Island with excess baggage
Lacking any protection, Cubans enter the General Customs of the Republic where they pay the price of return. A chalk mark on the suitcase signals who must pass through the scaffold-of-valuation and the institutional assault-by-taxation on certain goods. Curiously, the airport employees have a keen nose for detecting returning nationals because they know they come bearing various and incredible objects. Outside, in the waiting room, families dream of embracing their emigrés and fantasize about the possible gifts, meanwhile they weigh the passenger’s luggage and show the heavy toll demanded to settle up.
One might come to think that in a country where so many products and resources are lacking, flexibility about importing them—on a personal scale—should characterize the customs process: but that’s not the case. Rather, we live at the other extreme, with a strict, “List of internal valuation” that forces repayment for the contents of the bags, whether it is soap, a tin of sardines, or a laptop. Everything is complicated when the excited visitor thinks to bring the relatives a household appliance or a digital camera. If he wishes to bring in these modernities, he must empty his wallet of an amount that runs from 10 to 80 convertible pesos. It comes to be like a ransom, given to the “kidnappers” of the foreigner so that the equipment can reach the hands of its recipients.
Like an industry of robbery, Cuban customs expands, daily, the numbers confiscated, while adding thousands of dollars to the cash box through the concept of taxes. Their huge storerooms are filled with hair dryers, Play Stations, electric ovens and computers brought by travelers. The destination of these goods is never explained, but we all know they take the Olive Green Road of so very much else. The Island would appear, if we are guided by the restrictions on entry, to be on the point of drowning under the pounds of abundance and prosperity. But we all know that its forty-three thousand square miles are on the verge of floating away, from the lightness that results from lack of productivity and scarcity.
Enero 26th, 2010 at 21:14
CREIO QUE O POVO CUBANO DEVERIA CRIAR UMA SOCIEDADE SECRETA PARA PLANEJAR UMA REVOLUÇÃO, CIVIL E ATÉ MILITAR. A POPULAÇÃO DEVERÁ SE INFILTRAR EM TODOS OS POSTOS DO GOVERNO. E NO MOMENTO CERTO DECLETAR A REVOLUÇÃO. COMECEM UMA CAMPANHA FORMIGUINHA. UMA ANDORINHA SÓ NÃO FAZ VERÃO. É PRECISO AÇÃO.
Enero 13th, 2010 at 15:55
DEATH TO COMMUNISM [remainder of comment removed for personal threat]
Moderator’s note: It is fine to wish death to ideas, political systems and other inanimate things on this blog; death threats against persons cross the line.
Enero 11th, 2010 at 11:35
Juan
You are joke with your pseudo intellectual words and superior attitude. “You and your kind”? What kind am I Juan? You want to pigeonhole everyone who doesn’t agree with you in some tight little bundle. You are laughable.
Enero 11th, 2010 at 11:28
correction
,and the right of a woman….
Enero 11th, 2010 at 11:26
It is understandable that I come across as a right-winger; however, I must point out that I believe in homosexual rights, decriminalization of soft drugs, universal health care, the right of a woman to have a choice regarding abortion. Moreover, I voted for Barack Obama, for he was the only candidate who could address our country’s domestic issues in a rational fashion. I am only a right-winger when I have to deal with Cuban communists;hence, one should never judge a book by its cover.
Pedro Luis Boitel
http://www.boitelpedagogical.i8.com
boiteltaks@yahoo.com
Enero 11th, 2010 at 10:20
If anyone deletes my remark, I will consider such action as incontrovertible evidence that censorship reigns in this particular blog.
Enero 11th, 2010 at 10:20
If anyone deletes my remark, I will consider such action incontrovertible evidence that censorship reigns supreme in this particular blog.
Pedro Luis Boitel
Enero 11th, 2010 at 10:10
Who cares about the Cuban government and its reaction? As far as I am concerned, every communist should visit the hangman. I am certain that once the communist system collapses, the only solution to the “communist dilemma” will be the extermination of those who condone such an obsolete form of government. The time will come, for it is inevitable as well as imminent. PATRIA SI, COMUNISMO NO!
Pedro Luis Boitel
boitelpedagogical.i8.com
boiteltaks@yahoo.com
Enero 11th, 2010 at 09:40
“The Cuban government will be shaking in their boots.”
What boots? :-)
Do they know what boots are?
Enero 11th, 2010 at 07:07
“Concerning the UN vote who gives a hoot.”
You and your kind have a very selective attitude to democracy. The fact that the rest of the world disagrees with the blockade is irrelevant.
“So let me get this straight, if you present your opinion/propaganda/misinformation as fact it is up to me/us to disprove it?? ”
Not in the least. But when I am accused of lies etc etc etc then I naively expect some intellectual rigour to back up the accusation. Debate yes - vitriol and unsubstantiated venom - no. That so many here are unable to avoid the perjoritive does a tad undermine their arguments. But at least I have been give a few good laughs for that I thank you.
Enero 11th, 2010 at 00:35
Juan
Your agenda is truth, who’s truth? So if I challenge your BS that means I don’t believe in free speech? hahaha….. pretty self-serving. So let me get this straight, if you present your opinion/propaganda/misinformation as fact it is up to me/us to disprove it?? Pretty convoluted logic and again, self-serving. Everybody has an opinion some more informed than others, but in the end just an opinion, open to debate and challenge, that is free speech.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 23:19
My agenda is truth. As I have asked previously to detail my alleged lies, misinformation etc please do so. Unlike you I believe in free speech. Those other nationals who who can send money to Cuba direct from our own country do not have to pay the 10% penalty which in any case is only applied to USD cash. If you were fair dinkum about doing something wouldn’t it be simpler to change the laws that prevent ANYONE in the USA doing exactly that and sending a bank transfer from a US bank? Again I ask is it Cuba’s fault that the US government prevents its citizens from doing what everybody in ALL other countries can do? Talk about shooting yourselves in the foot!
Enero 10th, 2010 at 22:13
Juan
Your condescending and superior attitude doesn’t mask the misinformation you are spewing. Even if you were right what does your erroneous argument about “exchange” rates prove? What is your agenda?
