The Alberto Jones Column, 2002

On February 24, 2008, as General Raul Castro assumed the Presidency of Cuba, he pronounced a non-electrifying speech that was devoid of hyperbole, false political promises or immediate solution for every problem affecting the population. Instead, he called upon all Cubans to unite behind the party, to work hard, correct mistakes, eliminate excessive prohibitions and improve the quality of life of all, without altering the basic principles on which the country was forged for the past half a century.

A mere six weeks after this historic moment, have seen a torrent of changes, laws, regulations, discussions and proposals, geared to correct past shortcomings and improve the government working methods, which have invigorated the Cuban people, left the outside world in awe, the so called dissident confused, the US government, think tanks and former eastern European lackeys lost, not knowing what to do or expect.

Exercising its absolute sovereignty, Cuba have implemented decisions, introduced measures and revoked others, without having to submit questions or wait for answers from anyone in this world, sorely hurting the feelings of many annexationists, eager to become another star on someone else’s flag.

Any attempt to enumerate the changes that have taken place in these few weeks, may become irrelevant by new ones coming out of literally every ministry, social group or intellectual organizations, seriously attempting to perfect their model of governance.

Even from a distance, it is easy to grasp the intense governmental activities taking place in Cuba, by either receiving or sending its highest level functionaries to literally every country to sign collaborative agreements, scientific exchanges, purchasing goods and services or offering Cuba’s renowned humanitarian help to those in need.

Such a level of effervescence, expectation and high hopes, was off the radar of the Cuban scene since the collapse of the Soviet Union and other eastern block countries, when thousands of wise men, prognosticators and palm readers from around the world, upheld Ronald Reagan’s simplistic right-wing “Domino” political philosophy, which presupposed Cuba as a satellite of the Soviet Union, should have fallen out of space, as part of the law of gravity.

Little did they know or were willing to learn about the Cuban peoples character, the fiber of their political leaders and the determination of a unified country, willing to die rather than lower their dignified flag, get on their knees and beg for forgiveness for deeds so many shed their blood or gave their lives.

This very traumatic and excruciating fifteen years experience known as the Special Period, became the fun and joy of those genetically unfit and weak at heart in south Florida, who documented, published and paraded on TV every new arrival in rickety make-shift rafts, caricaturing and mocking the calamity that had enveloped a nation from where in their views, everyone, including its leadership were eager to flee.

Perplexed by the stubborn, inexplicable resistance of the Cuban people, millions around the world awaited every day for the TV breaking news, announcing the collapse of the government. Instead, without fanfare or any public announcement, most people now realize, that the forty plus years of this vicious war of attrition against Cuba have developed irreparable cracks, that the modus-vivendi that had enriched many in the hate industry is evaporating, they are demoralized and the end is within reach.

But this extraordinary event is not a victory for Cuba; it is in fact a victorious day for all of the poor, forgotten, despised and segregated people of the world, who can now confirm, that those willing to resist through a unified, coherent ideology and willing to pay the heavy price that will be imposed upon them, as Spartacus or Jesus, they cannot be defeated.

Then, as I read today’s papers, four separate, apparently unrelated news items made headlines. “Rain dampen Cuba sugar production”, Cuba mulls more foreign investment in farming sector”, “I am the future” and, “Haitian President calls for calm amidst crisis and looting”.

I am the future is a clear example of what can be achieved with minor, positive administrative changes, that have already boosted the dairy output and which will stimulate similar increases in other agricultural, service or production areas.

Cuba mulls more foreign investment, can be seen in an urgent need of upgrading an aging agriculture machinery, obtaining high quality seeds, land preparation equipment, drainage and irrigation system, fertilizers, pesticides, road building, houses and other basic means of developments for the peasantry, will require a substantial influx of hard currency, which can be obtained through a carefully devised foreign investment joint venture, operating primarily under a cooperative farming system, rather than an individualistic system, promoter of social disparity and farm barons.

Recent world developments deriving from skyrocketing food prices, riots, fear of hunger and famine, is but the warning signs of a greater disaster, resulting from a complex worldwide food mismanagement, globalization, greed, farmers subsidy, production controls and international food speculators, who have manipulated or dumped markets, contributing to a generalized risk of widespread hunger.

Social unrest in Asia, Africa and recently in Haiti with the firing of its Prime Minister and promises by the President of subsidizing some food staples, are temporary palliatives and not a real solution for an enormous, steadily growing, catastrophic social calamity of unforeseen, worldwide consequences.

Another article attempting to rationalize “Rain dampen Cuban sugar production,” have been used over the years, or in conjunction with other poorly supported arguments such as, late arrival of spare parts, increased industrial breakdown, delayed cold weather, lack of transportation equipment etc., all of which, are nothing more than garbled explanations and unwillingness to delve into the root cause of this very serious production hindering mismanagement.

It is an open secret, that Cubans dislike, -for good reasons- the hard, back-breaking, heat-stifling and poorly remunerated work of harvesting sugar cane. These factors and a near criminal abuse imposed upon defenseless migrant workers from the English speaking Caribbean islands and Haiti by native sugar barons and US transnational like the United Fruit Company, the Guantanamo, sugar Company and others, determined that most, especially Haitians, were forced to live in communal barracks – barracones - with dirt floor, leaky roof, no electricity or running water, totally unfit for housing domestic animals.

Everyone in Cuba, especially those living in Oriente and Camaguey, knows about the Haitian people hard working virtues, their respect for their neighbors, their humility and their endless gratitude. Thousands of descendents from Haitian emigrants living in Cuba today, have excelled in every walk of life and are living testimony to their values.

Cuba cannot solve the problems of the world, but Cuba can certainly play a pivotal role in complementing food security requirements in the Caribbean and Central America. Minor changes introduced in the agriculture sector in Cuba in recent weeks, the simple perception of more changes in the works, a revitalized interest in recuperating thousands of acreage devoured by weed or underused and a transformation of no-man-land into a family matter, will yield results far beyond our most optimistic projection.

But if Cuba is hoping to resolve its food shortage as soon as possible, boost other agricultural production as it should, create new exportable and develop a food security basis within these uncertainties, it will not be able to achieve it without a substantial guest workers influx, especially from Haiti.

