest in the soon-to-be-published census, but almost a Central Committee and the Academy of the country, were reported incorrectly. The year has elapsed and still there is no census ousting of several deputy ministers from published. Economy and Planning, along with other Regardless of future official justifications or administrators and experts — some of whom apologies — there has been none until now — were even arrested — led nowhere. the truth is that almost two years later, the LARRY LUXNER The damage was already done, and the results of the 2002 census remain a mystery. census was seriously crippled. If published, This isn’t just any ordinary matter. José its many shortcomings would have been easi- Luís Rodríguez, Cuba’s minister of economy ly exposed. and planning, had touted the 2002 census as Revisiting the whole process and making “the most important social research ever to efforts to mend the many blunders would be made” in Cuba. have taken years, and the results would still Yet local economists, sociologists and other remain dubious. Top officials therefore decid- experts are perplexed by this silence, espe- ed to “kidnap” the whole process, start from ically since the last two censuses conducted Population registry office in Guantánamo province. the beginning and come up with a more by the Castro government in the 1970s and acceptable result. 1980s were published in due time, and played Sciences — along with experts at the ONE All indications are that the 2002 census may a central role in many fields of policymaking. (Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas), had finally be published this coming summer or After “el apagón estadístico” (the “statistical already warned of the many potential “revela- by year’s end, together with some official jus- blackout” of the 1990s, as Cuban experts call tions” that could emerge from a census. tification and apology. But the fact is that this it), the census was considered a imperative The problem seems to be related more to whole affair has been an extremely serious tool for any serious attempt to address Cuba’s the quality of the process itself, namely the setback, damaging the credibility of official demographic and social problems, the most methods of interviewing and collecting data. figures in Cuba after 15 years of so-called eco- urgent one being the housing shortage. The mishandling and blunders in this particu- nomic reforms. Cuba starts to pay back short-term debt Argentine ties warming uba is meeting restructured short-term generate over $2 billion in 2004, while nickel A 37-member Argentine delegation visit- debt payments to certain governments, profits could reach $400 million this year. ed Cuba last month, and succeeded in sign- Capparently using increased tourism and “The first three months of this year were ing $12-15 million in deals for the export of nickel revenues, along with cash gleaned from very good, especially because tourism put in a Argentine grain and food products. recently imposed hard-currency controls. strong showing on top of last year’s record During the Apr. 19-22 meeting, the direc- But Reuters, quoting foreign diplomats, said arrivals,” said University of Havana economist tor of Buenos Aires-based Banco de la Na- that won’t be enough to free Cuba from its sta- Juan Triana. Most foreign and local analysts ex- ción, Rubén León Guillen, announced that tus as one of the world’s worst credit risks. pect Cuba’s GDP to rise at least 3.5% this year, his bank would open a branch office in On Apr. 26, an unidentified Japanese diplo- compared to 2.6% in 2003 and 1.1% in 2002. Havana in order to finance trade and open mat in Havana told the news agency that Cuba “Tourism is good, nickel prices are great, the credit lines to Cuba. had paid on time $50 million in principal under sugar industry is stabilized and remittances Jorge Lapsenson, a top official at Argen- a 2002 restructuring of $120 million in short- seem to be doing fine,” said William White of tina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed term official debt. Republic Bank Ltd. in Havana. “I would say the delegation to Cuba. He said Argentine French and German officials say Havana is Cuba is probably running at least 10% better exports reached $30 billion in 2003, and paying restructured short-term debt on sched- than in 2002 in terms of total export earnings, that he’d like to see exports rise to $50 bil- ule too. Other European governments also and in 2004, it should rise another 5-10%.” lion by 2007. reported some payments, though at times late On Apr. 16, Mexico’s state-run foreign trade Argentina is already among the world’s and on an irregular basis; a glaring exception bank, Bancomext, closed its doors in frustra- top exporters of sunflowers, lemon juice, is Spain, which is owed over $300 million in tion. For years, it had functioned as an interme- apples, pears and soymeal. short- and medium-term trade cover. diary for over 200 Mexican firms doing busi- Yet last year, trade with Cuba came to Cuba began defaulting on around $500 mil- ness with Cuba and had worked unsuccessful- only $30 million, way below the $100 mil- lion in government trade guarantees after the ly to recover $400 million in overdue debt. lion recorded in 1997. According to Cuban Sept. 11, 2001, attacks cut into tourism rev- Despite Bancomext’s departure, White said food purchasing agency Alimport, Argen- enues and Hurricane Michelle battered the that as a banker, he’s loaned $800 million to tine exports so far this year amount to $25 island’s agriculture industry. Cuba over the last seven years, and that every million, surpassing the total for 2003. “We are trying to be realistic,” said one dip- penny of that has been paid back. Cuban exports to Argentina consist of lomat. “Even with the economy picking up and “I would contest the idea that Cuba doesn’t generic pharmaceuticals, new vaccines and the controls on foreign exchange, Cuba has no pay its debts,” he told CubaNews. “I don’t think biotech products, medical equipment, cit- money. The situation remains very serious.” it’s true, and the reason that gets into the press rus fruits, concentrated juices, bottled rum, On the other hand, top officials have told for- or the rumor mill is because the only ones who nickel, marble, handicrafts and music. eign bankers they expect tourism revenues to talk are the ones who don’t get paid.” 4 CubaNews ❖ May 2004 dable commodity like these other guys. I’m claims that to support its political interests, Alimport — FROM PAGE 1 here to provide means to help the Cuban peo- the Castro government “is looking for a way have today. I hope that all trade barriers will ple produce more food for themselves.” to manipulate the political process in the be taken away.” But Alimport will have to pay cash up front United States through purchases.” Chris Aberle, sales director at FCStone, for Hudak’s organic fertilizer — just like it Cason, in a communique timed to coincide said his Iowa company signed four contracts has for everything else on its shopping list. with the Alimport conference, said U.S. farm- with Alimport: three for 50,000 tons of corn That’s because the 2000 Trade Sanctions ers “are receiving the best contractual terms worth $6 million, and one for 20,000 tons of and Reform Export Enhancement Act, which possible in their trade with Cuba,” while soybeans worth $7 million. authorizes U.S. food sales to Cuba in the first “many non-U.S. companies that extended FCStone’s Cuba sales to date come to $75 place, denies the Cuban government the pos- credit to Cuba have not been paid.” million, representing almost 400,000 tons of sibility to finance those purchases on credit. Alimport CEO Pedro Alvarez told delegates corn, soybeans and wheat — putting it in 3rd “The Yanks are the luckiest people in the that even before this latest event, Cuba had place after ADM and Cargill. Other firms world,” says one Havana-based foreign bank- purchased $629.7 million in products from the announcing contracts at the Alimport meet er who asked not to be named. “They’re get- United States. The most important commodi- include The Rice Company of Roseville, Calif. ting paid cash, so they don’t have to think ties by volume were corn (around one million ($14 million) and the U.S. subsidiary of Paris- about credit. I can’t think of a single export tons); wheat (811,589 tons); soy products based Louis Dreyfus ($16 million). market for the United States other than Cuba (around 800,000 tons); rice (294,328 tons) and where they get paid cash.” poultry (234,771 tons). VITAZYME FOR CUBA’S CROPS The banker added: “Absent politics, all In an exclusive interview published last “It doesn’t make sense for us any longer to imported food in Cuba would be sourced in month, Alvarez told us cumulative sales could be conducting essentially an economic war,” the U.S. because of its proximity. Just look at easily reach $1 billion by the end of this year said John Rice, vice president of Rice Fruit Jamaica or the Dominican Republic. How (see CubaNews, April 2004, page 8). Co. of Gardner, Pa., from which Cuba com- much French wheat is sold in the D.R.? Zero.” ALIMPORT’S PUBLIC-RELATIONS SHOW mitted to buy up to 20 containers of apples at Asked about the lack of credit, FCStone’s up to $300,000 within a year. Aberle said it definitely hurts Cuba. The United States already ranks as Cuba’s Robert M. Hudak, CEO of Ag Biotech Inc. “For us, it certainly makes things a lot eas- 7th-largest trading partner, and Cuba is the in Lakeville, N.Y., left Havana with a $100,000 ier, though it puts Alimport at a disadvantage, nation’s 35th-largest market for farm exports. deal to supply Alimport with Vitazyme, which because it’s unique in the industry to be It’s also the Caribbean’s top importer of he says is “an all-natural biostimulant that almost on a cash-on-delivery basis. But we American wheat and one of the region’s top increases the natural fertility of soil as well as see things changing. We’d certainly like the buyers of U.S. corn, say industry analysts. crop yield without compromising soil quality.” administration to revisit its policy regarding Don Mason is director of grower services Hudak said the Cubans have been testing trade and travel to Cuba.” at the Iowa Corn Growers Association in Des Vitazyme for two years on citrus, bananas, po- Moines. He said his group looks at Cuba as an tatoes, tomatoes, grapes, papayas and onions. NO ENCOURAGEMENT FROM WASHINGTON emerging market, and that it needs to partici- pate in these events in order to win contracts. “I’m convinced that when this product is Fat chance, says James Cason. “I would agree wholeheartedly that there’s fully integrated into Cuban agriculture, it will The chief of the U.S. Interests Section in a major PR element to the way they go about greatly reduce foreign imports of food,” he Havana — who has criticized such confer- this,” Mason told CubaNews. “They’re making told CubaNews. “I’m not here to sell an expen- ences in the past as “all bull and no beef,” use of the deals they’re signing for public-rela- tions purposes. I think that’s fairly obvious, and they’re not trying to hide it. But that doe Splash not selling only daiquiri mix anymore not mean companies shouldn’t participate.” lorida-based Splash Tropical Drinks, say that Splash is “a multimillion-dollar com- In fact, Alimport did score a minor PR coup which entered the Cuban market by pany present in the U.S., Canada and over 40 when Pennsylvania — the 10th state to send a F selling frozen daiquiri and piña colada countries throughout the Americas.” trade mission to Cuba, and the first one in the mix to Alimport, has begun branching out Jacobs said Splash will soon ship “all Northeast — pledged to lobby for an end to into processed foods and acting as a go- kinds of retail food products” to the Cupet- the embargo. In return, Alimport promised to between for other U.S. companies wishing to Cimex chain of dollar convenience stores. buy $10 million worth of Pennsylvania milk, crack that potentially lucrative market. These products include canned sardines, fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen processed The company, owned by entrepreneurs tomato sauce, bottled