Concerning the UN vote who gives a hoot. This is the same body that places Cuba and other violators of human rights on their Human Rights Council.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 21:17
You are obsessed with misinformation. Your ‘threat’ got my attention as it is so so laughable. Don’t you recognise the irony in my words. Why do you think that at the annual UN vote on the blockade ONLY 2 or 3 other countries support the USA? Maybe I should stick to spanish.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 20:59
Juan I do remember very clearly that the Cuban regime responded with the 20 percent tax or whatever you want to called when the Bush government limited the travels and the remittances by Cuban american to Cuba. Those things are gone. Is time to set that back to what it was.
Obviously there is needs to be a deadline to produce results with the Cuban regime. Otherwise we will never see it happen.
I am not sure if shaking is the right word but it sure got your attention. So please is in the best interest of the regime to eliminate those fees.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 20:54
Anyway chill out and join me on the Reggaton piece!
Enero 10th, 2010 at 20:52
Boy! - setting a deadline. The Cuban government will be shaking in their boots.
Please put most of Europe on notice too because when i travel there I only get .70 of a Euro for every $1USD. That is whopping 30% tax. It is time they were called to heel.
Yep don’t let facts get in the way of blind prejudice.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 20:38
Look Juan it matter little to us how you want to called it.
If we take 100 dollars to Cuba the Cuban regime using the dual currency scheme they have manage to steal a 20 percent value on each dollar.
I think is time for the Cuban regime to do away from the dual currency system. That is their choice but we can and should take measures against this behavior by the Cuban regime.
We are not asking for the moon. We want all this fees I am talking about eliminated. Period. Nothing more clear. So please communicate this to your superiors.
We are tired of the little games play by the regime.
As Dr Freud mentioned we the US have already earn the title of enemy number 1 of Cuba one more thing would not get us any better. Don’t you think?
I am very serious about my statements if within a month the Cuban government does not give us any signal of change we will proceed to request legislators here to take punitive action on exports to Cuba from the US.
Remember this is not only the currency issue. Is also charging for Cubans visiting here a monthly fee, is not allowing Cuban american to visit Cuba with only their american passport.
NO MORE ABUSE.
I do not care if the fee is not apply to AMEX travelers Check.
We want the dollar CUC issue solve in a month time.
The end result should be that a product sold by Cuba in Cuba is not more expensive than the same or comparable product sold in the US as pay by US dollars.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 19:55
Repeating a misnomer however many times does not make it true however.
And that some of you are so fixated on this 20% myth calls into question many other so-called ‘facts’.
I wrote in my very first clarification of this issue many days ago a complete explanation of when the 10% penalty applies and when it doesn’t. And to call an exchange rate a tax is nonsense.
“Noone unless they have more money than brains takes USD in CASH to Cuba knowing that that there is a 10% penalty on top of the usual exchage rate. That 10% does not as I have already tried to explain to you apply to Amex USD TCs.
EVERY other currency in the world is exchanged for CUCs at a rate equivalent to 1 USD to .90CUC. What is so difficult to understand about that.”
Enero 10th, 2010 at 19:47
112
John Two
Enero 10th, 2010 at 16:32
………. Won’t it hand another undeserved propaganda victory to the Castro regime in which they can once again blame the USA for the shortages of food and medicines, rather than their own mismanagement?………….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So what???….. Any way, dear John, the tyranny blame USA for all its problems and I am sure they will continue blaming USA for theirs problems long after USA lift the embargo if this would ever happen. The tyranny is today in a critical economical situation, it is very possible that raising taxes for USA’s sells to castro and converting these taxes in a negotiation weapon we can get the tyranny exchange a tax relief for the ransoms they gets for our kidnapped people. In such way we can get a real relief for the cubans.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 19:31
John let me be clear I do not like the Cuban regime.
Any government that uses its own citizens for ransom is a criminal government.
My objective as it is the objective of many here is to obtain freedom for all Cubans in Cuba. The regime will never do that on his own. Because they want to stay in power until they die. This time their situation is much much worst. Nobody want to deal with them since every one knows they do not pay. Even worst, They can not pay!
Don’t you think the tyranny should have known better than be dependent of the country they always spell out as their enemy number 1? They have spend the last 50 years talking about an american invasion that never came.
I think if they take away all these fees now or in a months time there will be no need to go to such extreme measure. We as Cubans have the right to organize and as cuban-american citizen also have the right to request for things we think will finally solve the Castro issue.
I will be getting in touch with some american legislators about what measures to take in order for Cuba to comply. I suggest and will ask other many other Cubans I know to do the same. It will not be hard to convince them. We all get the Castro bite once in a while. Whenever we send money to Cuba or when a relative comes visiting or when we go visiting or just a simple phone call. It should not be that way.
Withing one month If the Cuban government have not given any signs that it will not be dropping the 20 percent fee and all this other artificial fees it charges to Cubans I will suggest we all ask every Cuban american we know to talk to their legislators as to impose a punitive tax on Cuban imports.
The Cuban government is a bully. The only way to deal with a bully is with another bully. If the Cuban people do get to the point of break I am sure the regime will be more afraid of them that of the Americans. So the best and more reasonable choice is to comply with our demands.
By making the law conditional on the elimination of the fees the Cuban government imposes it places the guilt back to the Cuban government. So they will be the only ones to be blame.
Enough of the abuse by the Castro regime
Enero 10th, 2010 at 19:02
Julio, one of the remarkable things about the decision to exempt food and medicine from the US embargo less than 10 years ago is how dependent Cuba has become on the USA for these products despite having to pay cash for them.
In less than 10 years, Cuba has come to depend heavily on US food imports. The main reason seems to be geographic proximity. Agricultural products - especially in bulk form - are expensive to transport relative to their monetary value. The USA is simply the cheapest supplier.
Here’s an informative link with lots of information of US agricultural trade with Cuba:
http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/cuba/cuba.asp
You’d think this would give the USA some leverage in its dealings with Cuba. Yet, linkages like the one you’re proposing rarely seem to work b/c the regime is able to frame them as attacks on Cuba. I think the best approach is for the USA not to be provoked but to keep taking some unilateral actions. Lifting the travel ban on non-Cuban Americans is one of those actions that might put the regime on its back foot
Enero 10th, 2010 at 18:22
This is in answer to a question by Tracy from prior post
She wants to know how the rationing system works.
Tracy let me explain a bit. It’s been 20 years I lived in Cuba but I still remember.
They give you this rationing book on the OFICODA is the name of the office to give you this. So it is assign one per household. All occupants of the household are in it. As you can see they are also classify depending on age.