No country in world has done more to assist the development of Haiti than Cuba and most recently Venezuela. President Hugo Chavez has recognized publicly the debt of gratitude of his country with Haiti. He have spoken proudly of Haiti unqualified, generous social, military and moral support to Simon Bolivar during the war of independence of South America.

Under different circumstances, Cuba is also deeply indebted to the Haitian people, who contributed billions of hours of labor in the most brutal condition seen since the end of slavery, to develop and turn the sugar industry in Cuba into the pride of our nation, without which, the physiognomy of our country would have been quite different today.

Thanks to Fidel Castro personal experience growing up on a sugar plantation, where he saw first hand the misery and exploitation of these unfortunate people and his demonstrated deep feelings for those less fortunate, as President of Cuba, he have done more to express the eternal gratitude of our nation to Haiti, than all of Cuba’s previous governments.

The entire world should be proud and applaud Cuba’s most exemplary humanitarian endeavor, not when the country was enjoying financial latitude, but rather, during the special period, when food was in short supply, electricity non-existent, medicine scarce or transportation no where to be found; was precisely when Cuba founded the Caribbean School of Medical Sciences in Santiago de Cuba, where close to 1000 sons and daughters of Haiti are being trained, as are others in multiple fields of higher education across the country, all free of charge.

Enormous as Cuba’s support for the Haitian people have been, it cannot be taken out of the wicked historical context of that nation, that is still paying the monstrous bill that was imposed on its people, for defeating France most prestigious military forces and becoming the first Republic in the western hemisphere.

Contrary to the way rich countries pretend to express their charitable sentiments by sending food, medicine or cash in case of natural disasters, social upheaval or military conflicts, reminds us of the worn out concept of Give Fish, instead of Teaching to Fish. Cuba must act differently.

After the recent food riots in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Egypt and somewhere else in the near future, we should not sit back and wait to count the number of dead, wounded or destruction that we can anticipate will occur in this worsening environment. There is no one, except us, the poor, victimized and ignored, that are expected to extend a helping hand to our piers.

Cuba can and should implement immediately a massive food production project of fast growing carbohydrates containing tubercles and others with a substantial conservation/preservation capabilities to satisfy its national needs and that of neighboring countries.

If this concept is accepted, given a thorough analysis, remove all unacceptable aspects and implement the final version, Cuba could see all of its nutritional needs satisfied in less than five years. Also, by creating job opportunities in Cuba for thousands of Haitian and other Caribbean immigrants, many thousands more of their family members in their respective countries, will be able to survive, by receiving the moral and material support from those creating a better future for all.

An un-erasable historical disaster, 4/14/2008

No Time for Barbaric Actions, 4/10/08

Celebrating the Exemplary Life of Dr. D’Adesky, 4/7/08

A Tragic Past and a Glimmer of Hope over the Horizon, 2/23/08

On February 18, 2008, Fidel Castro announced to the world, that he would not seek nor accept the nomination to be re-elected as President of the Council of State, President of the Council of Ministers and Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban Armed Forces at the upcoming elections on February 24, the same day Cuba’s war of independence began in 1895.

Thousands of predictions from Cubanologists , Academics, Centers for Cuban Studies, renowned Think Tanks, Tarot Readers, Homeland Security and the US Southern Command sophisticated contingency plans for dealing with the widespread uprising in Cuba, civil strife, hundreds of executions, mass sea exodus and a huge tent city to share lodging space with the Taliban in Guantanamo Bay Cuba, never materialized. Why?

By ignoring Cuba’s complex and violent history since the tragic arrival of Christopher Columbus to these shores, causing the mass extermination of it’s native community in less than twenty years, which was replaced by millions of Africans slaves who were viciously repressed, their family and religious beliefs abolished and their females mercilessly raped by their masters, with an irrefutable, monstrous complicity of the Catholic Church, making this action difficult to rationalize up to this day.

United States voracious interest in owning Cuba goes back to 1848, when President James Polk offered Spain 100 million dollars in a failed effort to purchase that island, which was followed by numerous attempts by US southern slave owners to annex Cuba by arming mercenaries and repeatedly invading that country.

Tired of being colonized, the Cuban people waged a thirty year war of independence against Spain, whose outcome was thwarted by the mysterious explosion of the USS Maine, the unjustifiable Spanish-American war, the Treaty of Paris, the Platt Amendment, forced land leases for US Naval Bases, creation of puppet governments, absolute control of lands, industry, financial and political institutions, massive corruption, murders and loss of national sovereignty, are an integral part of Cuba’s history.

On February 17, 1959, exerting it’s national sovereignty, Cuba enacted the Land Reform Law, which confiscated hundreds of thousands of ill-gotten acres of agricultural lands in the hands of corrupt politicians, land barons, foreign enterprises and all sorts of crooks, while hundreds of thousands of landless peasants wandered from farm to farm in search of a meager subsistence job, when they were suddenly granted ownership of the plot they farmed.

Subsequent decrees such as the Urban Reform Law which confiscated thousands of apartment buildings and homes, transferring ownership to their renters, a 50% reduction in the cost of pharmaceutical, electrical and telephone bills in the hands of United States transnational, followed by the refusal of Esso, Texaco and Shell refineries to process discount crude oil that Cuba had purchased in the Soviet Union, led to their confiscation and a twenty years, national bonds repayment offer, that was rejected by instructions from the US State Department.

An escalating tit-for-tat continued with the US cutting-off all purchases of Cuban sugar quota and freezing its assets in US banks, was followed by Cuba confiscating all national and foreign enterprises on its soil. Then came the breaking-off of relations, the Bay of Pigs, the Missile Crisis, terrorists attacks, embargo, bioterrorism and a bitter forty nine years of political confrontation.

History cannot be denied or re-written. Contrary to what many have been made to believe, these factors have played a pivotal role in framing the Cuban society nationalism, which have enabled them to withstand a stifling forty seven year old embargo, a never-ending state of siege, a bizarre and deranged behavior by an occasional US President, coupled with years of the Cuban government mismanagement, chronic poverty, lack of basic supplies, crumbling infrastructure, poor living conditions and crude suppression of many civil and human rights.