sodas, apple and food, livestock feed and other products. Richard N. Waltzer and Craig A. Jacobs, has peach juices, ready-to-drink iced teas and At the same time, the Port of Philadelphia signed a memo of understanding to reopen its delivered four containers of mix and has six Mrs. Dash seasonings. Other items Splash intends to ship to Cuba: peanut butter, jelly, docks to trade with Cuba. more waiting for delivery to Cuba. Not all the speeches at the four-day event Bob Guilmartin, Splash’s director of Cuba evaporated milk, canned vegetables, shor- tening, popcorn (in microwaveable and ker- were made by adults. sales, says he now spends most of his time nel form), rice, beans and noodle soup. Cliff Kaehler, the 14-year-old son of Min- in Cuba, “pounding the pavement” and run- “Companies are asking me to represent nesota cattle rancher Ralph Kaehler, told del- ning from one government office to another. them in Cuba,” said Jacobs, noting that egates that “Cuba wants to trade, and we put “Rich and Craig hook the companies in Splash earns a commission based on a per- up obstacles. To me, it seems the embargo is and get the pricing, and when we want to sell centage of sales. “We’ve already done over in place only because of the hardline exiles in in Cuba, that’s where I come in,” Guilmartin $500,000 in sales to Cuba, but our future is South Florida.” told CubaNews. “There’s no one else who looking much larger. This year, we could The boy became something of a local does it all, from the first phone call in the easily do 10 times that.” celebrity in St. Charles, Minn., after he and U.S., to finding the right match for the com- Jacobs added that “we’ve also been asked his 15-year-old brother Seth were befriended panies, introducing them to Alimport, help- to provide pharmaceuticals and medical de- by Castro during the 2002 U.S. Food & Agri- ing them with the paperwork and making vices to MediCuba,” a government agency. business Exhibition in Havana. sure the contract gets signed.” Details: Craig Jacobs, VP/Splash Tropical Since then, Kaehler’s Homedale Farms, the Splash, which provides its executives with Drinks, 6500 NW 12th Ave. #117, Ft. Laud- family business, has shipped 140 cattle and flashy yellow business cards, won’t disclose erdale, FL 33309. Tel: (954) 605-4500. Fax: bison to the island, with another 225 on con- its revenues or profits. Waltzer would only (954) 530-4122. E-mail: [email protected] tract. At $2,000 a head, this represents about $730,000 worth of business for the family. May 2004 ❖ CubaNews 5 RELIGION BRIEFS CUBAN CHURCH FEELS THREATENED BY NEW SECTS In their own words … A prominent Christian leader says Cuba’s Pro- testant churches are under assault from new reli- gious groups that have taken advantage of the “It’s a vote in favor of a cause, not against a nation that has always deserved improved climate since the early 1990s, when and will continue to deserve our respect and support. It was not based on poli- tical or circumstantial considerations. On the contrary, our vote in favor of the Cuba officially dropped atheism and the Cuban resolution for the defense of human rights was in keeping with our principles.” Communist Party opened the door to believers. Reinerio Arce, ex-president of the Cuban Coun- — President Vicente Fox, explaining why Mexico voted to support a resolution by cil of Churches, claims that 70 new groups have the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva “deploring” Cuba’s dissident crack- popped up in recent years, often bribing pastors down. The measure, sponsored by Honduras, passed 22-21 with 10 abstentions. of existing churches to join the newcomers. “They take advantage of the difficult economic “I have come to Cuba to stay. There is no doubt about that. I am here to situation and give a pastor $100 a month,” he told work toward a peaceful solution to open the road to democracy to all Cubans.” Noticias Aliadas. “That’s a lot of money here.” — Eloy Gutiérrez Menoyo, 69-year-old exile-turned dissident and founder of Arce said it’s all part of Track II, a U.S. govern- Cambio Cubano, who moved from Miami to Havana last August. ment program to fund churches and other NGOs that carry out anti-Castro activities inside Cuba. “There is an economic renaissance emerging in the relations between our “The government is trapped,” he told the Lima- countries, a dual economic partnership that should not be denied. We are pay- based newsletter. “If it limits these groups, there ing far too great a price already ... in terms of the cost of human suffering and will be cries of religious persecution in Cuba. But the loss of economic opportunity by the walls that divide us.” these aren’t churches. They’re sects and groups — Washington trade consultant Antonio C. Martínez II, speaking at the recent that come to destroy the work of the church.” Alimport conference in Havana. HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DEDICATED IN SANTA CLARA “All the work we put in over the past year and a half has paid off for the Cuba’s Jewish community has unveiled a mem- farmers of Alabama. However, the work has just begun, and the progress is orial to the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust. just starting.” The small shrine is located within the Jewish — Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, commenting on the resump- cemetery of Santa Clara, home to 23 of Cuba’s tion of Alabama poultry sales to Cuba following concerns about bird flu. estimated 1,500 Jews, and less than a mile from the more famous Che Guevara mausoleum. The monument — first proposed by local “We have always had faith in the justice system of democracies, but in the Jewish leader David Tacher — was inaugurated case of Panama, you can see that the Cuban regime has used intimidation, last October, in a ceremony attended by 200 peo- blackmail and bribery. Castro’s arm is long.” ple including the bishop of Santa Clara, Protes- — Miriam Novo, wife of Guillermo Novo, one of four Cuban exiles sentenced to 6-8 tant leaders and local Communist Party officials. years in prison by a Panamanian judge. The men had earlier been convicted of The monument’s centerpiece is an original plotting to assassinate Fidel Castro during the 2000 Ibero-American Summit. paving stone from Chlodno Street in the Warsaw Ghetto. The block was donated by the U.S. Holo- “Both Raúl Castro and Carlos Lage may end up as an asterisk in Cuba’s post- caust Memorial Museum in Washington, follow- Castro era, as the last vestiges of an old regime everybody will want to forget.” ing a campaign by two Cuban-American Jewish — Miami Herald columnist Andrés Oppenheimer, writing about Mexican diplo- activists, Miriam Saul and Aida Wasserstein. mat Ricardo Pascoe Pierce’s new book, “En el Filo” (On the Brink). “We’re in the process of acquiring more stones so we can make a replica of Chlodno Street,” “People said later that you should be glad you were sitting down. Castro has local activist Alberto Esquenazi told CubaNews. done this kind of thing before but makes people stand for hours.” John Rice RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS TO GET CHURCH — , vice-president of Rice Fruit Co., one of hundreds of U.S. executives who had to sit through a Castro speech during the Alimport conference. The Russian Orthodox Church will soon have its own house of worship in Havana. “Fidel Castro’s regime must open up to democracy. All my communication A wire report from Moscow quotes Archbishop with Cuba and Fidel Castro will point in that direction.” Nicholas Balashov as saying contacts have been — Spanish Prime Minister José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero, in a made between Cuban officials and the Patriarch- statement published Apr. 23 in the Madrid daily El Mundo. ate’s Department of External Church Relations. “We hope construction will start within the year,” Balashov was quoted as saying. “There are “The decision was in line with U.S. and Cuban interests ... in steering Cuban many Russian nationals in Cuba, and it is high migration toward channels that are safer, legal and orderly, while deterring time to build a Russian Orthodox church for and impeding the use of force by anyone arriving or attempting to arrive in the them. It has to be a big enough for up to 300 wor- United States from Cuba.” shippers for festive liturgies.” — Cuba’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement praising the long jail terms imposed by Since 2001, the Russian Embassy’s trade office a U.S. court against six Cubans who hijacked an Aerotaxi DC-3 to Florida. has been hosting religious services. Apparently, the Cuban government is aware of the Russians’ “It’s not a humanitarian gesture but political convenience, because it doesn’t need for a church, and is willing to assume the look very good to have a blind person behind bars.” bulk of expenditures to get the church built. — Blind dissident lawyer Juan Carlos González Leyva, commenting on a decision to In January, Fidel Castro and Patriarch Bartho- allow him to serve his 4-year jail term under house arrest. González Leyva lomew of the Greek Orthodox Church presided was one of 10 political activists convicted in Ciego de Avila on Apr. 26. over the consecration of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Old Havana. That church was the first built at government expense since the 1959 revolution. 6 CubaNews ❖ May 2004 ECONOMY Cautious German companies hold off on investing in Cuba BY LARRY LUXNER Helms-Burton Act, she replied that “the em- the only country in the region that contracted erman companies are thinking twice bargo and Helms-Burton are psychological with German tour operators in euros, not dol- about pouring money into Cuba due to barriers [to investment], but if a German firm lars. So Cuba is now about 30% more expen- Guncertain economic conditions in both really wants to come here, it won’t be put off.” sive than the Dominican Republic. This is nations, a high-ranking German diplomat told An executive working for a German multi- why we’re pretty amazed that so many CubaNews. national in Havana said she’s more concerned tourists are still coming.” Anka Feldhusen, deputy chief of mission at about making sure the Cubans pay their bills. KEEPING THE DIALOGUE DOOR OPEN the German Embassy in Havana’s Vedado dis- “The advantage of being a German compa- trict, said in a recent interview that “the eco- ny working in agriculture is that you can get Souring the German-Cuban relationship is nomic situation in Germany, plus the difficul- credit assurances from the German govern- the political standoff between the Castro ties of investing and regime and the European Union, which has making money in Cuba GERMAN TOURIST ARRIVALS TO CUBA sharply criticized human rights abuses. right now, have led to a In thousands In June, the EU responded to the jailing of drop in interest.” 75 dissidents and the execution of three ferry She added that “this 180 186.5 hijackers by encouraging the embassies of EU member states to invite dissidents to their drop has nothing to do 171.0 170.0 with human rights. National Day celebrations. 