They are classify by age because to children they give milk but the rest can not drink milk. (they cut age is 7) older than 7 the child does not get milk.
Then they have lines per month for beans, rise, poultry or fish allowances
if you check in some other post here someone listed how much of each of this things they may get. The food they buy using the rationing book is not free. In fact some older retired people are only able to afford this. Their salaries are much lower than working people. They will earn if they are lucky about 200 Cuban pesos a month (7 dollars a month). That’s about half the standard salary for working Cubans.
That is barely sufficient for them to buy the food from the rationing book. Then they this food is not really sufficient as we computed the amount of calories supply does not satisfy the needs of a normal human. They will have to fence for themselves and find by whatever means the food at market prices. Since they make so little money for many it means they will have to steal from the government or do something consider illegal. Needles to say many of the transactions of selling and buying happen in the black market.
I remember going to visit and their normal chicken was really small like a Cornish hen.
Many of the items in the list they may not get them at all. Also if you are not in the move when they arrive to the distribution center you may not get it at all since the people that works at this distribution centers are very corrupted and will try selling some of it to people paying higher prices. They have found also many instances of people not even getting the assign portions just because the bodeguero will like to keep some for himself in order to make some extra money.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 17:59
They charge around 300 US dollars to get the Cuban passport and around 150 or so for the permit to entry Cuba. So it like if the american government would charge american citizens to enter their own country!
The Cuban passport last only two years after that if you do not extend it you will have to pay again 300 some dollars!
So as Freud was saying this is extortion!
Enero 10th, 2010 at 17:15
The reason they are out of money is their own financial nightmare they created on their own with their planned economy!
Someone else have any other ideas or suggestions different than the idea I am suggesting please post it here.
The objective is to get the Cuban regime to eliminate the 20 percent tax on the dollar and elimination of all this other fees they charge for Cuban visiting the US. I think they do the same for Cubans visiting other countries. Also if a Cuban is a citizen of some other country he should be able to visit his homeland with a passport from his adoptive country they should not be ask to get a Cuban passport.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 17:11
If we ask congress to place the fee conditionally meaning if the regimes takes away the 20 percent fee then we take the 20 percent fee I do think it is very reasonable. The objective here is to make the Cuban government take the 20 percent fee and the substantial devaluation of the US dollar.
Like you I will not like to make the Cuban people suffer but we should be able to show easily the guilt back on the Cuban regime by making the law conditional on the elimination of all these fees the regime charges.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 16:48
Maybe all the scarcity in Cuba is intentionally produce by the government so that Cubans from abroad keep sending money.
Cuba used to produce mostly everything a Cuban will eat. From pork, meat, rice and beans, banana, plantain,chicken, vegetables.
So there is no need or their should be not need for them to import any of that. It is their stupid inefficient bureaucracy that has created all this problems.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 16:42
John how can we solve this then? Is the only thing I could think of that could force the regime to take the 20 percent tax on the dollar.
Do you have any other idea on how to solve it?
My hope is that they will take the 20 percent tax on the dollar and we do not have to do such thing.
See they way I see this is that the regime got the Cuban people hostage and is asking for ransoms all the time. From the money we sent to when they come to visit of the very high fees they charge to get a Cuban passport when a Cuban is already citizen of another country. This should not be.
The Cuban regime works like a mafia organization.
How do you suggest we deal with it so as not to get those fees?
Enero 10th, 2010 at 16:32
Julio, I’m as critical as you about the fees charged by the regime. But I still maintain that a tit for tat reprisal by the USA levying a 20% export tax on imports to Cuba would hurt the Cuban people more than the regime.
Cuban imports from the USA consist mostly of food and medicine for which as I understand it the regime pays cash. Given how depleted Cuba’s cash reserves are, levying a 20% export tax would likely mean a 20% reduction in the import of food and medicine from the USA. Won’t this hurt the Cuban people? Won’t it hand another undeserved propaganda victory to the Castro regime in which they can once again blame the USA for the shortages of food and medicines, rather than their own mismanagement?
Enero 10th, 2010 at 16:32
Is this for real?
Cuba wants to used maybe in the future yet another currency
call sucre
http://www.cubamatinal.com/Not.....iaID=14076
Enero 10th, 2010 at 15:55
For them all this fees are fattening their accounts somewhere. The Cuban people do not see this money at all.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 15:53
By any chance do you guys know the tyranny charges 120 dollars per month to each person that comes here to visit relatives?
Is like they are renting us the Cubans
That should also be eliminated!
Enero 10th, 2010 at 15:48
If they do take the 20 percent tax on the dollar we will not pursue such action.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 15:38
John it is with the objective so that the regime takes away the 20 percent tax currently place on US dollars exchange. They know better.
When they place this fee or tax it was on the Bush era. So that they could collect more money from us. I think is time for them to revert that tax back. Since Obama has returned to the position where we can sent all the money we want to sent and also eliminated the restriction on travel.
I think is only fair they should return to just one currency in Cuba and eliminate this 20 percent tax on our families. I think this is something that can mobilize and unite everyone here.
Also if by any chance they are thinking on charging the money somehow on the purchase goods by Cubans in Cuba then we should still keep it up.
The Cuban government does not have the right to charge such a huge amount totally de-evaluating the dollar. We are not talking about little money here. We are talking about a substantial amount they are placing in their fat pockets.
Also the Europe community should pursue similar measure, Our brothers in Europe should pursue something similar because that 10 percent tax they get charge is also excessive.
Actually the way I see it is as an incentive for Cuba to produce their own food. If medicine is not subject to this 20 percent hike by the Cuban government then it should not be charge the extra 20 percent.
The abuse by the regime extend to all of us. When they charge our brothers an arm an a leg for substandard merchandise that nobody could reasonably sell in any other country.
Paying 20 CUC for shoes that break in a month is not acceptable.
They have the choice of not having this 20 percent set into law here if they revert their changes. I guess it will be acceptable a very small fee for exchange but nothing else. No penalty for using US dollars! That is the objective.
Cuban regime hope you are listening.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 15:16
Julio, given that food and medicines are the two largest Cuban imports from the United States, wouldn’t the US imposing a 20% export tax increase the suffering and hardships of ordinary Cubans?