It is therefore imperative, that all peace loving people around the world, reject imperial statements like those coming from President George W. Bush in Africa or Presidential candidate John Mc Cain immature and silly wish of Castro’s death and work hard towards building bridges of trust, understanding and friendship.

That’s why, there is such an enormous sense of optimism, expectation and hope on both sides of the Florida straits, that the new harmonious political wind that is flowing in our direction, may lead to a rational, logic, non-interfering and respectful relations among our countries, for the benefit of all of our peoples.

History Continues To Repeat Itself, 2/14/08

Another Sad Birthday, 2/4/08

Forty five years ago on February 27, 1962, my daughter Isabel Maria was born in the same house she still lives in the city of Guantanamo, Cuba. For most parents, this joyous moment should have marked the beginning of a series of happy events that would nurture a normal childhood into a successful adult life.

Unfortunately for Isabel Maria and millions of children in Cuba who were born on this day, weeks before and many years after, the only recollections of their tragic life experience is one filled with fear of terrorists attacks blowing-up of buildings, bridges or movie theaters, burning of crops or industries, invasions, assassinations, mass funerals and a real threat of nuclear annihilation during the Cuban missile crisis.

In response to these widespread threats, the Cuban Government instituted a host of defensive measures such as the creation of the Militias, CDR, a large and highly trained military, police force, as many areas of development became support base for these defensive activities. Suddenly the country found itself under a permanent state of siege from enemies coming from the north, which lead to a generalized state of military readiness, that was reminiscent of Stalingrad during WW II.

This inescapable situation was reflected immediately among the population by the scarcity or complete absence of important life staples, a decrease in the level of many services except for health, education, sports and a few others, as many social, recreational and cultural activities came to a stand still. This permanent threat with its high level of tensions, altered the open, extroverted character of the Cuban people.

Of all of these shortcomings, none scarred the population as much as the lack of medicines and medical supplies. Seeing our loved ones suffer unnecessary pain or die for the lack of these resources, have remained etched in the souls of many, have forged a mindset of frustration, pain and hopelessness, that can be seen in an introverted personality with a sad smile and a timid approach to life.

Additionally, enormous amount of the Cuban economy was devoted to defenses purposes, which have successfully staved-off every attempt to attack, sabotage or invade the country. The downside of the massive military investment that was imposed upon the country is visible everywhere, be it through the extremely low wages, dilapidated living conditions, ruinous transportation system, crumbling infrastructure or lack of personal goods.

But how could this complex life experience express itself differently in most individuals? As humans, we have the propensity of looking at life events in isolation, although it is a well documented fact, that the body digest, integrate and store each of these socio-psychological developments in their system, which at times, they may become overwhelming or catastrophic.

Although hundreds of books have been written, depicting the unspeakable suffering that wars have inflicted on innocent people in Leningrad, Coventry, Kursk, Dresden, Mi Lai, Guernica, Iraq, Hiroshima, Iran, Sudan and hundreds of other places around the world, not a single world have been said or written on behalf of millions of people that are trapped in this senseless, cold war relic of the United States with Cuba.

Just as the million or so Palestinians that are trapped in Gaza, cut-off from the world, starved to death or condemned to waste away with the deafening complicity of all the moralists, clergy and politicians of our days, so are the people in Cuba, forced to endure such adversity or risk becoming part of our Caribbean shark diet.

Like my daughter, tens of thousands of these youths that were traumatized by such ignominious state of siege which molded their lives, may have deprived many of them of achieving their maximum potential. Some, maybe the most resilient have overcome insurmountable hurdles, have excelled in a number of fields of knowledge and today, they can be found sharing their expertise with people in their country and around the world.

Looking back at this half-a-century mean-spirited, unilateral decision that have been forcefully imposed on millions of people in Cuba by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, demonstrate beyond any doubt, that there is no logic, rationale, legal authority or divine mandate, that is capable of justifying the collective, devastating punishment inflicted upon innocent people who have done us no harm.

And today, as I watched Mrs. Michelle Obama, spontaneously, without notes, deliver the most comprehensive, uplifting, electrifying and hopeful political speech ever delivered by a politician in the United States during my lifetime, I felt so proud, so honored, so reassured, that no matter the adversity, there is hope.

Sadly, irresponsible decisions made by some in high office or a lack of backbone by others to rectify a known wrong, other little girls like Michelle, with similar intellectual capabilities, but having the misfortune to have been born in Cuba, have seen their aspirations to contribute to a better world crushed and their hopes dashed.

The advent of the XXI Century brought hopes to millions of people around the world that finally, man would cease to be his worst enemy. Sadly, very little have changed.

I dream, that the upcoming US Presidential election be won by someone who was raised by a single mother, saw the ugly face of hunger, may have experienced segregation, who understands the responsibilities of governments and share his life with an extraordinary woman of very humble beginnings.

These facts give me hope that if Senator Barack Obama is elected President of the United States, he may say Enough is Enough, remove the cruel Embargo/stranglehold on Cuba, sign a non-aggression agreement and in so doing, eliminate Cuba’s garrison mentality and internal embargo, restoring our historical friendship and leaving Cubans to decide their own destiny, be it for better or for worse.

A Critical Look at the Future of Cuba, Part II, 2/14/08

The advent of the Revolution on January 1, 1959, signaled to the world, the birth of a process in Cuba that would be different than everything we had seen before; a process that would restore the country’s dignity, its independence and sovereignty by eradicating all vestiges of political corruption, bribes, prostitution, drugs, looting of public funds, gambling, ignorance, segregation, and by depriving all foreign governments of their self assign right to decide and impose upon the country their national interests.

Expropriating all large foreign and national corporations in the country, sent a clear message to all, especially to those who played a pivotal role in corrupting the country’s political system since the early 1900.

In May 1959, the first Land Reform was enacted, decapitating all land barons owning hundreds of thousands of acres of agricultural land and similar amounts in reserve while hundreds of thousands of hungry, landless peasants only way of survival was wandering from one farm to another, working as farm hands and living in constant fear of eviction by the military at the behest of the rich; turned out to be the most applauded and widely supported measures introduced so far by the Revolutionary government.