157.0 Basically, German 153.0 German sociologist Heinz Dieterich Stef- firms are interested in 140 fan, writing in the Communist daily Juventud making money.” Rebelde, claimed that “German diplomats are With nearly 83 mil- dying to return to the status existing before lion people and a GDP 100 June 5, 2003, and lament cutting themselves of over $2 trillion, Ger- out of official Cuban state activities.” many is by far Europe’s Anka Feldhusen In the article, Steffan went on to speak of largest and most eco- “frictions among German firms operating or nomically powerful country. Yet its presence 60 wanting to operate” in Cuba’s cement, nickel and influence in Cuba lags behind that of and transport sectors, and claimed that an Spain, Italy or France. unnamed German diplomat in Havana blamed At present, said Feldhusen, there are only Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer responsi- six joint ventures between the Cuban govern- 20 ble for his country’s “cultural aggression” ment and German firms. against Cuba. One of the biggest is MCV Comercial S.A., 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 But Feldhusen dismissed the Juventud a venture formed in 1995 between Cuba’s Rebelde article as entirely disreputable, and Ministry of Steel, Mechanical and Electronics ment which allow you to insure the deal said no one in Berlin regrets having spoken Industry (SIME) and Mercedes-Benz AG, you’re making. That way, if the Cubans don’t out against human rights abuses. now a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler AG. pay, our government will pay. “Germany adheres to the EU policy on MCV has a $200 million multi-year contract “We have rather high local costs, and the Cuba, which is constructive engagement,” for parts needed to assemble 1,400 urban fact is, there’s a debt situation with most com- she told us. “The problem is that the Cubans buses at a rate of 200 to 240 or more per year. panies,” said the executive, who asked us not do not really want to talk with us, but we are MCV has also been remotorizing heavy to name her or the company she represents. still willing. I think that goes for the entire agricultural and other transport equpment, “The financial cost of having this debt lowers European Union.” and has eight service centers across the your profit. But it’s strategic to be here. Cuba The diplomat said that the Federal Repub- country to maintain Mercedes-Benz engines is a big island, and it’s geographically well- lic of Germany has particular insights into the and supply spare parts. Company revenues positioned for any kind of future endeavor.” workings of a communist dictatorship, having are believed to exceed $50 million a year. started a dialogue with the former East Ger- Also present are German firms Continental TOURIST ARRIVALS CLIMBING AGAIN many (GDR) in the 1970s, which led to reuni- (vehicle tires), Greenbelt Holding (industrial One bright spot is tourism, with Germany fication in 1989. gases), Bayer (pharmaceuticals and agro- now the No. 3 source of tourism to Cuba after “In our minds, there’s a parallel,” she said. chemicals), BASF and Siemens (electronics Canada and Italy. “The idea is not to shut the door. Germans and telecommunications equipment). Feldhusen said 170,000 Germans will visit have learned that this is stupid. We never real- Cuba this year (see chart above). That’s still ly shut the door on the GDR because we CUBA NOT ECONOMICALLY INTERESTING well below the 186,500 recorded in 2000 — always considered it part of Germany.” Yet the trend doesn’t look promising, at before 9/11 sent shock waves around the Feldhusen added: “Although Cuba has least in the short term. world — but the numbers are clearly rising. learned from GDR state security, [East] Feldhusen said that only 20 German comp- “Most of these tourists are in all-inclusive Germans tell me that the system here is anies attended last year’s Havana Internati- hotel packages,” she said. “They tend to stay much worse. Many more people spy on you. onal Fair, compared to 50 the previous year. for two weeks and lie on the beach.” They tell me it was easier to escape, whereas “Cuba is not economically interesting, and Tourists generally fly into Varadero and here you’re constantly watched.” the economy in Germany is not good either,” Holguín on charter flights from all over Ger- Despite the political differences, Germany she explained. “It’s difficult to make money many — Berlin, Münich, Leipzig, Frankfurt had a relatively good reputation within official here, so why come? Germany has a tradition and Düsseldorf — with two-week packages Cuban circles — especially, she said, after the of middle and small-sized enterprises, and costing 1,500 euros including airfare. country sided with France in opposition to the they do not have the time and money to wait “They tend not to come back because the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. years and years to make profits.” price-quality relationship is not as good as “They really liked the fact we were against Asked whether German companies are elsewhere. They also realize they’re in a real the war, but now since we follow EU policy on worried about running afoul of the 1996 tourist ghetto,” she said, adding that “Cuba is Cuba, we’re just as bad as the others.” May 2004 ❖ CubaNews 7 CARIBBEAN AFFAIRS CARIBBEAN BRIEFS FUTURE UNCERTAIN FOR CUBAN MDs IN HAITI D.R. sees Cuba trade rising gradually Haiti’s new interim government says it has not decided whether it wants more than 600 BY VITO ECHEVARRÍA Diario that Cuba wants to boost rum, tobac- co, sugar and other exports to the Dominican Cuban doctors and other experts to remain in he resumption of diplomatic relations the impoverished Caribbean country. between Havana and Santo Domingo Republic. That won’t be easy, since the Dominicans — taking advantage of the U.S. “The relationship will have to be evaluated,” T in the late 1990s has slowly but surely said Foreign Minister Yvon Simeon told the encouraged more trade between the Carib- embargo against Cuba — have made a career of exporting precisely those same things to Miami Herald. “It’s a very delicate question bean’s two largest island nations. that will be the object of discussions at high According to the government-run Center the United States. In fact, the Fanjul brothers — Cuban exiles levels of the government and Haitian society.” of Dominican Exports and Investments (CEI- who were sugar barons before the 1959 revo- At the height of the February revolt against RD) in Santo Domingo, bilateral trade topped lution — chose the Dominican Republic to former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, said $50 million in 2003. rebuild their sugar empire. Likewise, Carlos the Herald, there were already doubts about That compares to $35 million in 1989, the Fuente Sr. and his son, Carlos Fuente Jr., whether the Cubans would stay in Haiti, year a group of businessmen led by Ramón were also Cuban exiles who chose the because the Aristide government had not paid Hungria and Julio Alfredo Goico formed the Dominican Republic to produce their famous Cuba in more than two months. Cuban-Dominican Chamber of Commerce. Arturo Fuente line of cigars, a popular brand Last December, CubaNews reported from It’s not clear what the Cubans are selling to among U.S. cigar smokers. Port-au-Prince that 705 Cuban doctors, litera- the D.R., and the Cuban Embassy in Santo One area of real potential for Cuba here is cy specialists and agriculture experts were in Domingo refused to give any details on trade. biotechnology. Cuba produces an array of Haiti, working in 95 of the country’s 133 muni- What is clear is that bilateral trade has products that could be used in the Dominican cipalities. The Haitian government had been always favored Cuba. The CEI-RD says the health sector — products that cannot be paying the Cubans monthly stipends of 5,000 Dominican Republic shipped $8.8 million in made by the Dominicans themselves. gourdes (a little over $100) for basic living goods to its larger neighbor last year, mainly However, the BanInter banking scandal in expenses, as well as their food and lodging. cement, soaps, toothpaste, detergents, ani- Santo Domingo, which triggered a sharp The Cubans don’t receive salaries, though mal feed, pesticides and cardboard boxes. devaluation of the Dominican peso (from the Castro government spends $520,000 a Leading exporters included the local subsi- RD$17 per dollar in early 2003 to RD$44 per year to transport them to and from Haiti. diaries of Unilever, Nestlé and Knorr. dollar last month), has dramatically weak- GRENADA STRENGTHENS TIES WITH CUBA Havana’s trade surplus is due in some ened the purchasing power of Dominican measure to a trade show hosted by the Cuban firms interested in buying high-value prod- Cuba and Grenada have strengthened bilat- Chamber of Commerce last July at the Fiesta ucts from the Cubans. eral relations following their 7th Joint Dominicana Hotel in Santo Domingo. Independent observers in Santo Domingo Cooperation and Economic Commission meet- The event, ExpoCuba en Dominicana 2003, are hoping that the country’s presidential ing that concluded in St. George’s, the was the second of its kind — the first being elections May 16 — expected to be won by Grenadian capital. held in 1992 — and featured 15 sectors of the former president Leonel Fernández of the Radio Havana Cuba reported Apr. 16 that Cuban economy such as health-care, biotech, center-left PLD — will improve the country’s commission sessions were presided over by pharmaceuticals, solar panels and seafood. economic fortunes. Marta Lomas, Cuba’s minister of foreign Cuban companies participating in the show In related news, the leftist Fuerza Revolu- investment and economic cooperation, and by included CubaElectrónica, DITA, Caribex, cionario (FR) party criticized President Grenadian Foreign Minister Evlin Minrod. Artex and recording studio Egrem. Hipólito Mejía for backing an anti-Cuba reso- The agreement covers 14 economic and Luís Gutiérrez, director of trade shows and lution at the UN condemning the prison sen- social sectors; both parties also signed expositions at the Cuban Chamber of Com- tences handed out to political dissidents and accords dealing with drug trafficking and merce, told the Santo Domingo daily Listín journalists in Cuba last year. penal issues, and on Cuba’s help in construct- ing St. George’s Hospital. Cuba travel generates $1.5m a year for Emely Tours JAMAICA, CUBA TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING Santo Domingo-based Emely Tours is capi- tourism. She noted that some Dominicans go Jamaica and Cuba have signed an agree- talizing on the growing trade and tourism ties to Cuba for illnesses that can’t be easily treat- ment pledging greater cooperation against between the Dominican Republic and Cuba. ed at home. drug trafficking through the Caribbean. Graciela Rosario, the agency’s director of “We combine things,” she said. “For exam- The memo of understanding, signed in Hav- Cuba travel, says 105 Dominicans a week ple, a person goes to Cuba to be treated for an ana by Jamaican National Security Minister travel to Cuba, and that Emely Tours has 40% epidermic ailment; the rest of the time he can Peter Phillips and Cuban Interior Minister of that business. Cubana de Aviación, which take a city tour, or something like that.” Abelardo Colome Ibarra, allows intelligence has an office in Santo Domingo, controls the Rosario also said a growing number of Cu- sharing and joint training for anti-drug opera- remaining 60%. bans are working in the Dominican Republic, tions. It also sets up a framework for prosecut- Emely, whose Cuba-related sales total $1.5 representing a new source of Cuba-related ing transnational crimes like money launder- million a year, books nonstop flights from bookings, and that they travel back and forth ing and counterfeiting. Santo Domingo to Havana on Thursdays and to visit their families. Jamaica, located 90 miles south of Cuba, is a Sundays via Cubana, and daily flights via Cuba accounts for 30% of Emely’s reve- major transshipment point for Colombian Copa, as well as nonstop flights Mondays and nues. Rosario said she’d like to boost busi- cocaine bound for the United States. An esti- Fridays from Santo Domingo to Santiago de ness in Europe by developing package tours mated 100 metric tons of cocaine pass Cuba on Cubana. It also arranges accommo- that offer one week in the Dominican through the island each year, officials say. dations at luxury hotels and resorts in Republic and one week in Cuba. Relatively little cocaine passes through Havana, Varadero and Santiago de Cuba. Details: Emely Tours, Edif. Plaza JR, Piso 2, neighboring Cuba, though the Castro govern- According to Rosario, about 60% of her Avenida Tiradentes esq. Pastoriza, Naco, San- ment acknowledges that an increasing num- clients travel to Cuba for business, another 5% to Domingo. Tel: (809) 566-4545. Fax: (809) ber of Cubans are involved in the drug trade. for “health tourism” and the rest for pure 683-6482. E-mail: [email protected]. The two countries signed a mutual coopera- tion accord against drug trafficking in 1993. 8 CubaNews ❖ May 2004 NEWSMAKERS An exclusive CubaNews interview with Ricardo Alarcón