Enero 10th, 2010 at 12:52
COUPLE OF GREAT ARTICLES BUT IN SPANISH:
BBC Mundo: Cuba without water for cracks
“Cuban authorities acknowledged that more than half the potable water flowing through the pipes of the island caribea is lost due to leaks and breaks in the distribution networks”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/eco....._jaw.shtml
Miami, Jan. 8 / El Nuevo Herald / Cuba will use a contractor arrested in negotiations with Washington
http://www.cubamatinal.com/Not.....iaID=14070
Enero 10th, 2010 at 12:51
I recomend the Cuban regime to act on this because if such measure
is pass by congress it will be a lot harder to take away.
So what is it going to be?
Enero 10th, 2010 at 12:25
102
Julio de la Yncera
Enero 10th, 2010 at 11:18
This 20 percent tax was invented by the regime when the Bush era restrictions to money sent to Cuba was put in place. This tax should be abolish right now. If withing a month is not.
We should actively campaign US legislators so as to introduce a measure to place a 20 percent punitive measure on purchases by Cuba in the US.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Very good idea!!!!!
We should work for get taxes on the purchases the regimen perform in USA according to the different extortion the tyranny implement on the cuban people….. for exemple if the tyranny made the cubans pay for visa for traveling out and in the country and the visa cost is 25% of the total emigration charges then the tyranny must pay 25% in taxes for purchases made in USA.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 11:18
This 20 percent tax was invented by the regime when the Bush era restrictions to money sent to Cuba was put in place. This tax should be abolish right now. If withing a month is not.
We should actively campaign US legislators so as to introduce a measure to place a 20 percent punitive measure on purchases by Cuba in the US.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 11:14
90
Juan
Enero 10th, 2010 at 00:23
……….Why you have this fixation with the so-called 20% tax is beyond me. I wrote days a a clear answer to your question concerning the relationship b/n the USD and the CUC. And repeated it. What can I add?…………
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The fixation, dear Juan, is not exclusively of one or two of us but of all of us that sporadically change US for CUC ……. we know that the cuban gov. does as you do and repeat on and on that they only take 10% but in reality you go to “cadecas with 100 USD and left with only 80 CUC…… math do not lies ….. taxes are 20%……
Dual monetary system is another way of extortion the tyranny uses to rob the cuban people….. the people and the world has no doubt of that.
____________________________________________________
Noone unless they have more money than brains takes USD in CASH to Cuba knowing that that there is a 10% penalty on top of the usual exchage rate. That 10% does not as I have already tried to explain to you apply to Amex USD TCs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is partially true…….. you can change your dollars for euros in your residence country hoping what Juan says is completely true but when you arrives to Cuba you find the exchange rates they charge are no the normal rates every businessman charges but the rates a monopoly uses to charge then you pay a tax of 10% plus other fees and at the end you are paying between 18-20% depending of the tyranny financial needs.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 10:40
Hi, my name is chester i was born in cuba in 1970 i was in prison for 21 year, i left the island in 1991.
You buy a dvd at walmart cost you $30, you take that dvd to ur family in cuba, and let say you bring $100 for ur family so they can buy some basic food. Ok, now here is when the robbery start for u and your family. you arraive to the Santiago de Cuba airport with ur $100 and your $39 dvd, the goverment army, will tell you at front, well sir, for that dvd you need to pay 50CUC fee, so u need to exchange your $100 to CUC, so i did, i got back 80CUC, from that 80CUC i paid the feed for the dvd, 50CUC, so what i got left 30CUC, so tell me who is getting hurt and who is robbing who.?
so your family get only 30CUC that is all u get after you get inside cuba. Those is sound like a prison.?
Why your family did not get the $100,?
Why you have to pay 150% more for the dvd.?
Please if u have not live inside the beast dont comment.
The goverment always defent their actions, but the people inside are the one that get hurt. the only winner are the failing system of castro, chavez and any country that the goverment want to control everything.
God bless america, God bless those that search for freedom and truth.
Libertad y Hunidad para Cuba
Enero 10th, 2010 at 10:03
I think I will suggest senators and legislators for my state to charge the Cuban regime a 20 percent tax on every purchase that they make in the US as long as Cuba keeps this tax on US money.
Just to keep things even.
What do you guys think?
I suggest we all do the same.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 09:25
Looks to me like this was a setup by Cuba authorities who are not stupid. If they let him in with those items so that they could check to whom he will be delivering.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 08:34
Does anyone know how the Contractor was able to pass satellite phone and other equipment through customs in Cuba if this is something prohibited?
Enero 10th, 2010 at 07:14
Juan on 90
It is not fixation. Is just that you did not give a straight answer.
So it is correct that if we try to exchange dollars into CUC we get charge 20 percent on the transaction.
10 percent of it is part of the penalty you talk about.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 07:06
Rumors that the White Card (Permit to travel outside the cuba) will be eliminated
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=17958
How different would be the tone here if Raul would have come up with the set of measures in this article!
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=17948
Enero 10th, 2010 at 05:59
In answer to the query about the Spanish attitude to Cuba, apparently the EU presidency will not change much:
http://www.elpais.com/articulo.....unac_9/Tes
I think most EU countries are not expecting any alteration on the island so there’s no urgency. Moreover, even the multinational fat-cats who were in the habit of bribing the Castros in order to rip-off Cuban workers have fallen quiet now there are no dollars left to allow them to repatriate their ill-gotten gains.
One another bit of news. Remember Yoani’s post about the water supply? Apparently even the authorities admit that the whole structure is disintegrating. Granma reports that they expect to have improved it slightly (nobody knows how) by the time of Raul’s 100th birthday!
Enero 10th, 2010 at 03:52
viva Yoani
Enero 10th, 2010 at 03:25
#90: I wasn’t making a judgment call on the duty issue. I was only telling him that they will still charge the duty even if he mails it, and if the recipient can’t pay the duty it will confiscated. Far better to bring it in by hand. And yea, sometimes they charge the duty, sometimes they don’t. This depends on the line, their mood, which airport you go through. If you can convince them that everything is for personal use that’s even better.
In terms of bringing in USD you need to look at the exchange rates. If your American and you convert your money into Canadian or Euros and then convert them into CUCs sometimes, depending on the rates, you will loose more money than if you just sucked up the 10% duty for converting USD directly.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 00:49
If Americans go to Cuba through a third country (which of course thousands and thousands do every year), if they fly back they will be asked on the customs form which countries they have visited while away. (If they drive back — meaning they went through canada or mexico — no forms and no one asks.)