In 1963 and without any advance notice, the government enacted the second land reform, expropriating all farms larger than 165 acres. This decision sent a chilling effect across the farming community, since many wondered if there would be a third or even a fourth land reform in the making. Simultaneously with the massive literacy campaign and an intense follow-up course, thousands of sons and daughters of these farmers acquired the equivalent of a 6th grade education, which opened the door to many technical courses usually in neighboring towns with their lights, glitter and amenities, enticing many of them not to return to their homes in the mountains, beginning a steady exodus from the countryside to this day.

This drastic reorganization of the agricultural system led to the formation of Peoples Cooperatives, where adjoining farmers pooled their land resources, worked collectively and shared in the profit/loss. A serious attempt was made to replace the prevailing hut-type thatched houses with decent cinder block homes.

Some time later, many of these cooperatives that had achieved substantial increase in their production output, were incorporated into large land holdings of the government and turned into Peoples Farm, which had a huge amount of farm machinery, transportation equipment, an agricultural air fleet, dams, irrigation systems, hundreds of employees and a large bureaucracy that was charged with transforming the Cuban agriculture into the most technically advanced in Latin America.

With the arrival of thousands of technicians, engineers, nutritionists, veterinarians, biologists and all sorts of researchers on the field, Cuba underwent its greatest agriculture technological transformation in its entire history. New breed of cattle were created, greater yield of beef and milk were achieved, new feed and more nutritious grass were introduced, a huge army of animal health personnel was in place wiping out traditional animal plague, food inspection was at its peak and a novel veterinarian/agronomist border defense team was consolidated.

A number of world-class agriculture and animal research centers were created, thousands of dairy farms were fully mechanized, artificial insemination achieved the highest level in our region exporting high quality semen worldwide and the poultry industry which was conceived to produce 60 million eggs per year, reached the unparallel amount of 1600 million eggs.

Hundreds of dams and irrigation systems were built, millions of hardwood, ornamental and fruit trees were planted and the first signs of environmental protection began to emerge.

In 1968, in what many still considers as a fatal mistake, all corner stores, mom and pop small business were accused of dealing in black market, illegal enrichment and confiscated. The lack of such vital, wide reaching services has had a devastating impact on the lives of people in every community in the country to this day.

Ironically, it was during this same period (1965-70) that the country began graduating large number of professionals in all fields of knowledge, that this misguided, confiscation policy dictated, that all managerial positions in these huge enterprises should be in the hands of bureaucrats and political operatives, most of whom had no technical/professional background, leading inexorably to serious, multi-billion dollar mistakes, disenchantment and professional demoralization. Orders were not reasoned, they were imposed!

These tragic decisions led to a steady decrease in all production levels in the country, which in turn, severely impacted the import/export index, creating a marked reduction in the availability of all raw materials and products. This vicious cycle increased exponentially the artificial value of most items, setting in motion a corrupting effect in every institution that have since plagued and threatened to devour the entire nation.

Attempting to correct these problems, instead of controlling the distribution of goods through a standard purchase/sale procedure, goods began to trickle down from Ministries to Provincial, Regional, Local and administrative units, which was rife with loopholes, non-tracking mechanisms and poor administrative controls, enabling things to get lost, traded illegally or stolen by an explosion of administrative crooks. Confronting this newly formed brotherhood in crime carried a heavy price for many.

A naturally engrained disdain for money at the highest echelon of government, where money was seen as the culprit of all human weakness, selfishness and with a powerful ability to corrupt, may have been the basis for not questioning or reversing this failed mechanism, which was further expanded by the great give-away season, in which home mortgage, sport entry, public phones, funerals and other services suddenly became free of charge.

Millions of unspent money in the pocket of the population and the diminished availability of products and services quickly led to a work discipline breakdown and a marked increase in vagrancy.

This national anti-economic growth policy, combined with and endless generosity and pride in helping others, propelled Cuba to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in countries less fortunate, while much of Cuba’s infrastructure was in shamble, and social needs, human requirements, and economic and industrial base development went unmet.

Although the land mass of all of the islands visited are less than ½ of Cuba, their natural resources, except for energy rich Trinidad and Tobago, are far less than 1/5 of Cuba’s, their average human technical and professional development compared with Cuba has to be measured in microns, yet, their GNP, their satisfaction index, the quality of their public and private services, are incredibly more efficient than Cuba.

A stark contradiction can be seen in taxis used in those islands that are 40 years newer than those high-risk, hazardous, air polluting “Almendrones” on Cuba’s streets and highways, requiring each hundreds of hours in wasted, repetitious maintenance, just to keep them dragging on.

It is inconceivable, that the homes of those students that are being trained for free in Cuba and others in their community, as a rule of thumb, have far better living condition and are better equipped, than those of their educators in Cuba.

It is impossible to explain that professionals from all of these islands who studied and graduated in Cuba have an incomparable higher standard of living than their Cuban counterparts.

How can we explain that neither the graduates of these countries nor their governments, knowing the tremendous economic challenges that Cuba is facing, have offered to send surplus products in their countries, badly needed educational supplies or personal goods for thousands of national and foreign students and their educators in Cuba?

Or can it be, that Cuba is too proud to accept help from any of the sources mentioned above or others, which could unquestionably improve the quality of their education, quality of life and improve their environment.

For the past forty five years, the stoic Cuban people have endured every possible form of dangers, hardship and sufferings. Recent rumblings, complaints and questioning of some policies, is a positive outcry for help, to rightfully improve their lot and that of their children, that cannot be ignored.

Only by substantially increasing all wages, restoring management authority, demystifying the artificial value attached to scarce products and services, by supplanting the occasional availability of goods by a constant flow/surplus and by replacing the unmanageable centralized administration of small, corner stores, mom and pop business, either by creating co-op or family ownership, which can generate billions for the local government coming from occupational licenses, rent, utilities, insurance, tax and payment of their own health and educational insurance, with which, all of the housing, infrastructure and social development which remains on hold supposedly for lack of resources, can be put in motion immediately, restoring and reviving all communities in the nation.

For those unfamiliar with the Cuban people natural attributes and their endless capabilities to accomplish what others may deem impossible, by looking at the enormous challenge they are facing, may seem to be a daunting proposition. These are the type of challenges that characterized two previous generations.