BY LARRY LUXNER “You use taxpayers’ money to allegedly boxes of paper.” What concerns Alarcón more is the increa- icardo Alarcón de Quesada, president of build independent trade unions in Cuba. Why don’t you do a little bit of that inside the singly belligerent talk of “regime change” Cuba’s National Assembly and one of coming from the Bush administration — par- R the island’s top politicians, relaxed with United States? Millions of Americans desper- a Partagas cigar and a glass of guava juice as ately need that.” ticularly from Defense Secretary Donald he offered his views on the decaying state of Alarcón declined to offer an opinion about Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell. relations between Washington and Havana. the Varela Project, a petition drive founded by “I have to take seriously what they have “There are two important things to be Oswaldo Payá and signed by 20,000 Cubans said on many occasions. When they’ve been stressed, which are contradictory,” he began. demanding free elections, a market economy asked [about a possible invasion of Cuba], the “On one hand, nobody can ignore the fact that and other reforms. answer was always that they didn’t plan one a new trend in American society favors chang- ing 45 years of U.S. policy. For the first time, you have U.S. agribusiness interests selling to Cuba. And on more than one occasion, Congress has clearly indicated a desire to at LARRY LUXNER least end the travel ban. “Others want more radical changes, like ending the embargo, but at least you can safe- ly talk about a growing consensus in the United States.” On the other hand, said Alarcón, “the Bush administration is clearly committed to the opposite: to reinforce the travel ban and oppose any intent even to modify the embar- go. And for the first time, you have an admin- istration that includes a number of individuals of Cuban and non-Cuban origin who have made a career out of fighting Cuba.” Alarcón was interviewed by CubaNews for nearly two hours at the National Assembly’s official reception room, which is cooled by an Alaska air conditioner and boasts a marble tile Ricardo Alarcón discusses the November 2004 elections and their impact on U.S.-Cuban relations. floor, cheap furniture, a few potted plants, dec- But he did question the validity of the very now, which is not very reassuring,” he said. orative iron grillwork, framed paintings on the concept of presenting signatures as a way to wall and a bronze bust of José Martí. “They have more than once referred to a change the Cuban constitution. so-called new war, and lessons to be drawn SMOOTH-TALKING DIPLOMAT “Let’s talk about the Equal Rights Amend- from the war in Iraq, which is that the U.S. ment or about health-care protection. We Unlike most Cuban politicians including can go to war at any time of its choosing, with- have that right enshrined in our constitution, out international backing.” Fidel Castro, the 66-year-old Alarcón speaks but Americans don’t want to have health-care fluent English. From 1966 to 1978, he was Alarcón said his government is outraged at or free education. This wrong assumption has the idea of a Commission for Assistance to a Cuba’s ambassador to the UN; he again held been deliberately spread through the media.” that post from 1990 to 1992. Free Cuba, which is offering recommenda- Since 1993, he has been president of the ALARCÓN IRRITATED BY VARELA PROJECT tions to Bush on how best to get rid of Castro National Assembly, and a familiar defender of and deal with the consequences. socialism, the Cuban revolution and — more Payá’s efforts have received widespread “Clearly, you have people committed to recently — the five Cuban “heroes” jailed in coverage in the U.S. media, and he was specif- such interests in Florida, and a number of rep- the United States for spying. ically singled out for praise by former Presi- resentatives from those Florida groups that “The five should not be in prison, and they dent Jimmy Carter during his 2002 visit to are part of this administration, extremely ide- should never have been arrested,” he said, Cuba. But very few Cubans know about ologically motivated people who really believe quickly rejecting a suggestion that the United Projecto Varela because the official Cuban in imperialism.” media have chosen to ignore it. States send the men back to Cuba on the con- NORMALIZATION COMING NO MATTER WHO WINS dition that Cuba free the 75 independent And that’s how it should be, said Alarcón. politicians, librarians and journalists who “I could have simply disposed of his peti- For the moment, he said, “the embargo con- were jailed one year ago during Castro’s now- tion without any further consideration, but be- tinues to be enforced, and we continue to suf- famous dissident crackdown. cause I knew that it was clearly a media oper- fer the consequences.” Alarcón insisted that the 75 are sitting in jail ation, we’d have people forever asking why I “Cuba can live with the embargo,” Alarcón not because they spoke out against Cuba’s didn’t answer him. So we answered him.” insisted. “It’s just that its consequences are system of government, but because they The National Assembly chief argued that reflected in everything Cuba does — in the accepted money from a foreign power, in this “our constitution refers to 10,000 electors, not prices we pay, and our terms of trade with case the United States. signatures. The word signature is found other countries. We are the only country in “The U.S. policy is to create independent nowhere. There is no such thing anywhere in the world under a U.S. embargo. That is part organizations in other countries, but that’s the the world. Serious people do not believe any and parcel of our economic life. Every con- best way to kill the very idea of having some- of that stuff. I have no obligation to change tract we sign has a Cuban risk clause. Imag- thing independent. You need a lot of igno- the political, social and economic order of ine a freighter that brings products from rance not to see that,” he said. Cuba because a guy comes here with two Europe to Cuba. The captain and the owner of May 2004 ❖ CubaNews 9 that boat know that once they call on Havana, sion meeting in Geneva, with the latter two very good for the Spanish people,” he said. “I they cannot enter a U.S. port for six months.” countries deciding in early May to recall their am sure that now, we will have a government So what would happen if Sen. John Kerry ambassadors from Havana in protest over in Spain that will be more balanced and ration- wins the election in November? recent actions (see box below). al, and much less arrogant.” “At this moment, I wouldn’t like to say any- Diplomats from the 25-member European thing,” Alarcón told CubaNews, “but [some Union, meanwhile, are virtually frozen out of DESPITE CORRUPTION, DOLLAR HERE TO STAY people think that] with Kerry or Bush in the official circles in Havana, a consequence of In the meantime, Alarcón said one of Cuba’s White House, it would be the same. The only the EU’s decision last year to begin inviting biggest challenges is confronting the corrup- difference with Kerry that I can imagine is dissidents to the National Day receptions of tion that has cropped up as a consequence of that you won’t have Otto Reich as a special European embassies in Havana. having opened the country to tourism and the advisor, or Noriega. There would be different “The EU was conforming to the U.S. posi- influence of dollars. people, but they’d have to face the same real- tion even before the arrests,” said Alarcón. “It’s unavoidable to have some manifesta- ity: the trend in favor of normalization.” “Even though they were were practically com- tions of corruption when you have manifesta- “The Cuban mafia [in Miami] has done a lot promised by Helms-Burton, they accepted tions of capitalism. Some things we describe as corruption are pretty normal in other soci- eties. For instance, it’s quite normal for a per- son entering into negotiations to get a com- mission. Here, it’s considered a crime.” “I have no obligation to change the political, social and economic Despite the corruption — and recent order of Cuba because a guy comes here with two boxes of paper.” decrees that limit dollar transactions among state enterprises — Alarcón said his govern- — RICARDO ALARCÓN DE QUESADA, PRESIDENT OF CUBA’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ment has no plan to scrap the greenback. “The dollar won’t be criminalized,” he said. “Someday, we will have just one cur- rency in use, the Cuban peso, to pay for serv- to try to stop that trend, but they cannot the fact that the embargo continues and ices. I would not exclude the possibility of using the dollar or the euro in addition to the change the minds of American farmers or signed an agreement to help precisely the policies that led to the arrests of the 75 so- peso, but we will never abandon the peso.” eliminate the reality that Cuba was once an A much bigger question is what will happen important market for them.” called dissidents. “As a matter of fact, the EU’s anti-Cuban to Cuba after the death of Castro, who turns LOSING FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD position was not the result of what we had to 78 in August. “Nobody can substitute for anybody else,” Nevertheless, relations continue to worsen do a year ago [in reference to the jailing of dissidents]. It has a lot to do with the role of said Alarcón with a sigh. “We’ll never have not only with the United States, but also with [former Spanish Prime Minister] José Aznar. another person with the capacity to speak for Cuba’s friends in Europe and Latin America. It was a consequence of the efforts of his gov- seven hours. Because of the focus on Fidel, Even though Havana’s ties with Argentina, ernment and of him personally. For many some people identify a whole historical Brazil and Venezuela seem to be solid, its Europeans, relations with Latin America are process with one person. reputation elsewhere is shaky. No less than conditioned by Spain. Not having him in “But the fact is that the generation which eight Latin nations — Chile, Costa Rica, the Madrid any longer is a very good signal for all took power 45 years ago is retiring and dying Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, of Latin America,” he insisted. off. People like Fidel, Raúl and myself are get- Mexico and Peru — voted to condemn Cuba “That group of very pro-Bush authoritari- ting older every year. Unfortunately, I haven’t at last month’s UN Human Rights Commis- ans is now out of power, and I think it will be found a way out of that one yet.”

