Cuba's Havana Times.org

Cuba: The Advantages of Alzheimer’s

Circles Robinson — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:56:07 +0000

His hand, covered in blisters and thick veins, runs over the pile of plastic bags. With trembling fingers, he separates one from the bunch and places it on the buyer’s hand. His own hand closes to grab hold of the one-peso coin. He puts the coin away, then casts an empty stare towards the floor, towards the void. (13 photos)

A Sunday on Havana’s Paseo del Prado

Circles Robinson — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:10:41 +0000

The Paseo del Prado in Old Havana, built in 1772 to resemble the Paseo del Prado in Madrid, is a kilometer long and extends from Fraternity Park, to the Malecon seawall. It is one of the most popular avenues of the city both for inhabitants and visitors, with its marble benches under shady trees. (30 photos)

Cuba: Alan Gross Settles Lawsuit, Remains in Prison

Circles Robinson — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:43:01 +0000

Alan Gross is scheduled to walk out his Cuban prison in 2024 and when he does he will have a nest egg waiting after his lawyers settled a lawsuit with his former employer Development Alternatives Inc., a USAID contractor.

Benedetti in Alamar, Cuba

Circles Robinson — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:02:10 +0000

Today, I remembered how Uruguayan poet Mario Benedetti would walk down the streets of Alamar, a proletarian neighborhood in Havana conceived to harbor the socialist New Man, with his mustachioed face, his short temper and his immense dignity.

Letter to Raul Castro Demanding Free Internet Access for All Cubans

Circles Robinson — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:44:12 +0000

My dear Comandante, allow me to steal a few minutes of the precious time you are devoting to Cuba’s reforms, reforms which, according to you, will be implemented “surely but not hastily”, to tell you a few things about the history of a celebration of which, apparently, you know next to nothing.

How Expensive is having a Child in Cuba?

Circles Robinson — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:07:20 +0000

For the second consecutive year, the London-based organization Save the Children has identified Cuba as the best country in Latin America to be a mother. Reading this, I cannot but think that the author of the report must have visited a Cuba located on another planet and not the country where the mother of my children has to get up every morning.

Internet Censorship in Cuba Backfires

Circles Robinson — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:09:40 +0000

The censors shot themselves in the foot, because the young bloggers decided to fight for their rights without foreign aid, using their own resources and securing the help of a number of Cuban bloggers, among whom they found a space to continue divulging their opinions.

Cuba to Host Latin American Council of Churches Meeting

Circles Robinson — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:04:20 +0000

The Latin American Council of Churches (ClaI) will meet in Cuba next week, after finding alternative funding to that seized by the US government, said Nilton Giese, general secretary of the group on Thursday.

Brazilian Doctors Oppose Hiring Cubans

Circles Robinson — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:40:12 +0000

Brazilian doctors objected Wednesday to the recent announcement that their government plans to hire 6000 Cuban doctors to meet the shortfall of health professionals in interior regions of the nation, reports AP.

Ladies in White Receive Human Rights Foundation Award

Circles Robinson — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:05:35 +0000

The leader of the Ladies in White, Berta Soler, received the Vaclav Havel award on Wednesday, given by the organization Human Rights Foundation, during the Oslo Freedom Forum held in the Norwegian capital, EFE reported. Norwegian capital, EFE reported.

Ex-Cuban Prisoners Out on the Street in Spain

Circles Robinson — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:14:22 +0000

If someone had told Cuban dissident Gilberto Martínez what would happen to him in Spain, he wouldn't have believed it. He might have chalked the prediction to Castroite propaganda. On May 7, Spanish police evicted Martínez, 50, from the house in Alicante where he lived with his wife and three children.

Cuba’s X Alfonso: A Concert to Remember

Circles Robinson — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:39:43 +0000

One of the distinctive characteristics of contemporary Cuban music is the plurality of its sounds and styles. Of the artists who have recently emerged to produce works that are unique for audiences at home and abroad, I believe that X Alfonso is one of the most outstanding, having had the courage to experiment and merge musical genres from different traditions.