For those familiar with the Cuban people's natural attributes and their endless capabilities to accomplish what others may deem impossible looking at the enormous challenge they are now facing, these are no different than the crucial, life threatening challenges two previous generations confronted and succeeded.

Debating who made which mistake, pointing fingers or highlighting who did not care or did not listen, will be a subject of profound debate at the right time and place.

The present generation and Cubans of all generations wherever they may be have to answer this call for doing the impossible by unleashing all of their ingenuity, resources, pride and love of country, to help Cuba regain years of misguided policies and to help Cuba occupy its rightful place among nations.

To be continued with final considerations.

A Critical Look at the Future of Cuba, Part I, 12/07

On November 17th 2005, President Fidel Castro pronounced a dramatic speech at the University of Havana, in which he pointed out that the Revolution could not be defeated from abroad, but the people in Cuba could, if measures were not implemented to correct failures, shortcomings and corruption that had encroached into the process and become part of the government apparatus. He further said Revolution is precisely that, the ability to “Change everything that must be changed”.

Shortly after, he suffered a severe intestinal ailment that led him to relinquish his post and transfer authority to his brother Army General Raul Castro. During the 26 of July commemoration in Bayamo this year, Raul reiterated his frustration with widespread apathy and administrative mismanagement. He hinted at the need for opening a profound dialogue among the population, to search for and find structural solutions for these entrenched problems.

Propelled by a plethora of news, rumors and speculations following these important developments, I embarked on a visit through the Caribbean that lead me to Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia and Antigua. Previously, I had visited Jamaica, Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago. It was my hope, that the empirical observation and analysis of the different experiences and approach used by these countries to solve many of their social problems that are common to our nations with a shared cultural, historical and geographical background, could help me decipher the origins, root cause and corrective measures, for many of the intractable, irritating and woeful lack of material goods, that have plagued the Cuban society for decades.

With a partial exception of those territories under the jurisdiction of the United States, the first and most striking example of what Cuba stands for hits you like a tidal wave when you ask the average person on the street, in a market, restaurant or driving a taxi, what he/she thinks about Cuba and if they know of any Cuban working in their country.

Then suddenly, it becomes difficult to change the subject, as you are bombarded with expressions of gratitude for having tens of Cuban doctors working in remote regions of their country, where for the first time in their lives, peasants are having access to a physician, or for those physicians staffing public hospitals in towns and villages, who brought with them specialized diagnostic or treatments procedures that were previously unknown in their country, which may have prolonged or saved the lives of their loved ones.

Similar sentiments are expressed for those assisting in the development of agricultural projects, water purification systems, road building, construction, restoring industrial capabilities, sports trainers or by learning to save energy under the guidance of young social workers.

Still, teaching the locals to read and write, restoring the eye sight of thousands and training their children as physicians, nurses, educators or computer science and a myriad of other educational skills free of charge in Cuba, seems to have created the greatest sense of respect and gratitude in the general population.

But knowing at the same time, that this incredible human endeavor is not afforded only to people and countries with which Cuba has a respectful and friendly relation, confers upon it, an even greater significance. When an earthquake devastated Peru in the 70‘s, Cuba had no diplomatic relations with that country yet, hundreds of healthcare professionals offered their expertise, while hundreds of construction workers built roads, hospitals and schools.

When hurricane Mitch nearly wiped Honduras off the map, Cuba had no diplomatic relations with that country, still hundreds of Cuban healthcare personnel were sent to help and are still there, many years after.

Recently, Pakistan was ravished by a monstrous earthquake that killed and wounded tens of thousands of its citizens. Hundreds of Cuban healthcare professionals who came to their assistance, were greeted by the most hostile geographical environment they had ever seen, with freezing temperature and a near insurmountable language barrier, only to excel and earn the respect and gratitude of that nation.

In the year 2004 and with the financial support of the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela, Cuba started a massive eye surgery project throughout the Caribbean and Latin America known as Operation Miracle. So far, over 900,000 people have had their eyesight restored, with a goal of millions through 2016.

Among the thousands of Bolivian citizens who have benefited from this project is Andres Teran, a retired sub-officer with the Bolivian Army who was blind, living in abject poverty and hiding a horrendous personal history. While acting under the instruction of Felix Rodriguez, a Cuban-American CIA operative in charge of hunting down guerilla leader Ernesto Che Guevara, who was ambushed, wounded in battle, captured and held prisoner in a school in la Higuera, Bolivia. Teran was ordered to murder him in cold blood by riddling his body with bullets.

These examples, which are less than the tip of the iceberg of Cuba’s 45 plus years of giving, helping everyone in need, irrespective of their geographical location, race, religion, ethnicity, political or social orientation, would pre-suppose a wealthy country, in which all of its people's basic needs were addressed.

For decades, the Cuban people endured all sorts of unsatisfied material and social needs, while they found solace in their enormous sense of giving, volunteering for the most difficult tasks, the furthest assignment from home and even the riskiest of chores. In so doing, many suffered physical harm or paid the ultimate price. A diploma, a certificate, a medal or a public acknowledgement, was all that was expected. Money or any other personal material reward was out of the question.

Those were the beautiful, honest, idealistic and altruistic years of the 60's and 70s, full of Revolutionary fervor, when milk crates and bread bags were left before dawn in front of the grocery store and no one dared touch them.

Those were the years when the first 2100 university students from across the country receiving scholarships, moved into three, twenty story apartment buildings with no locks on the doors or closets…. and nothing ever got lost.

Those were the years when most professors at the University would hand out their exams, ask if there was any question that was not clear, would leave students by themselves, return three hours after at the end of the allotted time, pick up all exams, knowing that no one had dared to cheat.

Those were the years when passengers at all bus stops, asked for the last in line, would not enter through the back door, but if they felt compelled to do so, they would kindly ask those on board to pass on their coin and drop it into the collection bin.

Those were the days, when every administrator having to distribute an insufficient amount of a given item among his workers, had to be prepared for a heated discussion among workers, trying to determine those who needed it most.

That was then. Further on, I will speculate a bit and give my own assessment of how and why got to where we are today.

To be continued…..