MEXICO, PERU DOWNGRADE CUBA TIES FOLLOWING FIDEL’S ‘OFFENSIVE’ SPEECH exico and Peru — historically among Fidel Castro’s most lost the ability to act independently of the United States, and that its loyal allies in Latin America — have recalled their ambassa- once-proud international reputation had “turned to ashes.” Mdors from Cuba following a May Day speech in which Last month, Mexico closed the Havana branch of its foreign trade Castro attacked both countries as lackeys of the United States. bank, Bancomext, amidst speculation that the move was politically, The move stops short of breaking diplomatic ties, but reduces not economically, motivated. It is unclear how this latest rupture will contacts to the level of business attaché. affect ongoing Mexican investments in Cuba. Mexico’s foreign secretary, Luís Ernesto Derbez, told reporters Peru, which also voted to condemn Cuba’s human rights record, that he had recalled Roberta Lajous from her post in Havana. At the referred to insults made by Castro as justification for withdrawing same time, the Cuban ambassador in Mexico City, Jorge Bolaños, its ambassador, Juan Alvarez Vita, from Havana. was given 48 hours to leave the country. During his diatribe against Latin American countries that no “We want to make clear that Mexico does not and will not toler- longer support the regime, Castro lashed out at Peruvian President ate, under any premise or circumstances, the attempt of any foreign Alejandro Toledo, saying that his popularity had hit a low point. government to influence our domestic or foreign policy decisions,” “The Peruvian government energetically rejects offensive Derbez said at a May 3 press conference. remarks made by the Cuban head of state against Peru, which will President Vicente Fox said he took action after officials discov- inevitably affect diplomatic relations,” said an official communique. ered that Cuban Communist party members entered Mexico on The statement also noted “the Peruvian government’s unwavering diplomatic passports and held a “political reunion” with others with- position in the defense of human rights.” out going through diplomatic channels. In Washington, Secretary of State Colin Powell defended the But the real reason appears to be anger over Fidel’s speech, in actions of Mexico and Peru and described as “outrageous” Castro’s which he chastized Mexico for voting against Cuba at the UN charges against the two countries. Human Rights Commission in Geneva. The Cuban leader told over It isn’t immediately clear how the rupture in diplomatic relations one million people gathered for a May Day rally that Mexico had would affect Mexico’s limited investments in Cuba. 10 CubaNews ❖ May 2004 AGRIBUSINESS Tropiflora hopes to revive Cuba’s wiltering flower exports BY DOUGLASS G. NORVELL ever, it seems to be moving towards a more efore the 1959 revolution, Cuba was one efficient operation, which will include joint of the largest suppliers of cut flowers to ventures with foreign growers. At present, Cuban flower exports are negli- Bthe United States. LARRY LUXNER Entering via Florida ports, Cuban flowers gible, with about one million flowers (in 30 joined fresh fruits and vegetables sent by rail varieties) being shipped overseas. Around for the 24-hour voyage to the Northeast — 70% of the total goes to Holland, and the re- often ending up at church weddings and din- maining 30% to Western Europe and Canada. ing-room tables across America. Besides its flower production areas outside After the U.S. embargo was declared, Cuba Havana, Tropiflora also has a 42-hectare farm could no longer supply the U.S. market, so it near Santiago de Cuba, along the road to the turned to the internal market and Europe, famous Virgin del Cobre shrine. with little success. Shaded by the same tall trees that shade Meanwhile, flower growers in Colombia, Tourist buys flowers for a dollar in Old Havana. coffee plants, the nursery grows royal palms Ecuador and other South American countries for the commercial market, and one-eyed filled the void, supplying the United States susans and roses for the local market. with everything from carnations to chrysan- CUBA’S 15 FAVORITE FLOWERS Cuban roses tend to be the smaller “sweet- themums. In fact, the U.S. now imports more VARIETY QUANTITY* heart” varieties, so when tourist hotels need cut flowers (about $400 million worth) than high-quality roses, Tropiflora imports them Cuba exports cigars (about $250 million). 1. Extraña Rosa China 2,564,009 from Ecuador. Could Cuba regain that prized market once 2. Moya Amanacer 1,621,620 Even after the embargo is lifted, it won’t be the embargo is lifted? Probably not, at least 3. Marigola Tallo 719,080 easy for Cuba to get back into the flower mar- for awhile. ket. Such businesses thrive on personal con- Tropiflora S.A., a government-owned entity, 4. M. Japón 642,390 runs most of Cuba’s flower industry from cul- 5. Maribela 596,056 tacts developed over decades. Newcomers to tivation through marketing. With production the market enter with difficulty, usually under 6. Cajigal Chino 593,995 special circumstances such as those that pre- areas in La Habana province and Santiago de 7. Clavel Chino 504,770 Cuba, the company has cold-storage facilities, vailed when Cuba lost its crucial U.S. market. 8. Rosa Happy 469,447 trucks, retail florists and a staff of gardeners. It’s unlikely that-present day Cuban grow- In a typical year, Tropiflora produces about 9. Azucena 375,801 ers would be able to complete with Colombia, 10 million dozen flowers, including roses, 10. Clavel Español 204,131 Ecuador and Costa Rica — even with the obvi- mums, carnations and other familiar varieties. 11. Gladiolo 201,221 ous location advantages. It is far more likely Tropiflora accounts for 50% of Cuba’s total 12. Boca de León 176,880 that the South and Central Americans will output, with the other half grown by small establish joint ventures with Cuban growers. 173,000 farmers on private plots. 13. Extraña Rosa Gte. Details: Jorge Antonio Perna, Tropiflora SA, For several years, Tropiflora suffered from 14. Crisatenmo Tallo 154,500 Carretera Wajay al Chico, Km. 1.5, Boyeros, poor growing techniques, inadequate storage 15. Moya Amarilla 125,020 La Habana. Tel: +53 7 45-1854; 45-4768. Fax: and transport problems. More recently, how- *2000 production in dozens of flowers. Source: Tropiflora S.A. +53 7 33-6575. E-mail: [email protected]. Severe drought hurting Cuba’s cattle, sugar, coffee sector astern Cuba is suffering through its from two consecutive years of poor rainfall. raw sugar, before the rainy season when hot worst drought in a decade, with rainfall This year’s shortages were surpassed only by and humid weather drops yields and makes Eduring the 12-month period ending Apr. the drought of 1986-87, Rodríguez explained. harvesting and transporting cane difficult. 30 at only 84% of its historic average. As far as water supplies are concerned, the But mills have operated at under 70% capac- The Communist daily Granma reports that situation is most critical in the cities of Las ity, forcing an extension of the harvest well 100 head of cattle are dying of thirst every Tunas and Holguín. The water basins that into May, weather permitting. Local analysts day, and that over 3,400 water sources for cat- feed into the reservoirs for these cities have and sugar ministry insiders project output at tle have dried up from Camagüey to Guantá- received very little water since May of last between 2.2 million and 2.3 million tons. namo. This has forced authorities to transport year, only 52-66% of their averages. Meanwhile, Cuba’s coffee harvest has water by truck to 230,800 head of cattle. Cuba’s 241 reservoirs are at a reported 54% ended, and appears to be one of the worst in Making matters worse, the scarce rain that capacity, with 1.32 million cubic meters less 50 years. According to local media, output fell has fallen hasn’t been in the areas where rain- water than at the same time last year. 5% from the 2003 crop of 200,000 to 250,000 water feeds the region’s water supplies. However, in Isla de la Juventud, the dams are 60-kg bags. That would put the 2004 harvest Francis Francisco Rodríguez, a specialist at the same levels they were last year. at 190,000 to 240,000 bags. with Cuba’s National Institute of Hydraulic These losses are caused not only by water Eastern Cuba accounts for 85% of the is- Resources, told Granma that the provinces consumption by the population but also agri- land’s coffee crop. The remaining 15% and the suffering the worst are Camagüey (only 76% cultural demands for water in such provinces best beans, which are exported to Japan, are of average rainfall since May); Holguín (74%) as Granma and Sancti Spíritus, where rice cul- grown in central Cuba, where output also fell. and Guantánamo (69%). tivation is higher than in other areas and The Ministry of Agriculture rarely releases Lack of rain also plagues Las Tunas (78%), therefore uses more water. data on coffee, but the International Coffee though that province’s driest year was 2001. The drought has also reduced the amount Organization said that from March 2003 to Granma, which reported only 79% of average of sugar cane available for milling as the har- February 2004, Cuba exported 38,203 bags, a rainfall, had its driest year in 1999-2000. vest enters its final weeks. Cuba hoped to end dramatic drop from the 67,857 bags exported Holguín is in the worst situation, suffering milling by May at 2.6 million metric tons of during the preceding 12-month period. May 2004 ❖ CubaNews 11 FOREIGN INVESTMENT Mexican investors inaugurate flour mills at Havana port BY LARRY LUXNER which is then used to produce pasta. ing rolls, cakes and pies, to be sold at dollar Mexican investment group has in- That translates into annual wheat consump- supermarkets throughout Cuba. stalled two flour mills at the port of tion of 140,000 tons of wheat, which is cur- “One of the problems is that Cuba’s previ- A Havana in a project valued at between rently being imported from the United States, ous milling system was antiquated, so yields $10 million and $20 million. Canada, Mexico, France and Argentina. were poor and their costs were high,” Latouf José B. Avalos is executive vice-president of IMSA, which started milling exactly one told CubaNews. “This new mill will give them Grupo Altex, a $200 million food conglomer- year ago, has 17 employees and utilizes lower flour costs and better quality. It’s also ate based in Mexico City. He’s also executive machinery manufactured by Bühler, a Swiss good news for U.S. wheat farmers, because VP of Matrix Trading Inc., headquartered in company. The new facilities replace a much Cuba is definitely a bread culture.” Coral Gables, Fla. He spoke to CubaNews dur- older mill that was built shortly after the 1959 Paul Dickerson, VP of overseas operations ing last month’s Alimport event in Havana. revolution and was recently dismantled. at U.S. Wheat Associates Inc. in Washington, “We’ve been very careful to comply with “Without a doubt, this is the most modern said Cuba is now the leading buyer of U.S. U.S. regulations,” he said. “As such, we do mill anywhere, with state-of-the-art technolo- wheat in the Caribbean, with at least 323,000 have an American company, Matrix Trading, gy,” said Avalos. “We are very proud to be tons already shipped in the 12 months ending which sells commodities to Alimport. But as partners of the Cuban government and to May 31, 2004; another 92,000 tons remains to Mexicans, we are allowed to invest in Cuba, feed the people of Cuba with a higher-quality be shipped during the same period. taking advantage of the fact that we are not flour than they had before. We have voluntar- At the Alimport conference, U.S. exporters U.S. citizens.” ily committed to reinvesting all of our profits wrapped up contracts to sell another 85,000 The project, known as Industrial Molinera here. It’s been a very profitable experience.” tons of wheat worth approximately $15 mil- de La Habana S.A. (IMSA), is 49% owned by Just how profitable, Avalos wouldn’t say, lion over the next 12 months. Coralsa, a division of Cuba’s Ministry of For- though he pointed out that Cuba’s per-capita Most of the purchases are for hard red win- eign Investment and Cooperation (MINVEC), flour consumption is twice that of Mexico. ter wheat, ideal for baking bread. and 51% by IMEX, a holding company con- “This market of 11 million people is equiva- USDA estimates Cuba will import 800,000 trolled by Mexican investors. lent to 22 million Mexicans,” about the popu- tons of wheat and wheat flour this year. According to Avalos, “Grupo Altex has lation of Mexico City, he said, noting that the “Over the last four years, Cuba has made nothing to do with IMEX, although some of Castro government is committed to giving remarkable progress by renovating existing the shareholders of IMEX are also sharehold- every Cuban citizen one bun a day under the mills and making them more efficient,” said ers of Altex.” ration program. Dickerson. “Their goal is to do away with One of the two mills is for bread flour, and Joseph E. Latouf, executive vice-president reliance on flour imports by importing wheat has the capacity to mill 350 metric tons of at Harlan Bakeries Inc. in Avon, Ind., said his instead and grinding it locally.” wheat per day. The other mill, which has a company has just finished negotiations to sup- Altex, with six wheat mills and three food- daily capacity of 100 tons, mills semolina, ply Alimport with frozen baked goods, includ- processing factories throughout Mexico, has a 20% share of the domestic flour market. One of its main clients is Bimbo, Mexico’s top pro- EXECUTIVES LAUNCH FLORIDA-CUBA BUSINESS COUNCIL ducer of bread and baked goods. Altex also processes pineapples, strawber- n any other state, it wouldn’t even be con- hold