Cuba: The Persistence of Institutional Racism

Circles Robinson — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:42:39 +0000

Who is responsible for the fact that the issue of color isn’t mentioned in Cuban schools, that race isn’t a subject of study or research in any University syllabus, or that these questions aren’t sufficiently addressed by the media? Without a doubt, the Ministry of Education, Cuban television and the official press are responsible.

Cuba 20 Years After Strawberry & Chocolate

Circles Robinson — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:09:46 +0000

Cuba has changed a lot over these past two decades. Since the release of Strawberry and Chocolate, the only Cuban film ever to be nominated as Best Foreign Film at the Oscars, the country and its people have experienced many changes… but they haven’t been enough.

Weather in Havana, May 16-22

Circles Robinson — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:03:43 +0000

This coming week will have relatively high temperaturas. Starting Saturday scattered afternoon rains will occur, typical of our summer weather, and a product of the heating up during the day. The average high temperature will be 32°C (88 F) on the weekend.

Allan Nairn: After Ríos Montt Verdict, Time for U.S. to Account for Its Role in Guatemalan Genocide

Circles Robinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:30:24 +0000

Following last week’s guilty verdict in Guatemala’s historic genocide trial, reporter Allan Nairn says the United States should follow Guatemala’s lead and indict the Reagan administration officials who supported the genocide under General Efraín Ríos Montt.

Cuba Returns to Davis Cup Tennis

Circles Robinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:51:08 +0000

Cuba will return to the Davis Cup after four years of not competing, decided the National Sports Commission on Tuesday, reported DPA news.

Cuba’s Agriculture Continues to Slump

Circles Robinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:50:58 +0000

Despite efforts to bolster agricultural and livestock production and reduce food product imports, the most recent Cuban government statistics reveal that production statistics for crops not included in the sugar cane sector plummeted by 7.8 percent during the first quarter of 2013. Some of the most troublesome areas are the potato, citrus and dairy production.

27 Families Evicted in Guanabo, Havana

Circles Robinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:47:08 +0000

A total of twenty seven families living in the beach town of Guanabo, east of Havana, lost their homes amid a strong police special troops operation to evict them, reported Diario de Cuba on Tuesday.

Cuban duo eliminated in World Table Tennis Tournament

Circles Robinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:30:08 +0000

The Cuban male duo composed of Jorge Campos and Andy Pereira fell Tuesday to the Swedes Hampus Nordberg and Fabian Akerstrom, and were eliminated from the World table tennis tournament being held in Paris from May 13 to 20.

Pastoral Platform Demands Release of Cuban Five

Circles Robinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:24:15 +0000

The Cuban Pastoral Platform issued a proclamation on Tuesday expressing the need for the reunification of the Cuban State Security agents serving long prison terms with their families on the island, reported Prensa Latina.

Artemisa Communist Party Leader Dismissed

Circles Robinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:19:00 +0000

The secretary of the Communist Party in the province of Artemis, Ulises Guilarte, was removed from his post and replaced by José Antonio Valeriano who until now directed the Department of Industry and Construction of the Central Committee.

Obama Must Set the Cuban Five Free

Circles Robinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:39:05 +0000

In the course of over 14 years, I have often asked myself why so much secrecy has surrounded the case of the five Cubans who were detained in Miami in 1998.

Motorcyles Get Around Venezuela’s Monster Traffic

Yordanka Caridad — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:30:09 +0000

Though automobile prices are sky-high, Venezuela is still one of the Latin American countries with the most cars per inhabitant. As one might expect, Venezuelan roads become jammed in the morning and afternoon rush hours. This is what has made Venezuela’s moto-cabs, or motorcycles plain and simple, a near-indispensable means of transportation. (24 photos)

Should We Criticize Mandela?

Alfredo Fernandez — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:37:50 +0000

Some days ago, we saw a heated debate about the petition that a number of renowned Cuban dissidents have made to the US government, calling for hardline measures that would bring about the economic collapse of the country and thus definitively remove the Castro brothers from power.

