Jauretsi: Word On The Street

(Jose Marti Airport. Photographed by Estevan Oriol for East of Havana)

Behold! President Barack Obama has eased travel restrictions to Cuba with a policy change signed into law this month. The few Florida travel agents that booked Cuban flights now have phones ringing off the hook. Some agents claim the demand is so big that they are increasing seat capacity with larger planes in the summer. Maria Aral, president of ABC Charters out of Orlando might also add a sixth day of flights in addition to her five days a week flight schedule from Miami to Havana.

Under the new policy, Cubans can visit extended-family members 1 time a year. Previously, Mr. Bush limited visits to family member once every three years (and only to see immediate relatives). The U.S. government also will consider humanitarian visa requests.

(Making Changes)

This move would have been intolerable for Cuban-Americans just a few years ago, but the tide is turning among the younger Cuban generation in Miami. Exit Polls from the November elections in Miami-Dade County show that 57 percent of Cuban-Americans support the embargo. In 2004, it was 64 percent.

NEW POLICY POINTS:

• What changed: A new provision signed into law by President Barack Obama last week effectively rolls back rules on travel to Cuba to what they were before restrictive Bush administration amendments were put in place in 2004.

• Who can travel: People living in the U.S. can now visit relatives in Cuba once every 12 months. In the past, travelers were only allowed to visit parents, spouses or children. The definition of relatives was expanded to include “any individual related to the traveler by blood, marriage, or adoption who is no more than three generations removed from the traveler or from a common ancestor with the traveler.” Other licenses may be issued on a case-by-case basis.

Visitors can now spend up to $179 per day, rather than the $50 per day that had been in effect. Government officials, journalists and researchers are still allowed to travel to Cuba. New regulations are being worked out to permit travel for those engaged in the marketing and sale of agricultural and medical goods.

• More details: Travelers to Cuba must make arrangements through a travel agency authorized by the U.S. government.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control

For more homework on the new policy, go to: US DEPT OF TREASURY.
J

(50 Year Winning Streak is Over!)

This week is a melancholic week for Cuban baseball — and I’d venture to say Cuban morale. Their 50 year winning streak is OVER. Dead in the water. It happened at Petco park on Wednesday night. Japan beat the Cubans in the World Baseball Classic, eliminating Cuba before a major international tournament’s final game for the first time in 50 years.

(Baseball Junkies Fidel & Camilo Cienfuegos)

One of Cuba’s biggest exports is baseball. Whatever turmoil they might experience politically, it all gets eclipsed a few times a year by the glorious victories that annually show the world another sort of dominance — the superiority of a man on a field. Pure and honest.

(The Famous Cuba pitching stance)

Watching the ranks of Cuban baseball stars rise in their field has that additional subgenre of human drama. Several of their star players debate the painful decision of defecting (and subsequently leaving their families behind along with their beloved homeland) in order to forge ahead and realize their athletic dreams… sometimes making enough money to feed entire neighborhoods back home. The last person to flee “la patria” was Cuban outfielder Yasser Gómez, who defected last December but has not decided to sign with a major league team yet.

(Relatives of Yadel Marti watch him play from Cuba)

(A Training Day on a Saturday in Havana)

(Cuban Baseball Team)

Cuban baseball stars are considered the real celebrities in Cuba — and deeply intertwined in Government fascination (Fidel himself dreamed of being a ball player when he was young). Despite the same struggles they face in their every day lives, the National team is always invited for a standard Government ceremony before they are sent off into the world to boast one of Cuba’s best exports.

The superior training of their athletes adds to the rockstar status of the Cuban image — so everytime Fidel loses a star player, it’s something he takes as a personal diss, sometimes punishing co-players who remain back at home. No doubt, a tough decision for any player to make. The international success and respect for the Cuban baseball team is somewhat of a security blanket that makes it’s people proud to be on top… and reasonably so! This week, the ego-crush is felt far and wide with the 11 million people on the island.

