What do you think about the present situation of Cuba ?

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harry k

Most people (Canadians and Brits it seems are YA) are more concerned about a cheap vacation in the Sun than the daily trials and tribulations of stoic people of Cuba.

If they really cared about Cubans they would be doing everything in their power to bring down the oppressive regime that is raping the Cuban people of their daily dignity instead of putting $$$ into the hands of one of the richest families (Castro's) on the planet.

What's even more disgusting are the Castro apologists.

Daisy

From the news reports, the conditions are very serious. Many are selfish when it comes to vacations, etc. However, one can cancel reservations and reschedule. It's another thing to rebuild a home and business.
The country is poor to begin with, do these vacationers care about that?
The people serving them and waiting on them are living in extreme poverty. Now, their homes are gone. I think vacations should take a back seat to that.

physician

Just terrible.
Now, besides comunism, we have the two hurricanes, especially ike, that practically swept the island, with 700,000 tons of food lost, 90,000 houses destroyed, and many other terrible things.

I know, I know. Had fidel been in better conditions, he would have told the people that "we have to face this challenge and defeat it with revolutionary spirit" etc, etc, etc. Poor fidel, now this happens when he is old, sick, maybe even dead, and his little brother has to face the situation.

We are watching very closely. God willing now is the time to send comunism to the garbage, fidel and the brother included

To Riki:
I am very glad that you agree with Pasteur30. But do as he says, you must tell the tourists not to take what they can, but instead to take fidel and the brother as far away as posible and never bring them back.

Good idea to throw them into the sea. Bad luck for the sharks, though

nadie

Sadly, I have seen that the human being is selfish. That is human nature

To havanalover:
I don't care about what happens in other countries. I have more than enough with what is happening in my country.

We don't need you to remind us that we are keeping fidel's regime active with our remesas
Nobody is helping. Forget that.

You are right. We have a great lack of information, due to the censorship of the regime. That is true.

I don't see the purpose of the rest of the commentary . We escaped because we had to escape. Why do you mention the rest, about us being happy or not, being poor or not ?

You seem to be well informed about many aspects of Cuba, but what is your point ?

As usual, the comunists here don't like what I say and they give me thumbs down. That's OK.
Here I can speak like anyone else and they cannot make me keep quiet

Rick

Terrible.
Besides the devastation caused by castro and castro, now we have the hurricanes. Our country needs better luck

I have noticed it. People are selfish, as simple as that

They only care about their frikking vacations. The tragedy that Cuba suffers they don't care

Victor

Very sad, indeed.

Concerning the situation in general, is is worse than usual. We have no basic supplies

To harry k:
Very well said ! I support your words

the big

A disaster.

In our country, already suffering for 50 years the worst tyranny in America, receives now these hurricanes

Oh, I see. People are very selfish. They think only in themselves

To Tropical:
I think you are right. There are a couple of people here that with great tenacity refuse to understand that for us Cubans this is a very sensitive subject and that we suffer a terrible dictatorship that has caused the death, torture, and deportation of many Cubans.

They show no understanding regarding the situation of the Cuban people because of its government, and they insist in ignoring the explanations that many people have provided here.
Perhaps they are agents of the Cuban government undercover

Der Schreckliche

Ah, people usually are selfish. They ( we ) think only in ourselves.
Sad, but true. That is human nature

A very good suggestion to take the castros somewhere else. Sadly, I don't think anyone will do it

It is like the story of the mice. Who's going to bell the cat ?

E.G. Emeritus

Hoping it's not as bad as the photos of tourists sunbathing in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami damage a few years ago.

Havanalover

There's no easy answer to your question Pasteur.
Yes there are tourists comming to Cuba only for the sun, the beach, the booze and the chica's. But that kind of tourist exists everywhere.
In Spain they go to Ibiza, or to Pucket Thailand, Mexico, Venezuela.
On Isla Marguerita (Venezuela) they even go to "Chicas Farms".
Yes, this kind of people do not care about the population. But you can
find this kind of " tourist" everywhere not exclusively in Cuba.

And let's be honest, there are many " travellers" and friends of Cuba that are helping. And the biggest help doesn't come from Governments
or other Aid services but from ( unknown) individuals.
The biggest income source to Cuba are the " Remesas" they come before the profits of the tourist industry. Without the remesas, Cuba is starving tomorrow. A great deal of Cubans is kept alive by friends, family, and visitors (to Cuba who made friends over there) who send
money, food and materials to the country.
A big problem for the Cubans today is their lack of information, due to the censorship of the regime. The majority of Cubans have no idea what's going on in the world outside. They think outside it's the paradise. Yes, if you have the Money it can be paradise. In Miami lives a huge number of " escaped" Cubans. Are they happy? Some are very wealthy, they were already before the revolution, but a lot of them are poor in the " Paradise" and have to struggle each day some even committed suicide out of misery.
Talk to Cubans and you will hear that most don't care about politics,
they only want a better "economical" life, decent housing, good food etc.When the living condition will be better they all come back home, beacuse lot's of them abroad are home sick and want to return.
Cubans love their country very strongly.
Havanalover
http://www.havana-guide.com

Tropicales

Yes it is a very bad situation. But there have been many who qualified their questions so that no one misunderstood that they didn't care. I've had a couple of people contact me just to say that they don't really care if the place they're planning on staying at is in proper working order...but that they'd love to be able to help out with what happened.

One thing I've noticed is that if someone hasn't been somewhere yet or has never been in a hurricane aftermath or other circumstances, they don't really understand fully....so no one should really be mad at them for 'not getting it' or being properly informed. But once someone has brought things to their attention they open their eyes a bit more.

Some of the posters didn't know what to do about their bookings and didn't perhaps get any answers from their travel agents. That's usually what happens when they don't have any answers...and then they come on y/a in a 'panic', not realizing how they come across.

I've checked some other sites such as tripadvisor and honestly no one who was in Cuba at the time of the hurricane had anything bad to say. They were either shook up and/or more sympathetic and wanted to help out while there. And there are many who still want to go just to help out their friends.
That's why I usually will tell them not to worry about their vacation so much being ruined...that can always be remedied.
It can be difficult to be understood properly at times on Y/A...

Sometimes we don't stop and think about a lot of things as to how we come across with our opinions...and then both extremes are taken where either one sounds inconsiderate and then the other sounds like they're ready to throw you against the wall.

Pasteur, if you have family in Cuba, were they in the danger zone areas that were hit the worst from the hurricanes?

Riki

Hello Pasteur30, I don't believe tourists are uncaring at all, it's just many people have saved all year to take a vacation arranging time off from work etc. etc. and they are concerned about that. That pales of course with the needs of the Cuban people at this time. Many of us load our cases with surplus toys, clothes and other items that we know Cubans need whenever we visit Cuba. I'm extremely disappointed in our Canadian government for not announcing aid to Cuba at this time, at least I've seen nothing on the news about it. My suggestion is that whenever anyone posts about going to Cuba we remind them to bring everything they can which could be of help. I'm sure our major airlines such as Transat, Sky service, Sun Wing and Air Canada would agree to carry overweight cases at no charge. I know Transat has done that in past to the DR. Now Pasteur 30, my suggestion to you is that you edit your question and let us know what items would be most needed. Also remind tourists of what is needed on future questions. Thank you. Pasteur30, as you wish thank you for your reply. I learned a lot from your reply. I will keep suggesting tourists take what they can.

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