Havana’s Mantilla Neighborhood in Pictures

Circles Robinson — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:01:54 +0000

Mantilla evinces the stark contrasts that characterize contemporary Cuba: there, one finds recently-constructed residences or tastefully refurbished homes, next to dilapidated, unfinished or, in some cases, ramshackle wooden houses. Many of its streets are also in a deplorable state, and some are not even asphalted. (33 photos)

Cuba/Homophobia: It’s Never Too Late

Circles Robinson — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:13:02 +0000

I am even more bemused by those who affirm that legalizing same-sex marriages and accepting homosexuality as “normal” sets a bad example for young generations. I wonder if they are just as worried by the violence in the movies these young generations are watching. (34 photos)

The Traps of Nostalgia

Veronica Vega — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:38:18 +0000

That the pangs of nostalgia can deceive us, painting our memories of the past with bright colors, is a feeling I had for the first time some years ago, while reading a novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. As I’ve grown older I have become slightly more suspicious of any romantic perception of the past.

My Birthday Pants

Jorge Milanes — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:26:02 +0000

Finding a skillful tailor or seamstress in Havana is no easy task. In fact, the last time it took me nearly a year of asking around to be able to order a pair of dress pants, pants I had intended to wear on my birthday for the first time.

Cuba: Moving Backwards

Veronica Fernadez — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:38:37 +0000

We are going backwards in time, journeying back to the bud, as Alejo Carpentier would have put it. This regression is gnawing away more and more of our integrity every day. In Cuba, Darwin’s theory about the evolution of the species is proven wrong again and again.

Ríos Montt Guilty of Genocide: Are Guatemalan President Pérez Molina, US Officials Next?

Circles Robinson — Tue, 14 May 2013 04:05:19 +0000

The ruling marks the first time a former head of state had been found guilty of genocide in his own country. The judge in the case has instructed prosecutors to launch an immediate investigation of "all others" connected to the crimes. Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina was among those implicated during the trial’s testimony after having served as a regional commander under Ríos Montt’s regime.

René González attends Gala Against Homophobia

Circles Robinson — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:06:30 +0000

"We're here fighting a battle against behaviors that have made many people suffer. Suffering for not having freedom unites us. We must eliminate all forms of discrimination and lack of freedom," Rene Gonzalez told the predominantly LGBT audience.

Cuba Has Farm Products Wholesale Market

Circles Robinson — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:57:47 +0000

Cuban Vice President Marino Murillo told an expanded meeting of the Council of Ministers on Friday that a wholesale market has been established for farm products in the Havana municipality of Boyeros and that both private and and state company buyers will have access.

Cuban Lawyer Defends New Family Code

Circles Robinson — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:34:46 +0000

The president of the Cuban Society of Civil and Family Law, Olga Mesa, defended the entry into force as soon as possible of a new Family Code, during the recently concluded International Conference on Family Law.

Life, Death, Resistance in Havana Exhibit

Circles Robinson — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:50:13 +0000

Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala are the three countries that awakened Jonathan “Jonas” Moller’s social consciousness and art. Two passions, activism and photography, which he tells us, have flourished together. He tells us about his experiences in this tumultuous region of the world in an exhibit titled Our Culture Is Our Resistance, on display until May 28th in the El Reino de Este gallery at Havana’s National Library. (16 photos)

Cuban Five Leader Criticizes Agents who Cooperated with US Gov.

Circles Robinson — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:48:19 +0000

Cuban agent Gerardo Hernandez, currently serving two life sentences on charges of conducting espionage in the United States, has leveled strong criticisms at members of the Avispa Network (Red Avispa) who cooperated with US federal authorities in order to reduce their sentences.

Cuba: The Business of Charity

osmel — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:08:10 +0000

Odalys, one of my mother’s neighbors, has a niece who’s made some significant additions to her wardrobe of late. She now has some rather expensive garments, but, no, she doesn’t have a salary that would make such luxury affordable.

Celebrating a Child’s Birthday in Cuba

Regina Cano — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:53:07 +0000

Over the years, preparing a child’s birthday party in Cuba has become as elaborate and involved a process as those which people living in industrialized and “developed” nations often undertake to fulfill certain fantasies.

