One baseball game between the Cuban national baseball team and the Tampa Bay Rays, a gift of a few cigars from Raul to Barrack, and a lone cruise ship pulling into three seaside ports count not one little bit toward improving the lives of the embattled and oppressed Cuban people. I just returned from Matanzas province where I spent a week with lots of regular people, unencumbered by the watchful eyes and tongues of the ever present civilian militia. All express sincere hope that improved relations between our two countries will lead to a better life for everyone. But let’s not let our domestic press corps get ahead of reality. Nothing, nothing will accrue to the Cuban people until three areas are addressed.
First, private property laws need to be cemented to allow foreign investment in capital goods to proceed. The countryside is littered with abandoned American and Russian factories, all victim of the wonderful world of Communism. With a central location to the Caribbean and Central/South/North America, and a dedicated, hard-working (but mostly unemployed) labor force, there is every reason why all sorts of goods should be manufactured in Cuba. However, the owners of those capital goods and factories must have assurance that their assets are secure from the hungry claws of Raul and Fidel. On our way out of Havana, a member of our team bought some Havana Club rum to take home to friends. I might have spoiled his joy when I reminded him that all of the administrative and productive assets of the company were nationalized (stolen,for those of you from Birdsboro) from a Spanish family soon after the Revolution in 1959. It is estimated that the rights to several billion dollars of assets (many American) need to be reconciled before any foreign entity invests a dollar or a euro into Cuba.
Secondly, infrastructure needs are massive. Roads have received little maintenance in 50 years. The one-track railroad creeps across the country, now taking 26 hours to traverse the 650 miles from Guantanamo to Pinar Del Rio. There are more ox and horse driven vehicles than there are motorized vehicles. Tons of new tourists now descend on a beautiful but overwhelmed Havana ( usually never venturing outside the city), with water, sewer, road and electrical systems dating back to the 1940s. American tourists in particular are pretty picky when it comes to dependable showers and air conditioning.
None of these issues are solvable under the current repressive government. When asked the population of Havana, most will say, “one million, plus one million watching them “. Political detainment and imprisonment is a way of life. The average household income is below $25 per month, and for goodness sakes, the professional baseball stars suffice on only $50 per month. We have befriended one of our regular translators who is very proud of his Canadian energy company job paying $40,000 per annum. After the funds flow through Havana, our friend receives $40 per month, and he is happy about it. Internet usage is extremely limited.
So let’s give our Emperor some credit for at least “opening the door” for discussion. But let’s not get all giddy that there might be a McDonalds in Matanzas City anytime soon. My guess is that another generation will pass before any tangible benefits of improved US/Cuba relations positively impact the Cuban people. WHAT THE HECK !