the FCBC’s first conference in Havana ries and other fruits, and is Mexico’s largest sidered news. But in Florida — long rather than Tampa so that participants could exporter of fresh and frozen broccoli to the I dominated by politicians who support the meet their Cuban counterparts face-to-face. United States, Europe and Japan. In addition, U.S. embargo against Cuba — it’s unusual But that would have excluded many partici- Altex operates a frozen orange-juice concen- when a group of executives establishes an pants, since under current U.S. law, only trate plant in the Mexican state of Veracruz. organization dedicated to normalizing trade those in the agriculture industry are allowed Cuba is currently the only place outside with the island nation. to visit Cuba for business. Mexico where Altex is indirectly involved. The Florida-Cuba Business Council, Membership in the FCBC costs $1,500 for The group headed by Avalos decided to in- based in Ft. Lauderdale, says its objective is corporations, $1,000 for individuals and $500 vest in Cuba because, he said, “we liked what “to create an environment for open trade and for academics and non-profit organizations. we saw.” He also had words of praise for direct investment in Cuba by Americans, The FCBC was incorporated as a non-prof- Alimport and its chief, Pedro Alvarez. and Floridians in particular.” it group last year, but is only now becoming “They’re extremely professional and very Pierre Galoppi, the council’s president, active. Galoppi, who owns a food export firm fair partners. There’s been a lot of paperwork; told CubaNews his group will lobby Florida’s as well as nine Miami travel agencies under like in any country in the world, you have to 25-member Congressional delegation, its the Estrella de Cuba banner, said he expects comply with local regulations. You have to two U.S. senators and 160 state lawmakers to have 15 to 20 members by the end of May. understand the culture and the people. The in Tallahassee. It also plans to host a confer- He said the organization will help mem- fact that we’re Latin does help us, and we are ence in Tampa this September. bers crack the Cuban market, make contact sensitive to the human side of the business.” “The views of those opposed to restric- with officials at Alimport and other govern- Avalos said there’s a good chance IMSA’s tions on trade with Cuba have never been ment agencies, and arrange U.S. Treasury operations will expand in the short term. well-aired in Florida. We believe this silence and Commerce Department licenses to visit “We would very much like to have mills has not worked in Florida’s economic inter- Cuba and do business there. outside of Havana, wherever there’s a need. I est,” says FCBC’s mission statement. Besides Galoppi, the FCBC’s board of dir- would tend to feel that our partners are as sat- “As we measure the results of liberaliza- ectors includes Antonio Zamora, Bernardo isfied with us as we are with them, and that tion in agriculture exports since the late Benes, Carlos Justo and Andy Goddard. more opportunities will follow.” 1990s, it is clear that Florida’s farmers and Details: Pierre Galoppi, Florida-Cuba Busi- Details: José Avalos, Executive VP, Organi- other agricultural interests are not getting ness Council, 229 SW 31 St., Ft Lauderdale, zación Altex, Paseo de las Palmas 820, Piso 2, their fair share of existing trade.” FL 33315. Tel: (305) 799-9094. Fax: (305) Lomas de Chapultepec, 11000 México, D.F. Galoppi said he would have preferred to 557-8900. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +52 55 5284-0378. Fax: +52 55 5540- 8378. E-mail: [email protected]. 12 CubaNews ❖ May 2004 for terrorism financing violations since 1994. “Outrageous Fortunes” details how the late BUSINESS BRIEFS In contrast, OFAC opened 10,683 probes Pepín Bosch, former head of Bacardí, since 1990 for violations against the embargo, acquired a bomber in a plot to blow up a VENEZUELA MAY PURCHASE IDLE OIL REFINERY and collected over $8 million in fines since Cuban oil refinery. A successful attack, he Venezuela is thinking about buying an oil 1994 — mostly from people like the Smiths hoped, would leave large parts of Havana refinery in Cienfuegos, and will likely open a who traveled to or did business with Cuba without electricity, triggering a popular upris- bank branch in Havana as it seeks to expand without permission. ing that would topple Castro. trade with Cuba, says the country’s new “OFAC plays a key role in the war against In a rare interview, Manuel Cutillas, chair- ambassador in Havana, Adán Chávez. terrorism since it is responsible for shutting man of the company from 1990 to 1998, con- The envoy — elder brother of President down terrorist financing activities — which cedes that individual family members may Hugo Chávez — said Apr. 9 that he wants to has nothing to do with Americans taking bike have done things he didn’t know about. strengthen economic and ideological ties tours through Cuba,” said Sen. Max Baucus “I really object to considering the Bacardi between the two political allies. (D-MT), who is fighting to lift the travel ban. corporation and the Bacardi family as one,” he Venezuela’s state-run PDVSA oil company told the network. “Members of the Bacardi has for years been considering involvement in BBC IMPLICATES BACARDI IN PAST VIOLENCE family, acting independently and of their own the oil refinery, which was built with outdated A TV documentary aired in mid-April by free will, might have done whatever.” Soviet technology but never finished. Great Britain’s BBC3 claims that during the A spokesman for Bacardi declined further According to Reuters, the ambassador 1960s and ‘70s, members of the Bacardi family comment on the BBC’s allegations, saying denied reports that Venezuela was sending used the rum empire’s millions to finance there was nothing new in the claims. Venezuela more than 53,000 barrels of oil a plots to kill Fidel Castro and a terrorist attack day under an agreement signed in October that killed 73 airline passengers. FIJI SEEKS CUBA’S AID IN FIXING SUGAR SECTOR 2000 (internal PDVSA documents leaked to London’s Guardian says the unwanted pub- The Pacific island nation of Fiji wants Cuba the Venezuelan press last November indicate licity comes amid speculation that Bacardi to train its athletes. It also hopes to pursue that up to 82,000 barrels a day were being plans to transform itself from the world’s 2nd- technical cooperation in the areas of sugar shipped to the island, mostly in the form of largest private firm, controlled by over 600 and tourism, reports the Pacnews agency. value-added derivatives such as gasoline). family shareholders, into a public company. Col. Isikia Savua, Fiji’s first ambassador to He also claimed Cuban payments of its near- Among other things, the BBC program Cuba, said that Havana has “promised to open ly $1 billion oil debt were on schedule. “We are not giving the oil away,” said Chávez. “There are no problems. Everything Ohio firm supplies electrical outlets at Cuban marina is flowing as established in the agreement.” The diplomat also said Venezuela’s export utside of 1950s-era gas guzzlers and purchase U.S. goods from distributors in finance bank, Banco de Comercio Exterior, old refrigerators in private homes, third countries as long as the goods are in will soon open a Havana office. In exchange, Oyou don’t see many American prod- general inventory with the third-country Cuba will help Venezuela build low-cost hous- ucts in Cuba these days — certainly not el- distributorship. In addition, a person subject ing as well as a plant to produce medicine. ectrical equipment made in the last 10 years. to U.S. jurisdiction could not have exported Some 12,000 Cuban doctors, teachers and That’s why it was such a surprise recently the goods to the third country distributor to sports instructors are already in Venezuela, when a CubaNews reporter, visiting the make them available for re-export to Cuba.” while Cuban sugar experts have helped the Marina Internacional Vita along Cuba’s But the spokeswoman added: “Depend- country restart abandoned refineries and northern coast near Holguín, discovered at ing on what type of goods they are, there build a new refinery in the state of Barinas. least a dozen electrical installations proudly may be a Department of Commerce re- “Made in the U.S.A.” export licensing requirement if a company CUBAN WOMEN MAKE SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES The devices, known Ensign Dockside in a third country wants to resell the goods Women currently represent 66% of Cuba’s Utility Centers, measure 42” high, 8” wide to Cuba or to persons in another country.” technical workforce, 35.4% of all administra- and 6” deep, making it easy for boaters to tors and 35.9% of the members of the National plug into 110- or 220-volt power outlets. Assembly, according to government statistics. The Utility Centers were manufactured In addition, 61% of all state prosecutors are by Accurate Electronics Inc. of North Ridge- female. Women currently run 48 major re- ville, Ohio, and purchased by Gaviota, a LARRY LUXNER search institutions in Cuba. Three first secre- Cuban tourism agency that is controlled by taries of the Cuban Communist Party in the the country’s Revolutionary Armed Forces. provinces are women, as are six ministers and CubaNews contacted Andrea Russell, 28 vice-ministers. sales manager of Will-Burt Co., which in 1999 bought out Accurate Electronics, in an VT. COUPLE FACES HEFTY FINE FOR CUBA TRAVEL effort to determine how the outlets ended A retired Vermont couple is facing $55,000 up in Cuba — and whether any laws relating in fines for four trips to Cuba they made while to the U.S. embargo of Cuba were violated. writing a travel book for bicyclists, reports AP. Russell told us she had no idea her com- Wally and Barbara Smith of Stafford, Vt., pany’s products were in service at a Cuban say they plan to contest the penalty. marina until we notified her last week. “We think it’s morally wrong to try to essen- “We’re not authorized to sell to Cuba,” tially wreck the economy of a country that has she said. “We do have some customers in not done anything against our interests, of Canada, but if they don’t disclose to us hon- substance, for 40 years, and poses absolutely estly where they’re going, there’s nothing no threat to us,” said Wally Smith, 61. we can do about that.” The charges come as the Treasury Depart- Whether the Ohio company broke the law ment’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, is up to the U.S. government to decide. which enforces the embargo, told Congress “It is possible Cuba purchased the materi- that between 1990 and 2003, it had opened als from a foreign inventory,” said a Treas- only 93 enforcement investigations related to ury Department spokeswoman. “Cuba can Ensign Dockside Utility Center in Holguín. terrorism, and collected just $9,425 in fines May 2004 ❖ CubaNews 13 doors and windows of opprtunity that will In late October, Pebercan announced the has 580 employees and has hosted many for- greatly supplement Fiji’s current bilateral and promotion of Cedric Sirven as vice-president eign dignitaries including Winston Churchill multilateral partnerships.” and chief of operations. Prior to that, he was and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Savua also said Cuba’s sugar downsizing Pebercan’s director and VP of finance. A single room at the Nacional goes for $120 can be useful for Fiji — which has a popula- Details: Cedric Sirven, Pebercan, 507 Place including breakfast; a double costs $170, and tion of around 856,000 — as it attempts to find d’Armes, Suite #1900, Montréal, Québec H2Y the eight-room presidential suite costs $1,000. meaningful sollutions to its own serious sugar 2W8. Tel: (514) 286-5200. Fax: (514) 286- So far this year, said Splinter, occupancy has industry problems. 