I went to Cuba through Canada, drove back, no one asked me nuthin’. Cubans were thrilled to see me, I daresay more welcoming than to my Canadian friends, particularly when they heard I hadn’t gotten anyone’s permission to come.
Meanwhile, I have friends and family members who have recently flown to Mexico and on to Cuba. On the re-entry to the U.S. from Mexico they have put, truthfully, on their forms that they visited Cuba. No one gives a damn any more. They don’t do a thing about it.
They don’t care. We got bigger fish to fry.
As for taking in piles of stuff you plan to give away… may I recommend flying in through Varadero — the resort town. We thought they would go nuts when they saw our unbelievable pile of stuff as we worked on our lies to get it all through (HA! like that would have worked!) They didn’t even glance at us. I mean people around us had golf clubs, scuba gear, suitcases with their evening gowns or maybe their 27 bathing suits for the resort, I don’t know, but I mean PILES of stuff. In any event… our two duffels each big enough to smuggle an NFL tackle in, plus assorted suitcases, back packs, “lunch bags” (really BIG ones… you can get a lot in a ‘lunch bag’) didn’t raise an eyebrow.
Nor did it raise an eyebrow when I returned home with a little bag containing everything I hadn’t left behind. I mean little. Women carry purses bigger than the bag I came home with. In fact they looked at me and said oh don’t bother to put that through security, just walk through.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 00:23
Sorry I haven’t responded earlier #43 and #49. . Raoul only allows me the occassional internet access. Why you have this fixation with the so-called 20% tax is beyond me. I wrote days a a clear answer to your question concerning the relationship b/n the USD and the CUC. And repeated it. What can I add?
Noone unless they have more money than brains takes USD in CASH to Cuba knowing that that there is a 10% penalty on top of the usual exchage rate. That 10% does not as I have already tried to explain to you apply to Amex USD TCs.
EVERY other currency in the world is exchanged for CUCs at a rate equivalent to 1 USD to .90CUC. What is so difficult to understand about that.
Of course most of who travel to Cuba use a credit card as we do in all other countries we travel to. Why don’t you do the same??
Oops I forgot - your US government prevents you from using US banks! I suppose that is the Cuban government’s fault too!!
And BTW #87 the only impediment in sending non-prohibited items like cameras or mobile phones or laptop computers etc etc is on the US side. On the Cuban side whether they are sent from Canada or Iceland or USA it is irrelevant. To compare giving these sorts of items to friends and family with the actions of the “American ‘contractor’” is drawing a very very long bow.
And yes #89 the duty is on Cuba’s end - as it is in every other country if you were to mail dutiable items there. As #88 also suggested people take such items all the time. And the fact that we tourists may have a greater chance of slipping through the Customs net doesn’t make the aplication of such duty per se wrong. This of course was my starting point re this particular Yoani item. And from my own observation/experience Cubans returning from working abroad or returning from living overseas are MORE likely to be focussed on because they are MORE likely to have lots of dutiable goodies. It’s actually the same principle that USA immigration applies to swarthy looking tourists wearing headgear.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 22:02
I would never mail a camera to Cuba. They will generally charge the duty to the person picking up the package, that is, if the package ever actually makes it to the intended recipient. The best is to deliver it by hand, either yourself or through a third party (a mule). There are plenty of people who do this all the time for Cuban families. As long as you can claim that the item is for your personal use while on holiday they will not charge you the duty. It is generally easier for tourists to slip stuff through customs than for returning Cubans though.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 21:23
Your assumption is wrong.
There are 1000’s of Americans who travel to Cuba every year without fuss at the Cuba end. Can’t say the same for the return trip. The country that uses the word “enemy” is unfortunately the USA. Americans are as welcomed by officials and the general population as any other nationality - including Canadians. Have any of you who kep writing here actually been to Cuba in the last 10 years? 20? 40?
Do not understand your maths - “Do I pay 200 times the price of the camera that might be assesed at $100 thus making me pay $300 dollars total” That would make the camera’s actual price $1 (1 multiply by 200 plus 100 = 300)! Alternatively and if you don’t want to take the camera yourself go to one of the numerous Cuba travel sites and see if you can find someone willing to take it for you. What part of the States are you from? Maybe I can take it myself - as long as it doesn’t contain a satellite phone je je je!
Enero 9th, 2010 at 20:17
Jane,
I assume you are Canadian. It’s different coming from a country that is an “ally” than from one that is “an enemy” as far as tourists are concerned and I dont want to put anyone in peril like the American Contractor so it’s NOT THAT EASY. My dilema is this, do I send the camera from Los Angeles or do I use one of the Canadian business who sell to us Cubans in the diaspora these products to be delivered to a person in Cuba? Do I pay 200 times the price of the camera that might be assesed at $100 thus making me pay $300 dollars total or do I go thru a Canadian/Cuban business that might charge what? Can you help me with that?
Enero 9th, 2010 at 19:36
Awesome article by one of the havana times
A year ago, in one of those political meetings that we have to attend at our jobs, a senior manager spoke about our trust -we ungrateful children- in Daddy State. He placed an emphasis on health care:
“You know that if you have a headache, it’s likely you won’t find an aspirin at the pharmacy. But if we have to perform surgery to cut off your head to alleviate the pain, we’ll do it for free, you know this. That’s how our health system works.”
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=17840
Enero 9th, 2010 at 19:28
J2 - not sure what your link adds to the original Aduana link? Those percentages have been in operation for many years.
Nothing I wrote suggested that the charges are not high. That was never my query.
HC - easy to leave a camera behind. I do such things all the time.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 18:15
John 2,
Thanks for the link. Is it the same for tourists or cuban nationals? Wanted to send a camera for one of the bloggers but dont know the best way.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 16:20
John Two I believe the purpose of this import duties is so that people do not bring them into the country and end up in the Castro stores. Is the perfect business. So anyone will have to buy from them. So they can get their 20 percent cut on the exchange and also sell substandard products that will be broken soon.
Is kind of a close system. Except for corruption.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 15:50
Jane, nothing you’ve written contradicts Yoani’s point that Cuban import duties (for all but personal items) are very high. In many cases, the duty is higher than the value of the goods themselves.
