CUBA
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Cuba aims to stem tide of disappearing talent HAVANA,
7 (AFP) - Cuba has called on its boxing authorities to stem the flow of talent
that continues to quit the impoverished Communist nation. Every year, Cuba
loses some of its top athletes, particularly boxers and baseball players, who
choose to escape the country for pastures new. Many boxers, such as current
WBC lightweight champion and 1992 Olympic gold medallist Joel Casamayor, find
their way to the United States to start up professional careers that are banned
under the regime of Fidel Castro. Cuba is now trying to find a way to hold
onto its greatest talents and boxing bosses have been told to set up an elite
national squad "inside and outside the ring" to fend off the vultures. Offical
state newspaper Granma said: "In various Olympic forums, such as the National
Assembly of Olympic Committees and the Pan-American Sports Organisation, Cuba
has denounced the harassment that it's sports suffer at the hands of unscrupulous
dealers, which it describes as a theft of talents." It singled out
the United States as the prime importer of boxing talent. "In most
cases, the traffickers illegally transfer sportsmen to the United States whose
authorities show indifference," added Granma. The Cuban denunciation
of this phenomenon took place just over a week before the beginning of the national
championships. Granma called for a "thorough revision" of boxing
on the island nation without offering any clear details as to how it intended
to hold onto talent that was barred from turning professional in its own country
but could do so by escaping Cuba. The national championships are particularly
important as it is being seen as a vital tournament in determining the Cuban team
that will head to Beijing next year for the Olympic Games. Cuba is considered
to be the top amateur boxing nation in the world and has an impressive history
in the sport, claiming 32 Olympic gold medals. US urges political, economic
opening in Cuba HAVANA, 5 (AFP) - The United States urged Cuba's communist
government to embrace political and economic reforms, again nixing engagement
with interim leader Raul Castro. "Our policy is very clear and our
law is very clear. We would like to see a release of political prisoners, we would
like the Cuban people receiving basic human liberties, the ability to open up
a business, the ability to work where they want, the ability to have free speech,
the liberty to have political parties," said US Commerce Secretary Carlos
Gutierrez, a Cuban-American. "We'd like to see that before we change
our policy and before we change the embargo," Gutierrez told reporters after
a speech at the US Chamber of Commerce. Raul Castro, now at the helm of
the Americas' only one-party communist state, last month called for dialogue with
the United States. But Washington, which never expected the communist regime
to outlive Fidel Castro's leadership, so far has shown no interest in dealing
with Raul. Fidel Castro, 80, who underwent an operation on July 27, has
yet to make a public appearance since handing power temporarily to his brother
Raul, the 75-year-old defense chief, on July 31. Activists hope Democrats
can ease Cuba restrictions By Anita Snow, Associated Press.January 8,
2007. Havana | Peace activists visiting Cuba to protest the U.S. military
prison at Guantanamo Bay expressed hope Sunday that the new Democratic congressional
leadership will help ease long-standing U.S. trade and travel sanctions against
the communist-run island. "I think it is about time we end the embargo
and open up relations between the Cuban and American people," said Cindy
Sheehan, who became an anti-war protester after her 24-year-old son, Casey, was
killed in Iraq in April 2004. "It hurts both sides." U.S. restrictions
bar most Americans from spending money in Cuba, effectively preventing them from
traveling here legally. The restrictions also bar virtually all trade between
the countries, except for some U.S. sales of food and medicine to the island. Sheehan
has drawn attention by camping outside President Bush's ranch to protest the war
and has been arrested during demonstrations. She drew criticism from some Democrats
in late December for joining with other protesters to shout down a party news
conference in Washington. Also in the delegation to Cuba is Medea Benjamin,
who organized the trip through the California activist groups Global Exchange
and Codepink. "The restrictions have been around way too long, change
is way overdue," Benjamin said, adding that the Cuba sanctions made the group's
trip very difficult. "We had to jump through hoops to put together
this delegation," she said. Benjamin said she and others in the group
of 12 believe they are exempt from the U.S. restrictions because they are traveling
as human-rights activists who will attend a daylong international conference in
the Cuban city of Guantanamo on Wednesday. They plan to protest outside the main
gate of the U.S. Navy's Guantanamo base on Thursday to call for the closure of
its prison for terrorism suspects. Also in the delegation are a former U.S.
