Cuba News articles from May 2001

Cuba News archives from May 2001

Trader expelled after taking Cuban firms to the cleaners.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Cuban officials recently arrested and then expelled an oil and refined products trader working for European trading house Vitol after concluding he had defrauded the government. The trader had lived in Havana for a number of years...

Government creates new ministry to attack corruption, keep track of state property.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... HAVANA -- In a bid to get control of rising corruption, the government has created a new ministry charged with overseeing business practices in the state sector and monitoring the use of public funds and property. The Audit and Control...

First US shipment to Cuba founders on political rocks.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- A company that hoped to reinstate US-Cuba shipping service after 40 years has been thwarted by politics and was forced to place its new service on indefinite hold. Hoping to be ahead of its competitors once trade between the...

Medicuba expands into drug exports.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Cuban medical supplies importer Medicuba has become a major exporter of medicines and biotechnology products. Founded 38 years ago to import medicine and medical devices, Medicuba in recent years has begun marketing...

Castro attacks weakened UN human rights resolution.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- The United Nations watered down a resolution criticizing Cuba's human rights record, bucking US pressure for a tougher statement, but that did not deter Cuban leader Fidel Castro from voicing outrage over the action and lashing...

Bush facing major Helms-Burton decision.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell are coming under pressure from Cuban exiles to ratchet up enforcement of the Helms-Burton Act. But the new administration may follow Clinton's lead and decide against a vigorous...

New proposal to fund Cuban opposition will play into Castro's hands.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- A proposal to provide $100 million over four years to aid opposition groups in Cuba will enrage the Cuban government and fuel Fidel Castro's fight to bolster domestic support. The "Cuban Solidarity Act,", backed by Sens. Jesse...

Attempt to lift travel restrictions fails as hope for changes in Cuba rules fade.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- An attempt to lift the prohibition on US citizens and residents spending money to travel to Cuba was blocked by Rep. Henry Hyde, (R IL) the new head of the House International Relations Committee. When the committee met May 2...

A policy of silence?(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Bush administration officials - often uncomfortable talking about Cuba in general - appear to have adopted a policy of silence. At a recent meeting in Washington, top officials refused to discuss Cuba at all, even off the record. President...

New cell phone system focuses on tourism.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Cuba's second cellular phone system was expected to enter testing this month. The system is operated by Cuban firm Empresa de Telecomunicaciones Celulares del Caribe (C-COM) and uses a more modern technology than the current...

Food import bill to rise as rice crop appears headed for failure.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Prospects for rising food and animal feed prices in the next five years could impose an extra burden on the Cuban economy. In 1999, the government spent more than $750 million on food imports, equivalent to 17.4% of all the island's...

Authorities abandon cost-control efforts as they push to produce sugar at any cost.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... The final tally of the 2001 sugar harvest has yet to be released but it now appears almost certain that production will be lower than the 3.7 million ton target. Worse yet, the government appears to have abandoned years of hard-won cost-control...

Sherritt aims for record nickel and cobalt production this year.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... The Toronto based Sherritt International Corporation hopes to produce this year 31,000 tons of nickel and cobalt mixed sulfides at the Pedro Soto Alba mine and processing plant, according to company chairman Ian W. Delaney. Originally...

Flights to the UK to end.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... HAVANA -- British Airways and state airline Cubana de Aviacion are halting direct air service between London and Havana. British Airways officials say its weekly flight from Gatwick airport to Havana is not profitable and will be discontinued...

Drought taking toll.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... HAVANA -- The drought in central and eastern Cuba has appears to be having a significant impact on food production and forcing the government to take measure to conserve water. Official sources report that reservoirs in Camaguey province...

Report finds domestic suppliers will have trouble expanding sales to tourist industry.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... HAVANA -- A new study of the impact of the boom in tourism finds the industry is responsible for a significant percentage of the growth in the Cuban economy over the past few years, but also highlights significant problems in the hospitality...

Business Guide to Cuba.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... The Business Guide to Cuba is the most comprehensive research report on Cuban business and politics available. With more than 300 pages of exclusive information, data and maps on all of the productive sectors of the economy, politics, business...

CubaNews Online.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... CubaNews is available in an online edition. The electronic edition is available in two formats and reaches subscribers more than a week before the hard copy. Subscribers also receive email bulletins of important breaking stories. The...

COMMODITY EXPORT MARKETS.(sugar and nickel)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Sugar World sugar prices slid to their lowest levels in 10 months as slack demand and uncertainty over buying plans by major importers took their toll. By the end of the month, strong buying by Asian and North African customers had...

RE/MAX trademark dispute settled after Cuban real estate market evaporates.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Havana-based internet entrepreneur Steve Marshall settled his legal battle with US real estate brokerage RE/MAX, over his alleged illegal use of the brokerage's name and logo in his Cuban real estate dealings. In 1997, Marshall bought a...

Fidelismo : A monthly report on Cuba's maximum leader.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... All of the banks, insurance companies, telecommunications, shipping services and airlines will be US-owned. All business will pass into the hands of US companies, from the big retail store chains to pizza outlets and McDonalds. Comments in...

Florida agency to offer insurance for boats cruising Cuban waters.(John G. Alden Insurance Special Risks Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... A Fort Lauderdale, FL insurance agency is offering supplemental insurance coverage to yacht owners cruising in Cuban waters. John G. Alden Insurance Special Risks Inc. says its program, underwritten by Lloyd's, extends coverage up to thirty...

RUMOR OF THE DAY.(Helms-Burton sanctions under assessment)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- The State Department and other federal agencies are quietly trying to assess the impact of allowing Title III of the Helms-Burton law to be fully implemented. The provision would allow companies and individuals to file lawsuits in...