Here’s a link to a document from the Cuban customs office confirming that import duties for articles being brought to Cuba for non-commercial purposes can range up to 200% of the value of the item:
http://www.aduana.co.cu/ropai3.htm
And I’ve also not read anything to contradict Yoani’s point that the targets of these shakedowns are not foreign tourists visiting Cuba, but returning Cuban nationals or Cuban emigres bringing in articles that are either not available or not affordable in Cuba.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 13:40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK7y8TgqXjY
Enero 9th, 2010 at 12:52
I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THE SITUATION WITH SPAIN AND THE EU PRESIDENCY! Can anyone from the European Continent or more knowlegable about this subject as it relates to the Cuba angle?
AFP: EU must be ‘demanding’ with Cuba: Spain
MADRID — “Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero called Friday on the European Union to be “demanding” with Cuba even while pushing for dialogue with the island’s communist regime.
Spain, which assumed the rotating EU presidency for six months on January 1, is at the forefront of efforts to boost relations with Cuba, a former Spanish colony.
“We must be demanding with Cuba but always keep the door open to dialogue,” Zapatero said at a press conference with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and the EU’s new president, Herman Van Rompuy.
Spanish media have reported that Madrid wants to establish a new agreement on EU-Cuba ties in the first half of 2010 but has lowered its ambitions to avoid objects from other EU nations.”
“Spain wants to see an end to the European Union’s position on Cuba, adopted in 1996, which calls for improvements in human rights and democracy on the island as a condition for normal relations with the 27-nation European bloc.
But this is opposed by other EU nations, including the two previous holders of the bloc’s presidency — Sweden and the Czech Republic — as well Cuban human rights groups.”
http://www.google.com/hostedne.....xydpDySc-w
NY TIMES: Spain: Cuba Erred in Expelling Politician
“The politician who was not allowed to enter Cuba, European Parliament member Luis Yanez, is known to be critical of the Cuban government, but this does not justify Havana’s decision, Moratinos said. Cuban authorities held him and his wife at the airport upon arriving in Havana and sent them on the first plane back to Spain on Monday.
”This is not good news. I think the Cubans made a mistake with this expulsion,” Moratinos told reporters. ”
“Yanez has promoted contacts between European socialists and democratic Cuban dissidents as president of a group called Cuba-Europe in Progress. Spanish news reports said Yanez was denied a visa to enter Cuba in 2008 when he was invited to attend a meeting of the Progressive Arc dissident group.”
“Moratinos said that during its EU presidency, Spain will urge the bloc to move away from its ”common position” on Cuba. That dates from 1996 and makes improved ties contingent on better respect for human rights and democratic reforms.
The policy has not yielded much, and instead the EU should now take a more active approach that might open up a process of dialogue and elicit firm commitments from Cuba, Moratinos said.
The EU imposed diplomatic sanctions, including a ban on political and other consultations, against Cuba in 2003 after the arrests of dozens of dissidents. The sanctions were suspended in 2005, but not lifted, and relations between the EU and Cuba have remained touchy.”
http://www.nytimes.com/aponlin.....-Cuba.html
Enero 9th, 2010 at 12:45
YOANI SANCHEZ’ BLOG IN MIAMI HERALD: Cuba’s `industry of robbery’
http://www.miamiherald.com/opi.....16783.html
Enero 9th, 2010 at 11:21
I’m glad that everybody liked the video.We need to…. “lighting up Francis”. When I first saw it I thought inmediatly about “el consorte Yubano”, I knew he will like it, besides as Humberto said it we needed a break.
I saw the video that Hank posted, very funny indeed.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 10:25
Chester i was in the same prison for 28 years . and i will add that education was not free , we payed working on the labor fields ; planting tobacco , citric and other fruits .Those doctors hospital their were payed went we got pay on pesos (w/no value).
Chester you give to much credit to the Castros.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 09:58
Hi my name is Chester i was born in cuba in 1970, i was in prison for 21 years, i got my freedom in 1991.
The goverment is base in total control of his members and the people, just like a Cult Leader will do, control his members, use his memberms to attack and insult to anyone that is against the words or the thinking of the Cult leader.
A Cult leader mind is to manipulate, control, sweet talk, use, abuse, blackmail, attack, create fear, panic, so his ideas can keep him in power. Sound like the way of thinking of Fidel Castro.
Why a teacher, doctor, Eng. worker, can not get a passport and make their choice to go an other country and do community service without been order by the Cult leader.?
Why a human being in cuba can not run his own newspaper, magazine, or ratio station.?
Why 90% of the worker in cuba get pay in pesos, but to get the good stuff you have to have CUC.?
Why so many organizations to control 11 millions people.?
Why if the education is free, the Cult leader is scare that you travel free and meet new culture and ideas.?
Why if the medical attention is free a doctor get pay $50 a month.?
Why if the people in cuba love the Cult leader so much, there is so many corruptions, and rob in the system n out of the system.?
When will the cult leader going to take blame for his own mistake “A Lot” and let his members”cuban people” to be free of mind n body.
Please if you have not live inside the beast, dont comments.
Ignoran are those that dont want to see, and hurt other people.
Bless be my people and bless be my second land USA!!
Cuba Libre!!!
Enero 9th, 2010 at 09:08
This is an article from havana times
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=17837
complaining about how many organizations are in Cuba!!
CRD,FMC Militias,UJC,PCC etc etc and all of them required to pay fees, meetings etc
So it is actually better not to belong to any of them!
I wonder why they created so many organizations to group people and control.
What is the purpose? Anyone can guess?
Enero 9th, 2010 at 08:54
Deja vu all over again
http://english.eluniversal.com.....6573.shtml
Chavez using the same tactic of the Castro’s
the creation of artificial enemies to oppress his people!
Enero 9th, 2010 at 08:15
Humberto ,I wonder how was he able to pass the equipment thru the Aduana in Cuba ?
since they are so strict in what they allow to get in. Any news on that?