(Raul passes national banner to Eduardo Paret)

(The New Winners, Japan)

Japan beat Cuba 5-0 in the World Baseball Classic. That means Cuba is eliminated before a major international tournament’s final game for the first time in 50 years.

New York Times summarized it simply as the death of “50 years of Cuban dominance and one of the most remarkable streaks in baseball”. Sniff. Sniff.

For more details, Read New York Times game review.
J

I got a letter from a girl called Ioana who commented on the last blog Post “Big Change in Cuba”. I tend to gravitate towards input from people who lived though Communism from places such as Poland or Berlin… especially stories of the Fall of Communism and the human folly that ensues with making such a drastic transition to a new society. Below is the letter from a girl who experienced the Fall of Communism in Romania.

(Ioana)

Hi. So I heard the news either yesterday or the day before on npr. My first reaction was “yay” and then I remembered what happened in Romania. I’m from Romania and I have seen how the cowards went underground and remained quiet for a while and they eventually reemerged as a political party. On top of that the top people of the communist regime who had a lot of blood and dirt on their hands have been quietly protected. I know, because my step-grandfather was one of them. Their pensions are ridiculously high and they still have connections within government.

One type of communist will replace another. I don’t mean to poop on the parade but that’s what happened in Romania and frankly in Russia. This doesn’t mean that things won’t change but it might not be necessarily for the best. I suppose if Obama does build that bridge it will be a huuuuge change for Cuba, I’m just worried that for the little guy it won’t bring about a better life. I hope in Cuba’s case it will be different than in Eastern Europe. Thanks Jauretsi! Had to get that off my chest — Ioana

….And thank youuuu Ioana. The forum is open if anyone else has words of wisdom to illuminate the situation of Cuba’s “new day” post-Fidel Castro.. and how we can better understand the dynamics of their eventual transition a little better. Send all letters to lajauretsi@gmail.com.
J

(Buh-Bye Carlos Lage, seen on the right)

Today there’s been an explosion in the news regarding Raul Castro’s first public stance against Fidel’s system. Back in December last year, I wrote about this notion of Raulists vs Fidelistas, and the rumor that big change was afoot inside the bubble.

Both The New York Times piece and Steve Clemons’ The Washington Note (both written 2 days ago) have verified that Raul is starting to axe people in Fidel’s camp and cleaning house.

If you know anything about Cuban politics, you could argue that Fidel has his Rumsfields and Cheney’s all around. Very smart men, but very controlling and um, not very nice. These men are considered Fidel’s closest team, strict Communists, and top advisers in government.

Here’s the main players that were fired.

(Vice President Carlos Lage is Fired)

(Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque is Fired)

To replace Perez Roque, the president named Brigadier General Jose Amado Ricardo Guerra as the new cabinet chief. Also, according to Bloomberg.com, Raul “merged some ministries in a bid to increase efficiency.” In short, Raul is consolidating his power and taking the reigns.

To debunk another conspiracy theory, Fidel Castro is not dead. His health condition has been a State secret and he hasnt appeared in public since he stepped down in 2006. There have been several reports of the bearded guy shuffling around the city with tons of security and Mercedes Benz’s around him. Locals are a little freaked out to talk about it because of guarded “State secret” aspect, but nonetheless, cubans can’t keep a secret, so the word is out that El Comandante is still alive, breathing, and taking strolls outside.

I’m hoping that the “fall of the extreme-minded of Cuba” will begin a trend with the “fall of the extreme-minded of Cuban-Americans”. It’s pretty nauseating witnessing the bickering between both old-school camps while at the same time seeing them feed each others hatred and beef. Move over bacon, now there’s something leaner!

Let’s just say this week was a BIG week of historical proportions for the Cuban government and for Communism.

As far as Raul and what type of sword he will wield? No exact word but it’s reported he’s demanding efficiency (a foreign concept in Cuba), pragmatism, and forward-thinking nation. As the Steve Clemons elegantly stated on Monday, “Raul Castro seems fully in control now — and he’s done with ideology”.

Let’s see how Raul drives the bus on Obama’s watch.
J