Army colonel, a constitutional law expert, the mother of a British citizen held
at Guantanamo and a former detainee there. The U.S. military says the prison
now holds about 395 men suspected of links to al-Qaida or the Taliban, including
about 85 who have been cleared to be released or transferred to other countries.
The military plans to charge 60 to 80 detainees and bring them to trial. The
future of travel to Cuba Rolf Potts. Rolf Potts via
Yahoo! News. January 8, 2007. Travel Guidebook of
the Month Moon Handbooks: Cuba, by Christopher P. Baker For several
decades now, Cuba has been an alluring, yet mostly forbidden destination. Just
a few dozen miles across the Caribbean from Florida, it has nevertheless been
isolated by years of U.S. economic sanctions, which include most forms of tourism. Recent
events in Cuba, however, suggest that Cuba might be in for big changes over the
next few years. Curious to know more about the future of travel to Cuba, I contacted
Christopher P. Baker, who writes the impressively comprehensive guidebook Moon
Handbooks: Cuba, which is now out in its fourth edition. Baker is also the author
of the award-winning Cuba travelogue, Mi Moto Fidel, and he has visited Cuba more
than 30 times. Fidel Castro is in ill health, and there has been plenty
of speculation on what will happen when he dies. In your opinion, how will Castro's
passing affect travel and tourism in Cuba? Christopher Baker: If the U.S.
retains its current policies, not much will change. I do believe that [Fidel Castro's
brother] Raul is going to begin economic liberalization, which together with the
boost in international exposure will surely give a shot in the arm to tourism
from outside the U.S. However, the Democratic victory in Congress has shifted
the balance of power towards key congressional figures that favor lifting the
travel restrictions and even the embargo. I believe we're going to see initiatives
that will result in a bill to that effect landing on Bush's desk. If he signs,
the gates are finally going to open and we'll see a tremendous rush as tour operators,
cruise ships, and the like announce their new programs. Independent travelers
are also going to go in droves. Americans' ability to visit Cuba has been
in constant flux over the past couple decades. What advice would you give to Americans
interested in traveling to Cuba? Any warnings or precautions? CB: Although
travel by individuals has been restricted for many years, only limited enforcement
of the restrictions took place. The Bush administration has been chasing down
transgressions forcefully, and there is now a strong likelihood that individuals
traveling to Cuba without a license will face a fine if identified by U.S. Treasury.
Only a few very specific categories of individuals can request licenses (e.g.
journalists, athletes, Cuban-Americans visiting immediate family, etc.), but even
here there are certain restrictions. Cuba itself has no such restrictions.
Anyone traveling to Cuba without a license should make their reservations for
travel to Cuba separately from their reservation for air transport to whatever
Cuba gateway they choose (Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Panama). Cuban authorities
are known to occasionally stamp an innocuous looking symbol on page 16 of U.S.