A Critical Look at the Future of Cuba, Part III, 3/13/08

Hoping to write the third and final chapter of this article, I rose-up around 3:00 am on Tuesday February 19. At 3: 18 CNN interrupted its normal programming with a breaking news that Fidel Castro, the President of Cuba had written a letter in which he stated “I will neither aspire nor accept the positions of president of the Council of State or Commander in Chief”.

This stunning news, after leading the Cuban government for 49 years and 49 days albeit expected, left me speechless, frozen in my chair, as thousands of life changing, vivid experiences crossed my mind at the speed of light. I must digress a bit from my original line of thinking.

How could I ever envision that I would live through this unprecedented, historic transformation of Cuba and its people? It all began on Saturday July 25th 1953, when my uncle Clifford invited me to join his friends, who were going to a carnival dance that took place every year at the Hatuey beer gardens in Santiago de Cuba.

Exhausted, after having a wonderful time around 3:00 AM, my Uncle decided to call it quits and go home. Because it was a large group and there was few if any taxis at such late hours of the night, we sang all the way as we walked to our friend’s home, who hosted us for the week-end.

In one of those inexplicable twists of life, our friends lived in Sueno neighborhood, only 4-5 blocks away from the Moncada barracks, Cuba’s second largest military garrison with its threatening looks as we strolled outside of its fortified walls. As we approached one of its many gates, we said Hi to a small number of soldiers guarding one of its entrance. Shortly after reaching home and in the process of getting in bed, we heard loud, relentless explosions that we thought initially were fire crackers.

Later, wild rumors went that a gun battle had ensued between the military stationed at the Moncada and members of the reinforcement brigade that came in from Havana. Around 9:00 am, a couple of B-26’s flew low overhead threatening to bomb, which fortunately did not happen. What we did witness from our vantage point, was military jeeps constantly speeding into the garrison, sometimes with someone laying on the floor of the jeep with their feet hanging out, which was followed by sporadic shots, suggesting someone had been executed.

On Monday, as life partially returned to normal, people were allowed to leave their homes and as we walked near the garrison, more than forty caskets were spread-out on the sidewalk, exuding a nauseating odor and covered with swarms of flies, in a repugnant desecration of the dead.

How Fidel was captured days later and was miraculously saved by Lt Sarria who had instructions not to take prisoners, survived attempts to poison him in jail, the trial and wrote his self defense “Condemn me, it doesn‘t matter; History will Absolve me” became a treatise in jurisprudence.

This was followed by jail time in Cuba’s most feared prison, parole, his migration to Mexico, regrouping, military training, and the launching of a maritime invading force of 82 men most of whom were ambushed and murdered upon landing. With the twelve surviving men, they organized a nation-wide movement that ousted Batista and his 80,000 men-strong army less than three years later.

Out of this victorious revolution came a wide-range, political-ideological third world solidarity movement that spread across the world like a wildfire, supporting every liberation movement, providing its leaders with all necessary moral and material support, denouncing and weakening tens of neo-colonial institutions that had enslaved millions of people in Africa, Asia and Latin-America.

Today Cuba can proudly exhibit thousands of people who were educated in its classrooms, a host of countries whose liberation and independence is closely tied to Cuba’s efforts, and millions of people whose pain and suffering have been relieved and their lives preserved from certain death, because of Cuba’s unqualified, generous devotion to those in need.

These examples and many more may help us understand and counterbalance the difficult socio-economic conditions in Cuba today, that her enemies enjoy highlighting and portraying as a symbol of Cuba’s social failure. In fact, its low wages, crumbling housing, pathetic infrastructure, poor food and medicine supplies, insufficient personal and durable goods, etc., rather than an indictment of their system, it exemplifies their unparallel generosity, unselfishness and profound concerns for the wellbeing of those less fortunate, even at the expense of their own.

Like so many man-made projects, Cuba has had its own long list of mistakes, just as it had these incredible visions and perspectives that have changed history, impacted the lives of millions and restored hope of a better world for present and future generations. These incontrovertible facts are what have made Cuba under the leadership of Fidel Castro a unique, one in a century event that no government, historian or media can negate, tarnish or distort.

But after forty years of the Cuban people enduring all forms of deprivations, it is past due to have a thorough, profound re-evaluation of the country’s resources, its people’s need and ways of increasing its industrial and agricultural output, in order to begin satisfying the most pressing issues affecting that nation.

Contrary to what many Cuban-American scholars may assume, that in order to address the huge material need that have accrued over the years, Cuba will have to dismantle its political system, beg its enemies for forgiveness, plead with the World Bank for financial help, apologize to the United States government for misbehaving and invite back into the country the Cuban-American bourgeoisie with their corrupting mentality and truckload of vices; rest assured, that will never happen.

To some extent, the success and failures of the Revolution are reflected in me and many others. Rescuing from a clerical dead-end job on the United States Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay Cuba in 1962, the Cuban government spent thousands of dollars on my education to become a Veterinary Pathologist with additional training in counter epizoothiologic bio-terrorism education in Germany in 1966, when only a handful of professionals in this hemisphere knew about this specialty.

In 1970 I became Director and Pathologist of Oriente Provincial Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory , which encompassed at the time a territorial responsibility of 1/3 of Cuba’s agriculture expanse. In addition to this impossible task, I was later put in charge of overseeing the technical and personal needs of our foreign professional support team, I founded and became President of the Provincial Veterinary Scientific Council and in 1972, instructor of Pathology at the University of Oriente.

As difficult and overwhelming as these multi tasks and complex responsibilities were, my greatest and most challenging problems arouse from my constant battle against an incipient corruption - that has since swept the country - among some co-workers in administrative positions, who misused their authority to steal, divert or bribe others with all sorts of material resources assigned to or in possession of our laboratory. Stopping, challenging, denouncing and going as far as forbidding their entry onto our premises, spurred a formidable and rabid array of enemies, who were all too willing to join forces, plot and accuse me of the worst imaginable political crimes, landing me in jail for 8 years, of which I served 4 ½.

For many, this unspeakable and unjustifiable crime meant destroying the pride and joy they felt over the professional achievement of their country boy from Guantanamo. For me, after many years of shame, pain and frustration, thanks to the help of friends and loved ones, I was able to do an in-depth, rigorous analysis of this event and identify the human frailty that cohabitate in many of us, causing my demise and the abominable end of my professional life.