5177. E-mail: [email protected]. averaged 80.6%, up from 75% last year. Among “We are basically no different from them, its attractions are the Cabaret Parisien extrav- and the lessons learned by the Cubans after CIENFUEGOS CEREAL PLANT IN FULL PRODUCTION aganza, which begins every night at 10 p.m., the collapse of Soviet subsidies can be very The Cienfuegos Cereal Plant has reached its and the famed Buena Vista Social Club, which useful to our current sugar industry restruc- maximum production capacity of 700 metric performs 2-3 times a week at the hotel. turing and reform program,” he said. tons a day, reports Cuban media. Details: Eric Splinter, Jefe de Ventas, Hotel Both Fiji and Cuba are members of the The plant, which recently received an injec- Nacional, Calle O, esq 21, Vedado, La Habana. Alliance of Small Island States. tion of 10 million pesos in new equipment, is Tel: +53 7 873-3896. Fax: +53 7 873-3899. expected to process 180,000 tons of wheat for E-mail: [email protected]. OIL PRODUCER PEBERCAN REPORTS SALES DROP the domestic market by year’s end. FCC FINES MIAMI STATION FOR PRANK ON FIDEL Canada’s Pebercan Inc. reported 2003 sales At present, the mill can process 100 tons of of US$44.7 million, down from $54.7 million in wheat into 77 tons of flour; the remainder is The Federal Communication Commission 2002. The company blamed “a decrease in oil milled into animal feed. ruled Apr. 24 that Miami radio station WXDJ- production delivered to its Cuban customer FM should be penalized $4,000 for making a due to undersized treatment capacity” HABANOS: ENOUGH TOBACCO FOR EVERYONE crank on-the-air phone call to Fidel Castro. Pebercan is involved in the exploration, de- Cuba’s 2004 tobacco harvest is finished and Spanish-speaking DJs Joe Ferrero and Enri- velopment and drilling of oil reserves in Cuba. weighs in at around 22,000 metric tons, up que Santos used snippets of an earlier prank Its mining property consists of 5 concessions from 17,000 tons last year. That will ensure involving Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez covering 6,155 square kms, including Block 7, supplies for the country’s cigar production, to move the call from a receptionist up the the only concession exploited so far. Pebercan Reuters reported Apr. 22. chain to Castro in a 5-minute broadcast. sells all its output to the Cuban government. “Pinar del Río met its plan for this year’s The pair exchanged pleasantries with Cas- In a press release, Pebercan explained that tobacco harvest and is at the point of ending tro before breaking in and calling him a mur- “the difficulties encountered in 2003 in the it,” according to official reports, referring to derer. The call ended when Castro denounced treatment of the gas associated with oil pro- the western province which cultivates virtual- the DJs with a stream of obscenities. duction and in water treatment led to a conse- ly all of Cuba’s tobacco crop. In its move, the FCC rejected WXDJ’s claim quent backchoked production at the wellhead “The growers say this year’s crop was a that a rule requiring people to be notified to temporarily limit gas volumes and avoid very good one, the best in five years or some- before their voices are used does not apply to infringing Cuban environmental regulations.” thing like that,” said Miguel Campoy, sales people in Cuba. The station has 30 days to To fix the problem of limited production ca- director of Habanos S.A., the exclusive expor- either pay the fine or appeal the decision. pacity, Pebercan initiated a program late last ter of Cuban cigars. Habanos is a 50-50 ven- TOURIST ARRIVALS UP 13.5% SO FAR THIS YEAR year to upgrade its treatment facilities, build a ture between Madrid-based Altadis S.A. and gas pipeline to evacuate gas safely and build a Cuba’s state-run Empresa Cubana del Tabaco. The number of tourists visiting Cuba rose water treatment plant. This last facility will be The island’s tobacco is rolled into 34 premi- 13.5% during the first three months of 2004 able to release purified production water um cigar brands, which together account for over the same period last year, with Canadian directly into the ocean through a discharge 30% of the world cigar market, currently esti- arrivals up 29% and British arrivals up 37.9%, line running 150 meters below sea level. mated at 300 million to 400 million units. according to official statistics. “The market is stable as is our percentage If current trends continue, Cuba will receive of it,” Campoy said. “We are focusing on quali- 2 million visitors this year, up from 1.9 million AIRPORT DUTY-FREE PRICES* ty, not quantity, and will grow more or less as in 2003. The island now ranks as the 8th most PRODUCT PRICE the market does.” popular tourist destination in the Americas. Gordon’s London Dry Gin (1 liter) $14.00 In 2002, Cuba reported cigar and tobacco- related exports at $142 million, down sharply GERMANS OPEN CIENFUEGOS MARINA COMPLEX Chivas Regal 12-Year-Old (1 liter) 38.65 from the $216 million in exports reported the Cienfuegos, known as Cuba’s “pearl of the Teachers Whiskey (1 liter) 13.10 year before. Exports increased in 2003 and south,” is now home to the only yacht basin Johnnie Walker Black Label(750ml) 22.00 prices edged back upwards, said Habanos, on Cuba’s Caribbean coast, with the opening William Grant’s Whiskey (1 liter) 16.10 though no figures have been made public. of a joint venture between state-run Cubana- cán Naútica and Bluesail, a subsidiary of Bailey’s Irish Cream (1 liter) 21.45 NACIONAL WELCOMES BACK AMERICAN GUESTS Jameson Irish Whisky (1 liter) Germany’s ConImpex. 16.15 Americans once again are the most frequent Berlin-based ConImpex, which has interests Brogan’s Irish Cream (1 liter) 16.15 guests at Havana’s Hotel Nacional — for the in Russia, Spain, Hungary and Bulgaria, was J & B Scotch (1 liter) 17.20 first time since the 1959 revolution. founded in 1990 and has been in business Smirnoff Vodka (1 liter) Last year, said sales chief Eric Splinter, U.S. with Cuba since 1995, chiefly in finance and 11.25 Marlboro (10-box carton) citizens comprised 19% of the hotel’s clientele, commerce, but also renting motorboats in 22.50 Winston Lights (10-box carton) followed by Spaniards (17%) and fewer num- Varadero and Jardines del Rey. 18.00 Gold Kenn Swiss chocolate cigars bers of Brits, Canadians and Italians. Company president Klaus Apel told Prensa 15.35 In 2003, Splinter told CubaNews, the famous Latina the 15-slip marina in Cienfuegos, 155 Cohiba Robustos (box of 25) 427-room hotel reported $20.3 million in sales, miles southeast of Havana, will soon have 200 281.00 Romeo y Julieta (25 Churchills) up from $18.6 million in 2002 but still shy of berths and is expected to become an interna- Montecristo No. 2 (25 Torpedos) 127.00 the $21 million recorded in 1999 and 2000. tional marina, attracting yacht owners from Cubita dark-roast coffee beans (1 kg) 12.10 Profits last year totaled around $10 million. Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain and France. Cubita soluble coffee (100g can) 1.60 Unlike many newer hotels, the Nacional — The project is in line with Cuba’s plans to inaugurated in 1930 — is not a joint venture boost the number of marinas from 19 to 38, Café Serrano ground coffee (1 kg) 13.30 with foreign investors, but is owned entirely with space for 6,400 vessels (see our special *All items priced 4-18-2004 at José Martí Int’l Airport, Havana. by the state-run Gran Caribe chain. The hotel report in CubaNews, February 2004, page 1). 14 CubaNews ❖ May 2004 AVIATION IBC enjoys monopoly on Miami-Havana air cargo service BY LARRY LUXNER does appear to offer big potential, given the enough cargo or not.” ercedes Costa hopes growing U.S. island’s population of 11.2 million and South Costa said business is profitable, mainly food exports to Cuba will boost rev- Florida’s large Cuban exile community. because IBC has no competition. Menues for IBC Airways, the only air- According to Costa, IBC flies 15,000 to “Gulfstream started doing cargo flights but line offering direct cargo service between 20,000 pounds of cargo per week from Miami they didn’t have enough volume,” she said. Miami and Havana. to Havana — mainly humanitarian “gift packs” “And because of FAA rules, neither Marazul, Costa is an account executive at IBC, a sub- from South Florida exiles to their families on ABC Charter or any of the other charter com- sidiary of International Bonded Couriers Inc. the island. The airline also carries diplomatic panies are allowed to put cargo on their com- She says the parent company was founded 25 correspondence for embassies in Havana, mercial flights to Havana.” years ago, and that IBC has been flying cargo Food shipments cost $3.50 to $3.70 per kilo- to and from Cuba for the last five years. gram on average, and there’s a $75 minimum “As a Miami-based company, we’ve kept a charge per shipment. very low profile for obvious reasons,” said “All shipments must have a Commerce De- Costa, who was in Havana for last month’s partment license. When I’m approached by a Alimport conference. customer, the first thing I do is ask if they But no more. Rapidly expanding shipments have a license. We ask them to fax me a copy of food and agricultural commodities to Cuba of their license. We make sure everything is — authorized under the Trade Sanctions Re- in order, then we start talking.” form and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 — Costa recently arranged a charter flight just make it necessary for U.S. exporters to send for Sysco, and in November brought to Hav- samples to Alimport. Because these samples ana a whole load of ice cream and live shrimp. must arrive quickly, they generally go by air. Even so, food constitutes only 10-15% of “We have participated in most of the food IBC Shorts 360 can carry up to 7,600 lbs. of cargo. IBC’s total cargo to Havana. The bulk of its trade shows,” Costa told CubaNews, noting Cuba business is gift packs and diplomatic that Alimport has been a great help to IBC. including the U.S. Interests Section, which pouches; IBC has also flown X-ray machines, “I’ve been talking to them for two years. happens to be one of IBC’s biggest clients. medical equipment and magazines to Cuba. Every time they start negotiating with a com- IBC also flies a small amount of cargo the IBC also offers direct courier service into pany and that company wants to send samples other way. and out of Havana, in a partnership with state- and exhibit stands to Cuba, Alimport refers “We fly animals — Cubans who move to the run Cubanacán Express. Envelopes must con- them to us.” States later send for their dogs and cats. tain documents only and weigh no more than Among IBC’s regular customers are Con- That’s a huge business for us northbound. We 2 lbs. The cost is $32 for the first pound and $4 agra, Florida Produce, Riceland Foods, Crow- also send human remains, music CDs and art, for each additional pound. ley, Sysco and Purity Products. but we’re very limited because of the embar- Costa says her airline is carrying 200 to 250 IBC, which has 120 employees in Miami go,” she said. packages a month from Cuba to points alone, operates a fleet of 12 Metro III and Costa was born in Manzanillo, in the east- throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. Shorts 360 aircraft, with daily flights between ern province of Granma, and came to Miami in Besides Havana, IBC occasionally does Miami and Kingston, Freeport, Nassau, 1967. She’s been in the transportation indus- charters to Holguín, the U.S. Naval Base at Grand Cayman and Providenciales. try for 20 years, and has been working at IBC Guantánamo and elsewhere. IBC has over 50 The airline also flies Tuesdays, Wednes- for the last 10 years. offices throughout the United States, Central days and Fridays to Terminal 2 at Havana’s “It’s been a really long struggle. We started America, South America and the Caribbean, José Martí International Airport. The Metro out with 400 pounds, once a week. We were and recently opened an office in Washington. III has a cargo capacity of 4,200 lbs., while the losing our butts, but we kept up the frequency Details: Mercedes Costa, Account Executive, Shorts 360 can carry 7,600 lbs. of cargo. of our flights anyway and paid our dues. Now IBC Airways, 8401 NW 17th St., Miami, FL While Cuba still represents a small per- we have a steady frequency of three flights a 33152. Tel: (786) 488-2935. Fax: (305) 471- centage of IBC’s overall business, she said, it week, sometimes four, whether we have 9619. E-mail: [email protected].

