Weekly Cuba News Roundup: February 25th, 2022
There’s some bad shit happening this week – we really, really wish Putin would pack up his bags (and troops) and go home. Naturally, the Cuba headlines immediately tie the country to the Ukrainian crisis. Some are intentional like Miami Herald columnist Fabiola Santiago’s tweet suggesting Biden should “…help himself to Cuba” (see below). Others reference the geopolitical reality of the United States having a communist neighbor. All point to the severity of the situation and the ramifications it could have well beyond eastern Europe.
In other news this week, Luis Manuel Otero’s loved ones worry about his health, 458,000 doses of Cuba’s COVID vaccine have been donated to the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and Costa Rica has tightened up visa requirements for Cubans – kicking off some protests. Russia has postponed Cuba’s debt payment requirements as the two get cozier together; helpful since in addition to Cuba’s existing economic crisis, this year’s sugar harvest is the worst ever. This and more, below, in our Weekly News Roundup for the week of February 25th, 2022.
By the way, none of the opinions in any of the stories shared on this page represent ours; we’re just sharing them with you. If you are a journalist or you have seen a story that you’d like us to consider for future weekly news roundups, please send us a note and a link to the story here.
MSN: Fears grow for Cuban artist 7 months after arrest
Seven months after his arrest, loved ones of Cuban dissident artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara worry for his health, locked away mostly incommunicado in a high-security prison. Read more at msn.com.
Prensa Latina: Cuba donates Covid-19 vaccines to Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (+ Photos)
Sahrawi Ambassador in Havana Mohamed Salec Abdesamad praised the gesture on behalf of his people and government at an event held at the Finlay Vaccine Institute (IFV), the creator of the vaccines. Read more at plenglish.com.
Is the Face of Havana Changing?
Havana’s modern “international” architecture has Cuba’s urban planners worried.
Reuters: Cubans protest in Havana as Costa Rica tightens visa requirements
At least 200 Cubans protested near Costa Rica’s embassy in Havana on Monday against tighter visa requirements for Cubans passing through the Central American nation on the way to Nicaragua. Read more at reuters.com.
Reuters: Russia postpones Cuba debt payments amid warming relations
Russia has agreed to postpone some debt payments owed to it by communist-run Cuba until 2027, its lower house of parliament said on Tuesday, just days after the two countries announced they would deepen ties amid the spiraling Ukraine crisis. Read more at reuters.com.
Reuters: Cuba’s sugar industry headed toward worst season ever as production falters
The Cuban sugar industry is barreling again toward its worst season ever, according to official media reports and sources, threatening to dent both national pride and economic growth. Read more at reuters.com.
ConBAC: Cuba’s Blooming Craft Cocktail Scene
Top bartenders and mixologists from around the world pitched up in Cuba’s top beach resort last year to compete in the IBA World Cocktail Championship shining a spotlight on global drinks and craft cocktails.
Washington Post Opinion: I had to leave Cuba for the first time to feel like a real person
I was on the balcony of my apartment in Havana when I heard the honk of the taxi picking me up to go to the airport. Before grabbing my luggage, I quickly turned on the TV. I wanted to know what the main Cuban TV station was transmitting at the exact moment I would leave the island for the first time, for an indefinite period. Read more at washingtonpost.com.
Miami Herald: Cuba blames U.S. for the crisis in Ukraine, but stops short of endorsing Putin’s invasion
In a carefully worded statement, the Cuban government is blaming the United States for the crisis in Ukraine and backed Russia’s right to “self-defense,” but said the conflict should be resolved diplomatically. Read more at miamiherald.com.
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article258694343.html#storylink=cpy
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El Equipo
Hola todo el mundo. Sometimes our stories are sourced from multiple people on our team. Or, we like to keep you guessing... You know... anonymous. And, for that, soy el escritora; "El Equipo." We exist to amplify the voices of writers, photographers, and content creators in the space between the United States and Cuba, and we also feature stories from Puerto Rico, Latin America, and the Latinx community in the US. Topics of interest are personality-driven and include pop culture and music, featured current events, climate and the environment, and travel and tastemakers. Oh, and of course we're always 100% independent. No governments, businesses or other influencing factors play a role in our work.
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