But far more important than my personal grief, was the incredible opportunity that life had reserved for me, by making me the second member of my family to ever sit in a classroom of higher education, three hundred years after our forceful removal from Africa. That’s why, knowing what I know now and given the opportunity to do it all over again, I have no doubt, I would do exactly the same.

Now, in order for Cuba to confront and begin addressing the enormous backlog of urgent, intractable social problems that have severely affected the wellbeing of the Cuban population for decades, I will put forth some unsolicited ideas that I truly believe, once they are subjected to a thorough, critical, objective analysis and have added all necessary modifications, corrections or rejections, we can anticipate a 360 degree socio-economic surge in Cuba by the year 2020 that will catapult this nation into her rightful place among nations in this hemisphere, without having to alter any of the structural foundations that constitutes the moral pillars of the Revolution.

Sources of Income

Cuba’s massive educational system has made all of its émigré potentially more successful than those from other countries. This reality suggests that every Cuban living abroad is indebted to our country and should therefore be willing to refund a portion of their education cost, which can be done, by signing a payment agreement at the closest consulate and remitting equal yearly payments for the next ten years, until his/her debt has been paid in full. Conservative estimates puts the gross income of this project on/or around $5,000,000,000.00

A rampant and uncontrollable violence is ravaging the United States, Central America and some Caribbean islands and has left no workplace, school, healthcare facility, church, courthouse, daycare centers, congress or home untouched. Millions of teenagers, especially minorities, are confronted every day with life threatening challenges, which is expressed in the high homicide ratio, massive incarceration, lack of basic education, drug addition and gang proliferation, placing them squarely among other endangered species.

Creating a network of boarding middle and high schools on the Isles of Youth in Cuba could become a refuge for thousands of US, Caribbean and Latin America youths, where they could safely acquire a solid education and a technical or professional formation, which could prepare them for a creative and productive life. Conservative estimates for tuition, boarding, insurance and family visits for each 300/alumni school, could generate approximately $4,500.000.00 per year.

Forty seven million US citizens and presumably a large number in Latin America and the Caribbean are without a Health Insurance Policy. Creating an affordable policy that may oscillate between $25.00 and $50.00 per month, could possibly enroll between 3 and 5 million individuals, operating on a preventive medicine basis, with yearly physicals.

In support of this project, a 1000 bed Multi-Specialty Caribbean Medical Center could be built in Santiago de Cuba with a similar 500 bed satellite, specializing in certain pathologies, which could be located in Holguin.

Additionally, a Regional, high-tech Caribbean Clinical Pathology Laboratory/Imaging Diagnostic Center with Pathologists strategically situated abroad to serve the area, would provide its top-notch diagnostic capabilities to a region with an anemic service in need of upgrading.

A 2000 bed Nursing Home/Assisted Living facilities distributed through Guantanamo, Santiago and Holguin would satisfy a poorly developed service in this region. Conservative estimates sets the income that can be generated by these entities in billions.

Mental Health and illegal Drug Additions are rapidly becoming the most widespread pathology of the XXI Century. Cuba's near-drug free environment, thousands of healthcare professionals in that field, its renowned track record with Spanish speaking patients and its highly competitive cost, can anticipate with adequate promotion registering tens of thousands of patients from our region who have no where else to go in search of help. Income from this service may easily surpass any of the country’s main source of foreign income.

Tens of millions of people who have been the backbone of Cuba’s solidarity movement around the world, disseminating its reality, marching, holding vigils or collecting donations for its people, could be encouraged to join a new form of solidarity at this critical juncture by participating in a Tri Party Joint Venture composed of solidarity members, Cuban retirees/unemployed organized in co-op’s and properties owned by the Cuban government, in the creation of tens of thousands of micro commercial, industrial, agriculture or hospitality ventures, expanding exponentially these activities, creating thousands of jobs and generating billions in profit, that will be disbursed equally among all three participating sectors.

Cuba’s excellent geographical location, its natural beauty, near perfect climate, educated population and having the safest social environment in the western hemisphere, seems to combine all the ingredients for the development of 200,000 home sites of 100x100 sq ft in the periphery of cities, lakes, beaches, mountain, valleys or secluded areas, upon which individuals with a longstanding friendly relation with Cuba, Cuban emigrants respectful of its sovereignty and others, retired or active, preferably those with higher education, willing to assume parcels in usufruct for 25 years for which, depending on the location of any specific lot, a users fee may range between $2,000.00, $5,000.00 or $10,000.00 per year.

Homes built on these home sites will reflect the taste and acceptable discretion of the home dwellers, who at the end of the 25 years usufruct or if death occurs, these properties in good maintenance conditions,will become part of the Cuban patrimony. In addition to the home value and yearly land payment, it is estimated that Cuba could earn millions in individuals' living expense.

A worldwide demands for shorter delivery time of goods and services, has given rise to an enormous air cargo service and a constant search for establishing distribution centers closer to their marketplace. The city of Guantanamo situated on the southern tip of Cuba, has the longest airstrip in the country, a perfect year round aviation weather, abundant availability of water, electricity, good land, rail and sea connections, hundreds of thousands of underdeveloped acreage and its most attractive feature is being 2, 4 or more flying hours, closer to most of Latin America markets.

A project of this nature will require, hundreds of thousands sq ft of open air, covered and refrigerated storage facilities, thousands of employees, generating billions in rental, customs, air transport, fuel and landing fee, transforming this region into one of the most prosperous in the nation.

Funds Allocation:

If half of these funds were invested primarily in the former province of Oriente and in other specific projects around the country on a variety of social, agro-industrial development, job creation and scientific/technical development, the present unequal development gap existing between the east and the west of Cuba, could be narrowed dramatically by 2020 and wiped-out by 2050. Among the steps to be considered are:

Assign 50 million to refurbish every middle and high school on the Isles of Youth and construct as many as necessary to reach a 20,000 capacity for middle and high school students from the Caribbean, Africa, America and Latin America.

Assign 10 million to refurbish and expand the Frank Pais teacher’s school in Santiago de Cuba, to reach a capacity of 5000 students from Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Assign $20 million to refurbish, upgrade and expand the School of Veterinary Sciences, the regional Diagnostic Laboratory and the Animal Research Center in Bayamo.