passports (sometimes it's a small ship, or even a house) and this seems to be
a tip-off for U.S. immigration authorities. Who knows why! Havana is such
a famous city that many people associate it with Cuba itself. What are some other
classic Cuban destinations, for those looking to see the country beyond the capital? CB:
Havana is a fantastic destination and can fill a two-week itinerary. It enchants
and can hold visitors spellbound to the point that they never leave to explore
the rest of the isle. Two places stand out beyond the city confines. The
colonial city of Trinidad, a four-hour drive from Havana, is a UNESCO World Heritage
site, with cobblestone streets and plazas that have changed little since the town
was in its heyday hundreds of years ago. The setting is magnificent, built on
a hillside with the Sierra Escambray Mountains behind, and the Caribbean Sea to
the fore a mere five kilometers or so away. The city is full of museums and traditional
music venues. Best yet, it now boasts a classy hotel in the heart of the city,
and more than 200 casas particulares (private room rentals), some of which are
historic gems full of antiques. The other classic destination that should
be on everyone's itinerary is the Valle de Vinales. This stunning valley is known
for its sheer-faced, flat-topped limestone formations, which lend a dramatic physical
presence. Vinales is also a major center for tobacco production, and the sleepy
village life is a centenary time warp where ox-drawn ploughs and farmers on horseback
are the norm. At the far eastern end of the island, Santiago de Cuba (the
second-largest city in Cuba, and the nation's first capital) has its own remarkable
flavor. Dating back four centuries, it is blessed with historic buildings in an
architectural style entirely apart from Havana. In later centuries, an infusion
of French émigrés and black slaves from Haiti lent the city unique
airs. Santiago is the birthplace of traditional son music (think Buena Vista Social
Club) and Tumba Francesa and other age-old musical forms. It's also a gateway
to Baracoa, a sleepy town (Cuba's oldest) built in a bay entirely enclosed by
mountains. The most scenic of Cuba's cities because of its backdrop, it is popular
among backpackers, who settle into laid-back rhythms, with breaks for hiking in
the mountains. I've heard that two of the big challenges in traveling to
Cuba are food and transportation. What strategies might you suggest for finding
good meals in Cuba, as well as getting around the country effectively? CB:
Food is Cuba's weak link. Havana now boasts a good number of quality restaurants
with a wide variety of international cuisines, but you usually pay through the
nose, including at private restaurants, where some of the best food is served.
Most of the restaurants serving satisfying fare serve tourists, and places where
Cubans themselves dine offer a few basic standard dishes that can soon become
boring to foreign tastes. Beyond Havana, things go downhill quickly. Moreover,
food shortages are ubiquitous (beyond the foreign-run hotel resorts, most restaurant
managers rely on state bureaucrats to deliver the goods - or not). There are very,
very few stores selling food, and most often this is limited to canned and dried
goods. However, every town and village has its farmers' market where fruits
and vegetables are sold for mere pennies (it's good to have some local pesos for
this - not the pesos convertibles that are the currency of tourists). Simple pizza
and ham-and-cheese sandwiches are common at small street stalls in towns, but
the flies hovering are a good indication of the hygiene issues associated with
eating at these stalls. Cuba's ice cream is excellent. All towns have ice cream
stores. The transportation situation is dire for Cubans, though tourists
are now well served. Modern air-conditioned Volvo and Mercedes buses span the
country, offering efficient and cost-effective travel for tourists to most of
the key destinations in the island. This service is called Islazul. The hit-and-miss
national train service also spans the island and is not unduly expensive (less
than $60 one-way between Havana and Santiago de Cuba, 15 hours), but the trains
are not reliable, are not kept clean, and can be overly air-conditioned. Flying
is to be avoided as much as possible due to safety concerns - Cuban airlines are
notoriously unsafe and the concept of passenger service is not understood.
Car
rental agencies are found throughout Cuba. Rates are somewhat higher than you
might pay in the U.S. or Canada, but overall, the fees remain competitive with
international rates if you purchase an unlimited mileage package with insurance.
The problem here, though, is threefold: 1) Most cars are not well maintained
and fall apart quickly. Safety is an issue with vehicles older than two years. 2)
All the competing agencies are state-owned and treat renters with a mafia-style
disdain. Scams are built into the renting process, and getting a problem serviced
can be akin to living through a chapter in a Kafka novel. The Rex Agency, which
is a joint foreign partnership, is usually far more efficient and considerate
to renters than other agencies. 3) A tourist is often found culpable in
any accident involving injury or death. In the case of the latter, tourists are
not allowed to leave the country, and if found guilty, will most certainly face
a jail term. Still, renting a car offers the greatest flexibility and is
the way to go. Just drive cautiously! More information on Moon Handbooks:
Cuba ($24.95) can be found at Moon.com. Christopher P. Baker's Mi Moto Fidel:
Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba ($14.00) is available at the National Geographic
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