Havana’s “Cerro” Municipality Celebrates

Circles Robinson — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:22:04 +0000

What is today the municipality of Cerro was first founded as a township 424 years ago. In recent decades a Culture Week is held to celebrate the anniversary. The 34th such event, dedicated to the popular and traditional dances. "Clave y Guaguancó" had the youth dancing, and the not so young as well. (30 photos)

Yolo Bonilla: Cuban Music Brazilian Style

Circles Robinson — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:35:04 +0000

Cuban troubadour Yolo Bonilla shares with us the details of his latest album, the first to ever achieve a fusion of Cuban music and the Brazilian style by rendering original versions of songs in the Portuguese language. "The idea came to me after a concert that was supposed to be a kind of farewell performance."

Cuba’s 2013 Anti-Homophobia Parade Held

Circles Robinson — Sun, 12 May 2013 01:57:10 +0000

Some 500 members and supporters of Cuba’s LGBT community paraded on Saturday morning along the busy 23rd Street in Havana in the now traditional anti-homophobia campaign calling for respect for diversity and rejection of sexual prejudice. The march took place to the beat of the popular Cuban sound of the "conga" with trumpets and drums. (21 photos)

Emergency Landing in Santiago de Cuba

Circles Robinson — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:36:05 +0000

A Cubana Airlines plane made an emergency landing in Santiago de Cuba on Thursday, the second in less than 20 days, reported Diario de Cuba. No injuries were reported. The night flight from Havana to Santiago made several attempts to land, “apparently due to difficulties with the landing gear.”

Cuba: The Hard Work of Being a Mother

Circles Robinson — Sat, 11 May 2013 13:28:18 +0000

Today, on the eve of Mother’s Day, I want to refer to a number of comments I received a few months ago, in response to the post “The Height of Forgetfulness”, which I had published on this site. I believe those who accused me of being irresponsible were right. In fact, that is precisely what I felt...

Rios Montt Sentenced to 80 Years in Prison

Circles Robinson — Sat, 11 May 2013 12:27:09 +0000

Guatemala's former dictator Efrain Rios Montt, was sentenced Friday to 80 years in prison on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. The judgment was divided into 50 years for genocide and 36 years for crimes against humanity

Cuban Five’s Rene Gonzalez Is Now Just Cuban

Circles Robinson — Sat, 11 May 2013 02:03:21 +0000

The US State Department agreed to allow former Cuban intelligence agent Rene Gonzalez –one of the Cuban Five- to give up his United States citizenship, allowing him to remain in Cuba.

Despite Evidence of Massacres, Former Guatemalan Dictator Proclaims Innocence at Genocide Trial

Circles Robinson — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:13:17 +0000

A verdict is expected as early as today in the historic trial against U.S.-backed Guatemalan dictator Efraín Ríos Montt, the first head of state in the Americas to stand trial for genocide. He is charged with overseeing the slaughter of more than 1,700 people in Guatemala’s Mayan region after he seized power in 1982.

EU to Start Negotiations with Cuba by Year’s End

Circles Robinson — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:00:35 +0000

The European Union (EU) believes it’s a good time to talk to the Cuban government, and to begin negotiations by the end of this year, announced Christiam Leffter, the EU Americas Department executive director.

Cuba’s Real Estate Market: Booming Speculation

Circles Robinson — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:21:39 +0000

When after more than 50 years of restrictions, the Cuban gov. opened the Pandora’s box of Cuba’s real estate market, many experts predicted that the country would experience a boom in home sales and purchases. Rather than a mad spiral of sales, however, this incipient and atypical market has given rise to a speculative phenomenon.

When Will the Works of Octavio Paz be Published in Cuba?

Irina Echarry — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:51:40 +0000

Octavio Paz’ interests were not limited to Mexico’s past and present. The writer also explored the works of great personalities, of renowned painters, writers, bards and politicians. Paz felt he was a part of the world and would express his sincere opinions on issues he considered at once political and human.

Cuba/Sexual Offenses: Sharing the Blame

Veronica Vega — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:20:14 +0000

Sexual offenses seem to be one of the world’s thorny issues today. I am constantly reading of gang-rapes involving a woman, a teenager or a little girl, about victims who commit suicide and even about rapists who publicly boast of their crime.