Assign 60 million for the construction of a Solar, Wind and Environmental Sciences University for 2000 students, a Solar Research Center and an Energy Saving bulb factory in Guantanamo.

Assign 15 million for the construction in Guantanamo of the National English, French and Creole Language Academy with a capacity of 5000 students, staffed with teachers from the English and French Speaking Caribbean islands.

Assign 20 million for the construction of the Planetarium, Aeronautical and Aerospace and Cosmonaut Museum in Guantanamo.

Assign 50 million to transform the Avenida Michelsen in Santiago de Cuba, into the Developing World Cultural, Expo and Business Center, where every African, Latin America and Caribbean country can exhibit their arts, culture and heritage to promote economic agreements among nations.

Assign 30 million for the construction of the Faculty of African, Caribbean and Latin American studies, with its museum and visual arts center in Santiago de Cuba.

Assign 100 million to refurbish thousands of colonial homes and others of unique architectural value throughout Oriente, create co-op of employee/operators in partnership with the Tourist Industry, turning them into moderate cost Bed and Breakfast lodging.

Assign 300 million for the environmental clean-up, dredging of the port and restoring Ciudamar, Cayo Granma and Punta Gorda in Santiago de Cuba to its original beauty.

Assign 500 million to construct waste water treatment facilities in Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Bayamo, Holguin and Las Tunas.

Allocate 800 million for the Plan Salcines hydrology complex in Baracoa, to satisfy the drinking water needs of Santiago, Guantanamo and Palma Soriano.

Establish a 25,000 family Guest Worker agreement with Haiti, Brazil and other Caribbean Islands and for every Cuban family interested in relocating from the inner city to the countryside and assign 50 acres of land in northern Oriente and Camaguey in usufruct for 25 years, in order to revitalize the sugar cane plantation and restore the production capacity of the sugar industry. A Sandino type home with windmill, septic tank, means of transportation and a $10,000 loan, will be part of this package.

Establish a 20,000 family Guest Workers agreement with Haiti, Brazil, other Caribbean islands and every Cuban family wishing to relocate from any inner city to the mountain range of Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba , El Escambray and la Sierra de los Organos, and assign 50 acres of land and personal facilities as described above, for a massive revitalization of Coffee, Cocoa plantations, fruits and produce production.

Establish a 10,000 family Guest Workers agreement with Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, relocate to southern Oriente and assign 50 acres per family of semi-arid lands for herding sheep, goats and growing nuts, cactus, olives and other typical middle eastern produce. As in previous examples, similar start-up kit is included.

Establish a 10,000 family Guest Workers agreement with Viet Nam/China, allowing their relocation and assigning each family 50-75 acres of wet lands in the delta of the Cauto river, for the expansion of rice production. All other initial benefits are included.

Assign 50 acres of land in usufruct for 25 years and a $10,000.00 loan, to every new and old farmer in the country, interested in revitalizing fruit production in Santiago de Cuba, Contramaestre, Ciego de Avila and the Isle of Youth. All other offer applies.
Create a similar project with 50,000 inner city dwellers with agriculture background, interested in developing feed cattle production in Camaguey, Bayamo, and Sanctis Spiritus and the Havana/Matanzas corridor. All other offerings apply.

Provide a $5,000.00 loan to every home owner interested in refurbishing their home and a $15,000.00 loan for every new home construction.

Assign $20 million for the construction of a motorcycle (scooter) assembly plant in Santiago de Cuba, to provide basic means of transportation to every citizen and for export in the region.

These ideas, which may seem idyllic to some, are solely intended to improve the living standard and quality of life of the exceedingly generous and deserving Cuban people, who have done so much for those society deem unworthy and have left on their own to perish. Cuba must survive, strive and continue to extend its care around the world.

No philosophical, political, racial or social difference should ever be more important than the sanctity of life and its inalienable right of happiness.

If any or all of these suggestions were applied and they would achieve the anticipated economical development, the fossilized, cruel, inhuman embargo would implode as happened with China, Viet Nam, Russia and everywhere else, where the enforcer recognizes they have become an irrelevant spectator.

The Alberto Jones Column XI - 2008

Setting the Record Straight, 5/7/08 - letter to the Jamaica Observer

Mercaderes del Odio y la Decepcion, 26/4/08

A Region at Risk of Famine and the Need of a Survival Strategy, 4/17/08

An un-erasable historical disaster, 4/14/2008

No Time for Barbaric Actions, 4/10/08

Celebrating the Exemplary Life of Dr. D’Adesky, 4/7/08

A Tragic Past and a Glimmer of Hope over the Horizon, 2/23/08

History Continues To Repeat Itself, 2/14/08

Another Sad Birthday, 2/4/08

A Critical Look at the Future of Cuba, Part II, 2/14/08

A Critical Look at the Future of Cuba, Part I, 12/07

A Critical Look at the Future of Cuba, Part III, 3/13/08

Contacting Alberto Jones

Contacting AfroCubaWeb

Copyright © 1997 AfroCubaWeb, sa
Last modified: May 08, 2008

The Alberto Jones Column XI - 2008

Setting the Record Straight, 5/7/08 - letter to the Jamaica Observer

Mercaderes del Odio y la Decepcion, 26/4/08

A Region at Risk of Famine and the Need of a Survival Strategy, 4/17/08

An un-erasable historical disaster, 4/14/2008

No Time for Barbaric Actions, 4/10/08

Celebrating the Exemplary Life of Dr. D’Adesky, 4/7/08

A Tragic Past and a Glimmer of Hope over the Horizon, 2/23/08

History Continues To Repeat Itself, 2/14/08

Another Sad Birthday, 2/4/08

A Critical Look at the Future of Cuba, Part II, 2/14/08

A Critical Look at the Future of Cuba, Part I, 12/07

A Critical Look at the Future of Cuba, Part III, 3/13/08

Contacting Alberto Jones

Contacting AfroCubaWeb

Copyright © 1997 AfroCubaWeb, sa Last modified: May 08, 2008

Copyright © 1997 AfroCubaWeb, sa
Last modified: May 08, 2008