Shalom Cuba - Issue 5

Issue 5 | April, 2017

A publication of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies (ICCAS)

NEWS What the tourist industry reveals about Cuba  By The Economist  There is just one problem today: Cuba is a communist dictatorship in a time warp. For some, that lends it a rebellious allure. They talk of seeing old Havana before its charm is “spoiled” by visible signs of prosperity, such as Nike and Starbucks. But for other tourists, Cuba’s revolutionary economy is a drag. The big hotels, majority-owned by the state and often managed by companies controlled by the army, charge five-star prices for mediocre service. Showers are unreliable. Wi-Fi is atrocious. Lifts and rooms are ill-maintained...  Read story » Cuba’s communists dig in as Castro’s reform drive hits the sand  By Marc Frank and John Paul Rathbone  Reformist officials have often had their wings clipped after liberalising drives were stifled by hardliners who feared loss of control. One famous case is that of Carlos Lage, Fidel Castro’s “economic fixer” in the 1990s, who was unceremoniously dismissed in 2009 and now works as a paediatrician. ... Read story » Watering down a revolution: Cuba's struggle for water  By Sanne Derks  Some cities in Cuba only have running water once every five days, and only for a few hours at a time. Residents use these hours to fill water tanks and personal reservoirs, usually on roofs. Because the water pressure in the system is so low, Cubans have resorted to using garden hoses and private motors to connect a street-level water supply with their rooftop storage.... Read story » SPOTLIGHT Castro still Israel’s enemy, prominent Cuban dissident warns on rare visit  By Raphael Ahren  Undeterred by torture and prison, Oscar Biscet draws attention to the totalitarian nature of the regime in Havana. I may get killed when I return but I must continue my fight, he says...  Read story » Under siege at home, Maduro gets support from regional allies in Cuba  By Sarah Marsh  Venezuela's leftist, regional allies pledged to support its embattled government at a summit in Havana on Monday.. Read story » Hany Leydis, another victim of a medical powerhouse  By Osniel Carmona y Alejandro Hernández  A constant rain of urine and feces from the top floor, the danger of collapse of the building where he lives and lack of medical care, rehabilitation and other conditions according to their condition, are some hints in the life of an underage girl severely affected by medical malpractice... Read story »

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