Enero 9th, 2010 at 08:12
Hank on 61
Very funny video and yes the video does illustrated Ad Hominem attacks.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 08:03
Chavez seem to be going the same way of the Castro he is almost creating two currencies
http://english.eluniversal.com.....8691.shtml
I am so sorry for the venezuelans. Time to wake up.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 06:39
Te estan distorsionando los comentarios del blog
Enero 9th, 2010 at 06:36
Yoani tienes que tener en cuenta que estan distorsionando las oraciones y se quedan sin sentido. Por ejmplo dije ” acogerse rapidamente a los planes de reeducacion revolucionarios” y la sensura puso “aviones”
Enero 9th, 2010 at 06:30
Muy bueno el cierre del articulo, la escasez y la ausencia de productos dentro de un dogmatismo dictatorial que no funciona en la esfera economica gracias a la sabiduria y sentido comun del cubano que se mueve con libertad devido a su doble moral y disidencia anonima, no es que tenga nada en contra de la oposicion abierta al regimen dictatorial, pero estan muy limitados por la represion y ausencia total de medios de expresion, ademas el hecho de enfrentarse a la dictadura los incapacita de participar en la doble moral y el desvio de recursos pues no ocupan los opositores ningun puesto de relevancia dentro del gobierno, asi es que la oposicion no es una respuesta social a la dictadura. La respuesta social a la dictadura es la disidencia anonima, aplaude por delante y por detrás arrasa con lo que puedes y desvialo para el mercado negro. Esa es la conciencia que debemos estimular en las nuevas generaciones, no enfrentarse, simular apoyo, hacer las cosas solos, clandestino, sin protagonismo, ya que al mismo tiempo estas viviendo mejor y estas, el disidente anonimo, horosionando todo el sistema desde dentro hacia fuera hasta que colapse. Y aun cuando seas victima de la represion y la carcel aun puedes seguir mimetizando tu conducta al acogerte repidamente a los planes revolucionarios de reeducacion.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 05:28
Another big rip off from Cuba are international phone calls and the cost of a Cuban passport for Cuban born. mama mia.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 04:53
Take SHARPIES to Cuba, so that the people can express themselves, for those who have no computers. The Truth and the Ugly of Cuba is being exposed. Always a good read. Thanks Yoani, you rock girl.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 03:21
Iain,
Very interesting article you posted. I may be a bit dense, but to whom did the doctors have to pay the $5200? I will read the article again tomorrow when I am more awake, but it is not clear to me who was paid.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 03:07
Going back to the original article, it seem that not all Cuban expats choose to run the gauntlet of Castro’s customs: http://english.eluniversal.com.....6017.shtml
Enero 9th, 2010 at 00:03
ENGLAND’S GUARDIAN UK: Cuba claims jailed US contractor is secret service agent (Computer specialist’s imprisonment marks latest setback in attempt to thaw relations between US and Cuba)
“Cuba has accused a US contractor it jailed last month of being a secret service agent, in the latest spat to sour Havana’s brief honeymoon with the Obama administration.”
“”This is a man hired by a company that contracts for the American secret services and that is the object of investigation,” Ricardo Alarcon, the head of Cuba’s parliament, told reporters.
The American, a 40-year-old computer specialist who has not been publicly named by Washington or Havana, was part of the US’s “privatisation of war”, Alarcon added.”
“”Cuba in recent months seems to [be] determined to ratchet up the tension with the US, whether by roughing up the blogger Yoani Sánchez or staging military exercises to defend against a supposed US invasion,” said Dan Erikson, author of The Cuba Wars and an analyst at the Inter-American Dialogue thinktank.
“The result is that the US-Cuba deadlock continues unabated, and the rhetorical gestures on both sides calling for improved relations have done little to budge this lingering cold war standoff.”"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl.....contractor
Enero 9th, 2010 at 00:02
BBC NEWS: US denies contractor held in Cuba was spying
“Washington has labelled “false” Cuban claims that an American contractor arrested at Havana airport last month was a US spy. The US state department said the man did not work for American intelligence.”
“Those comments are false. Cuba has a history of mischaracterising what Americans and NGOs in Cuba are doing,” said state department spokesman PJ Crowley. “This person is not associated with our intelligence services.” ”
“This is a gentleman hired by a company that hires for the American secret services and is now the subject of an investigation,” Mr Alarcon told reporters in Havana.
He described it as an example of the “privatisation of war” by the US, which hires people to be “agents, torturers, spies”.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8447287.stm
Enero 8th, 2010 at 23:51
In the spirit of lightening things up, I offer you this. A classic Ad Hominem attack if there ever there was one…
http://www.slashcontrol.com/fr.....lle-triola
Enero 8th, 2010 at 23:42
John2 - I did read the linked list of Aduana charges before I first wrote anything. I agree they are more punitive than Canadian customs. I wasn’t suggesting that the lists were the same rather that the process/practise is the same and that any government is entitled to draw up such a list. I still don’t understand what the fuss is about. I bet I travel in and out of Cuba more often than some of those bleating about these charges. I have been regularly reading Generacion Y virtually from the beginning. Whether I agree or not with the substance of each ‘report’ I usually at least understand what the concerns are. This time I don’t. Someone in the past day or so also complained here about having to pay excess baggage charges to the incoming airline as if that was also some sort of conspiracy against them!
Enero 8th, 2010 at 23:33
With personal attack , we do no go none where . The objective of most people in this blog is to share information that could help our people in Cuba and help the people to understand. People who are aliens to the socialist system establish by the Castros in our island. We my think in a different way but the objective is the same. Bring the Castros down , and help to establish a good democratic country were every body can have the same rights. Yubano and statue of liberty , personal attacks do not go none where. They do not united. That is the main reason the Castros have been in power for more than 50 years. We have not been able to united ourselves in a common position that will not alienate our people inside and outside the island. Yes we do need a moderator but we should adhere to a patron of conduct . The Castros and his agents should be happy to bring the division between us.
Enero 8th, 2010 at 22:25
Picking up on Humberto’s suggestion, how about this topic…
The American contractor held in Cuba. I am not sure how this is going to play out. He was distributing…stuff, electronic stuff, I am not exactly sure what stuff, maybe computers, satellite phones, whatever. Apparently, this is a crime in Cuba. It looks like this poor guy is now a bargaining chip. But a bargaining chip for what? The Cuban 5? Maybe, but I don’t think the dictators care about them beyond their propaganda value.
It is pretty obvious that the contractor is being set up to look like a spy by the Cuban government. We all saw what happened with the two reporters who accidentally crossed into North Korea last year. Bill Clinton went there and got them out. He sat for photographs with Kim Jung Il. I don’t see that happening here.