BUSINESS GUIDE TO CUBA DVD traces 25 years of U.S., Cuba air links The Business Guide to Cuba is the most Estela Bravo’s new 33-minute documentary, In her latest documentary, Bravo covers the comprehensive research report on Cuban “Free to Fly,” examines efforts by U.S. acti- development of charter flights to Havana by business and politics available today. vists to end the travel ban against Cuba. Marazul, ABC Charter and other agencies. With more than 300 pages of exclusive Bravo, who showed the DVD at last month’s The film includes interviews with the Rev. information, data, charts and maps on all Alimport conference in Havana, declined to Lucius Walker as well as travel providers, productive sectors of the economy — as say how much it cost her to make. politicians and Cuban-Americans, yet is hardly well as a list of official contacts, business “This was done with the support of the trav- objective (featured is an old clip of Alpha 66 practices and even Cuban street slang — el agencies, which wanted me to do a docu- thugs violently attacking a Pastors for Peace the Business Guide to Cuba is your No. 1 mentary, so we said we’d do it,” Bravo told food convoy heading to Cuba via Mexico). resource on potential investment opportu- CubaNews during an impromptu interview. “People from the far right are so out of it nities and pitfalls in this emerging market. “But nobody has ever told me what to film. about opening up to Cuba, and that’s what we Copies of the guide are available for only $99 each, shipping and handling included. There was no censoring whatsoever.” focus on in the film, lifting the travel ban,” said To order your copy, call us toll-free today Bravo, who divides her time between New Bravo. “It doesn’t touch on the embargo.” at (800) 365-1997, fax us at (301) 365-1829 York and Havana, has done over 30 social doc- To order “Free to Fly” on DVD, send $28 to: or send an e-mail to [email protected]. umentaries including “Missing Children in IFCO, 402 W. 145th St., New York, NY 10031. Visa, MasterCard and Amex accepted. Argentina,” “The Cuban Excludables,” “Child- Tel: (212) 926-5757. Fax: (212) 926-5842. E- ren in Debt” and “Fidel: The Untold Story.” mail: [email protected]. Major credit cards accepted. May 2004 ❖ CubaNews 15 MUSIC Cuban rockeros thriving on concerts, albums and videos BY OUR HAVANA CORRESPONDENT ually developed a more complex sound that hen talking about Cuban music, usu- approaches industrial and Goth. ally the first thing that comes to mind “Yo quiero eso, yo me conecto, y no la pienso, Wis the Buena Vista Social Club, the yeah, bring it on, este es mi ambiente, bien Grammy Award-winning project that was one LARRY LUXNER caliente, si, caliente, bring it on.” These rap- of Cuba’s most successful musical collabora- inspired lyrics from the song “Bring It On” by tions of the 1990s. the group Tribal represent the lighter side of Compay Segundo’s Chan Chan has virtual- nu-metal in Cuba. ly become the soundtrack for all things They also attempt to better reflect a Cuban Cuban, the way Joseíto Fernández’s Guanta- youth perspective. Their hit song “Aprende Tu namera once was. There’s also Cuban salsa Walk” is about young rock fans trying to fit — known here on the island as timba. More into Cuban society. “Tu no sabes lo que es me- than 70% of the music played on Cuban radio jor, tu no sabes lo que es peor, no sabes, no sa- stations is salsa; its proven popularity makes bes, no sabes lo que es descargar con mi gente.” it a safe bet for local radio DJs. Many successful bands write their lyrics in But there’s more to Cuban music than just Spanish. English is often the language of timba and the Buena Vista crooners. choice, though. Some musicians claim they’re Beyond faint radio signals from South simply paying tribute to the original language Florida and taped copies of MTV, Cuban rock of the music. breathes, and no longer copies patterns from “We mainly sing in English,” says William shows like Uranium and Headbanger’s Ball, Labastida, guitarist and leader of Tribal, “be- which have trickled in from relatives and A bronze John Lennon adorns Vedado park bench. cause we want to reach all kinds of audiences friends abroad over the years. and break down market barriers. We also Worn-out copies of magazines like Metal The sound was heavy, with aggressive riffs include rap voices in Spanish to achieve the Hammer, Kerrang and Spin make the rounds and a density of sound that has been sound we’re looking for, and above all, to among friends and aspiring rockeros until the described as ominous, detached and visceral. show that we are Cuban.” pages wear out and the covers fall off. This mix of raw, hardcore metal sound Tribal’s compositions are inspired by bands Gradually, Cubans are starting to realize that combined with the musical irreverence of like Matchbox 20, Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye they need their own publications. punk and the lyrical cadence of hip-hop has Blind, Weezer and others. “So when we're Korn, Tool, Deftones, Limp Bizkit, Papa become the successful formula for a new asked what genre we classify our music into, Roach, Linkin Park and Slipknot are some of sound. It was only a matter of time before nu- we reply that we are an alternative rock band, the most popular bands that emerged from metal reached Cuba, and was adopted by and nothing more,” said Labastida. the chaos of the post-alternative era (that is, Cuban bands into the island’s rockero scene. Tribal had the privilege of being signed by after the rise and fall of bands like Nirvana, “On this planet we’re lost in time like tears in Benny Moré Art Company, which has also Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam). the rain,” howls the lead singer of Escape, a opened doors for outfits like Anima Mundi The freshest trend, nu-metal — also known Cuban nu-metal band, in a song titled Fade (progressive rock), Agonizer (thrash), Joker as “Adidas rock” — came onto the scene in Away. Escape started out very similar in style (grunge) and Zeus (one of the oldest active the mid-90s, using a musical formula pio- to the U.S. bands Slipknot and Mudvayne, fea- heavy-thrash metal bands). neered by Korn: depressed, and depressing, turing cathartic, angst-ridden music and band Yet rock music in Cuba continues to be stig- guitars surging toward an impassioned con- members wearing bizarre makeup and matized. The victim of years of neglect, it is vulsion combined with the screams and whis- masks. But the Cuban version of Slipknot has not easily accepted by companies and organi- pered confessions of singer Jonathan Davis. avoided becoming a tasteless copy, and grad- zations that promote Cuban music, and it is often referred to as if it were something for- eign to Cuban music. U.S. denies visas to Cuban jazz band, noted filmmaker The bronze statue of John Lennon — sit- A two-month U.S. tour by the 15-piece by the State Department for the denial of ting on a bench in a park named after him at Cuban jazz-pop band !Cubanismo! has been visas for this tour, which would have started the corner of 17th and 8th streets in Vedado canceled because its members were denied Apr. 2 and run through May 28. — was inaugurated by Fidel Castro on Dec. 8, visas to enter the United States, reports the Also denied a U.S. visa was Cuban direc- 2000. It seems to redeem all-time rockeros Los Angeles Times. tor Fernando Pérez, who was hoping to par- from the rabbit holes that Cuban society !Cubanismo!, made up of musicians from ticipate in last month’s Fifth Havana Film intended to put them into. various Cuban bands, has played in the U.S. Festival in New York. Help from Cuban organizations that pro- several times over the last decade, including This marks the 2nd time Perez, director mote new artists, such as the Hermanos Saiz last year, after other groups from Cuba had of the award-winning film “Suite Habana,” Association, has increased in recent years. been refused entry to the U.S. because of was denied entry into the United States. The Cuban Ministry of Culture has gradually post-9/11 tensions. “These policies harm dialogue and cultur- opened its doors to non-traditional genres, “Their situation is slightly different than al exchange, which should be above all bar- but it’s still a struggle for Cuban bands to find most Cuban bands,” said Chris Goldsmith riers,” said Pérez, who previously was a place within the music spectrum. of San Francisco-based Rosebud Agency, blocked from attending the 21st MiamiFilm Recently, rock enthusiasts held their first which booked the U.S. tour of 43 shows in Festival in February. international festival, Caiman Rock, luring a 34 cities, “in that they’re not a band that has Cuban Institute of Cinema Art and Indus- long list of local and foreign bands to Havana: played in Cuba and they’ve never received try executives Susana Molina and Rosa Tribal, Escape, Rice and Beans, Zeus, C-Men, money from the Cuban government.” Maria Rovira were also denied visas to Tendencia (ethno-thrash, a tribute to Afro- Goldsmith said no explanation was given attend the New York event. Cuban roots), Agonizer, Combat Noise, Hip- nosis, Blinder, Anima Mundi and Elevense. 16 CubaNews ❖ May 2004 CALENDAR OF EVENTS CARIBBEAN UPDATE If your organization is sponsoring an upcoming event, please let our readers know! You already know what’s going in Cuba, Fax details to CubaNews at (301) 365-1829 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. thanks to CubaNews. Now find out what’s happening in the rest of this diverse and May 3: “Cuba’s Economy and Social Welfare in the 21st Century.” Lecture by University fast-growing region. Subscribe to Caribbean UPDATE, a of Pittsburgh’s Carmelo Mesa Lago, Brookings Institution, Washington. Sponsored by monthly newsletter founded in 1985. Cor- Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy and FIU’s Cuban Research Institute. De- porate and government executives, as well tails: Joaquín Pujol, ASCE, PO Box 567, McLean, VA 22101. E-mail: [email protected]. as scholars and journalists, depend on this publication for its insightful, timely cover- May 4-8: Expoagua 2004, Pabexpo, Havana. Details: Minerva Ugalde Teyra, Palacio de age of the 30-plus nations and territories of the Caribbean and Central America. Convenciones, Havana. Tel/Fax: +53 7 879-6786. E-mail: [email protected]. When you receive your first issue, you have two options: (a) pay the accompany- May 8: “Cuba: A Photographic Retrospective.” One-day exhibit by Cuban photographer ing invoice and your subscription will be Roberto Salas, Napa Hall, California State University, Sacramento. Details: Public Affairs, processed; (b) if you’re not satisfied, just write “cancel” on the invoice and return it. California State University, Sacramento. Tel: (916) 278-5897. E-mail: [email protected]. There is no further obligation on your part. The cost of a subscription to Caribbean May 12: Cuba Agriculture Business Conference, Houston. Event, sponsored by Texas- UPDATE is $267 per year. A special rate of Cuba Trade Alliance, will discuss exporting Texas farm products to Cuba. Cost: $100. De- $134 is available to academics, non-profit tails: Parr Rosson, Texas A&M University, 464A Blocker Bldg, 2124 TAMU, College Station, organizations and additional subscriptions mailed to the same address. TX 77843-2124. Tel: (979) 845-3070. Fax: (979) 847-9378. E-mail: [email protected]. To order, contact Caribbean UPDATE at 116 Myrtle Ave., Millburn, NJ 07041, call us May 19: Talk by Ned Sublette, author of “Cuba and Its Music: From the First Drums to at (973) 376-2314, visit our new website at the Mambo.” Details: Bildner Center for Western Hemisphere Studies, 365 Fifth Ave., Suite www.caribbeanupdate.org or send an #5209, New York, NY 10016-4309. Tel: (212) 817-2096. E-mail: [email protected]. e-mail to [email protected]. We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. May 20: “The New Bush Initiatives Toward Cuba and Their Consequences for U.S.-Latin America Relations,” Brookings Institution, Washington. Details: Chloe Schwabe, Center for International Policy, Washington. Tel: (202) 232-3317. E-mail: [email protected].

May 21-28: St. Augustine-Baracoa Friendship Association humanitarian mission to Cu- ba. Cost: $1,100 including airfare. Details: Sali McIntire, PO Box 861086, St. Augustine, FL 32086. Tel: (904) 461-3175. E-mail: [email protected]. URL: www.staugustine-baracoa.org. Editor & Publisher I LARRY LUXNER I Jun. 3-6: US-Cuba Sister Cities Association to hold 5th Annual Conference on Citizen Washington correspondent Diplomacy, Washington. Details: Lisa Valanti, President, USCSCA, 320 Lowenhill Street, I ANA RADELAT I Pittsburgh, PA 15216. Tel: (412) 563-1519. Fax: (412) 563-1945. E-mail uscsca.aol.com. Political analyst I DOMINGO AMUCHASTEGUI I Jun. 6-9: International Rum Festival 2004, Havana. Event to feature nine rum brands in- Feature writers cluding Havana Club, Legendario, Santiago de Cuba, Varadero and others. Details: Belkys I VITO ECHEVARRÍA I I PETER DIEKMEYER I Acosta, Dirección de Exportaciones y Ventas al Mercado Interior, Ministerio de la Industria Contributing editor Alimenticia, Ave. 41, #4455, Havana. Tel: +53 7 203-3518 x52. E-mail: [email protected]. I DOUGLASS G. NORVELL I Cartographer I ARMANDO H. PORTELA I

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