What strikes me about the whole contractor scenario is that it appears to be a desperate cry for attention by the regime. They want the same attention North Korea got with a presidential visit. It legitimizes them. Which is pathetic. Or maybe it is just designed to cool any possible thaw in relations. Or maybe they are trapped in an Orwellian nightmare, in which they must always create an enemy…Here’s proof that the enemy exists! this American contractor, distributing… stuff, for free. What a threat to the Revolution!
Enero 8th, 2010 at 21:37
Yubano,
Agreed. We are going around in circles and are not getting anywhere. I am glad to know we are on the same side. Saludos amigo.
Enero 8th, 2010 at 21:34
THIS IS A WORK OF GUERRILLA ART!! Thanks Joel Garcia of “Un Cubano en Canarias” blog!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....tube_gdata
Un Cubano en Canarias Blog
http://uncubanoencanarias.blogspot.com/
Enero 8th, 2010 at 20:40
So why cant we discuss another subject than THE EMBARGO! There are more important CURRENT EVENTS for all of you! Its getting HOT in Cuba (and I dont mean the weather) and many here just want the SAME OLD?
Enero 8th, 2010 at 20:18
Concubino,
That was a great video, I loved it! Thanks for the post.
Enero 8th, 2010 at 20:13
Humberto I decided to drop the subject but you guys keep bringing it up! :-)
Maybe you misunderstood what I said I already apologize for asking you to not violated the rules of Yoani. It should have been Juan whom you offended.
I am not bringing this up anymore if you guys do not bring it up. After all we are all in the same side.
Enero 8th, 2010 at 20:12
AFP: EU must be ‘demanding’ with Cuba: Spain
MADRID — “Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero called Friday on the European Union to be “demanding” with Cuba even while pushing for dialogue with the island’s communist regime.
Spain, which assumed the rotating EU presidency for six months on January 1, is at the forefront of efforts to boost relations with Cuba, a former Spanish colony.
“We must be demanding with Cuba but always keep the door open to dialogue,” Zapatero said at a press conference with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and the EU’s new president, Herman Van Rompuy.
Spanish media have reported that Madrid wants to establish a new agreement on EU-Cuba ties in the first half of 2010 but has lowered its ambitions to avoid objects from other EU nations.”
“Spain wants to see an end to the European Union’s position on Cuba, adopted in 1996, which calls for improvements in human rights and democracy on the island as a condition for normal relations with the 27-nation European bloc.
But this is opposed by other EU nations, including the two previous holders of the bloc’s presidency — Sweden and the Czech Republic — as well Cuban human rights groups.”
http://www.google.com/hostedne.....xydpDySc-w
Enero 8th, 2010 at 20:00
Concubino,
Just posted the “SWEEET HOME HIALEAH 2″ video on my Facebook, and was on the floor laughing. I have family in Hialeah so I’m NOT a SNOB! We need a little comedy here, there is just TOO MUCH brain power here and it was a good break! and also is not the same topic OVER AND OVER AND OVER!
Enero 8th, 2010 at 19:36
Julio,
Dont you think that the moderators smart enough to, MODERATE! Let them make the decisions on who does what and what is not allowed. I dont have a problem for my comments to be deleted or called to my attention BUT by the MODERATORS not by you Julio!
Enero 8th, 2010 at 19:29
To me this rules of Aduana seem to be intended so that people do not bring things with them and buy them in the Cuban stores where they will be charge first the 20 percent tax we are talking about and then they will buy exactly the products that the regime sells at the stores. In a prior post I place a link someone complaining about shoes he bought for around 20 CUC and they broke in less than a month.
It is these mafiosi way of the Cuban regime that is the reason they want to keep the embargo. So they can keep making money of the trash they sell in Cuba!
Enero 8th, 2010 at 19:23
Concubino,
Got a kick outa Sweet Home Hialeah, brings back some memories. Grew up there, parents still there asere…
Enero 8th, 2010 at 19:14
Hi Jane, welcome to Yoani’s blog.
First off, Yoani is talking about the shaking down that Cuban nationals receive upon returning to Cuba, so as a tourist Exile’s experience is not relevant. I suggest linking to the ‘List of internal valuation’ document that Yoani references in her posting to review the Cuban rules.
Cuba’s ‘List of Internal Valuation’ is much more punitive than what I would face returning to my country (Canada). The Canadian government provides an exemption of $750 for any goods I bring back with me. Thereafter, the duty levied is usually only about 5% on anything with a value above $750 which corresponds to the level of our federal sales tax. Here’s a link to the Canadian rules:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/pub.....ng.html#s5
I’d be interested in knowing if you still think there is no difference between the treatment of Cuban and Canadian nationals once you’ve read both documents.
Enero 8th, 2010 at 18:42
Thanks Exile.
Enero 8th, 2010 at 18:39
Oops - should have typed #31 (and #35)sorry.
Enero 8th, 2010 at 18:35
Let’s assume that any big corporation in this country decides to invest in Cuba, what assurances do they have that one day their business will not be confiscated? Not long ago investors from Spain (investing heavy in “shoppings”) were not allowed to take their profits out of Cuba, so if they do it to Spaniards, they can do it to anyone.
On the subject of trying to silence people. Even tough I may disagree with derogatory comments made about us Cubans living in USA, such as: “Miami Brigade”, “Worms”, “Miami Mafia”, “Right Wingers”, “mercenaries”, etc. I may not like those comments, but knowing the source, I could care less. However I will not try to silence them either. By the way I do not live in Miami and proudly so for 50 years.
Enero 8th, 2010 at 17:57
Juan,
Let me rephrase my question if I take 1.00 dollar cash and ask that to be converted into CUC how many CUC I get?
If I understand what you mentioned is I get back 0.80 CUC, is that correct?
Independent of what you call it between the fee and the currency exchange rate we get charge 20%.
Enero 8th, 2010 at 17:41
Jane,
You won’t get an answer from the Miami brigade because they don’t have one to give. All they can do is trot out the old slogans that have stood them in good stead for over half a century now.
To take your question, actually I have never had any problems with Cuban customs, and neither has anyone that I know. That said we are not Miami based exiles who are ripe for shaking down. My guess is that this is what is happening - Cuban officials giving people that many Cubans regard as scum a hard time.
Enero 8th, 2010 at 17:06
Now you are allow to say Death to Communism since it is an idea you like to kill!