CubaNews articles from February 2003

CubaNews archives from February 2003

Congress likely to OK some provisions while rejecting major Cuba policy shift.(congressional policy changes, restrictions for trade with Cuba )
February 1, 2003... As Congress struggles to finish work on a massive $390 billion omnibus spending package, lawmakers in Washington seem likely to jettison some legislation that would ease the U.S. trade embargo while passing other Cuba-related provisions. ...

Big hotels, cruise ships grab headlines as Cuba's tourist trade slowly recovers.
February 1, 2003... Last month, two watershed events gave new hope to Cuba's tourism industry, which had been suffering since Sept. 11, 2001. On New Year's Day, the M/V Sunbird sailed into Havana Bay with a record 1,414 passengers--the largest single load of...

Cuban activist Oswaldo Paya grabs international spotlight. (Political Analysis).
February 1, 2003... After a well-publicized international tour that lasted 48 days, well-known dissident Oswaldo Paya Sardinas returned to Havana on Feb. 2 with considerably enhaced credentials, recognition and support. No other Cuban dissident has ever...

Cubaniquel seeks financing to expand nickel production. (Commodities).
February 1, 2003... Cuba aims to produce 78,000 metric tons of unrefined nickel plus cobalt this year, up from 75,200 tons in 2002 and 76,500 tons the year before. That's the word from Angel Roberto Hernandez, director of state nickel monopoly Cubaniquel, in...

Ministry releases dubious 2002 foreign investment data. (Commodities).(Cuban Ministry of Foreign Investments and Cooperation )
February 1, 2003... The Cuban government signed 24 joint ventures with foreign firms in the areas of construction and basic industries during 2002, according to Marta Lomas, minister of foreign investments and cooperation. MINVEC's public report didn't...

Critics condemn `elections'. (Politics).(parliamentary electoral process in Cuba )
February 1, 2003... On Jan. 19, Cuban citizens sent 609 deputies to the National Assembly and 1,199 delegates to provincial assemblies in the nation's one-party, one-candidate parliamentary elections. About 8.1 million of Cuba's 8.2 million registered voters...

"In their own words ...(brief quotations by politicians, businessmen, others )
February 1, 2003... "Some people say we just have to wait for Castro to die, but that's no solution. Change can only be brought about by a civic movement of Cubans, acting peacefully. We don't want coups, or armed confrontations, or interventions." --Oswaldo...

Canada's Labatt plans $100 million brewery near Havana. (Foreign Investment).(brewery for joint venture Cerveceria Bucanero S.A. )
February 1, 2003... Cerveceria Bucanero S.A., a joint venture between the Cuban government and Canada's Labatt Brewing Co. Ltd., plans to construct a 1.5 million-hectoliter brewery to keep pace with increasing domestic beer consumption--and to be ready for an...

Glenfiddich's new `Cuban' Scotch off-limits to U.S. drinkers. (Foreign Investment).(company William Grat and Sons International not to market whiskey Havana Reserve in United States due to trade restrictions)
February 1, 2003... Hyped as "an eclectic fusion of Scotland and Cuba," Glenfiddich Havana Reserve 21 Year Old Scotch whisky is already making handsome profits for its distillers, William Grant & Sons International Ltd. "Basically, we've sold everything we...

Jaime Suchlicki: Predicting the post-Castro panorama. (Newsmakers).(director of University of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies )
February 1, 2003... Many so-called experts like to pontificate on what'll happen to Cuba once Fidel Castro passes from the scene. Jaime Suchlicki has made a career of it. As director of the University of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies...

Cuban grocery shoppers eager to try new U.S. food items. (Retail).
February 1, 2003... Under the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, the Cuban government may buy a variety of U.S. farm products on a cash-only basis. As a result, Cuban food purchases from the U.S. jumped from $4.5 million in 2001 to...

Embargo's end could spark fruit, vegetable export boom. (Trade).(between Cuba, United States )
February 1, 2003... Will Cuba emerge as a supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables to the U.S. once the embargo is dropped? Most likely, say the experts. Cuban growers could play a major role in supplying fresh fruits and vegetables to markets along the East...

Canadian food suppliers getting stiffed; U.S. rivals like status quo. (Trade).(effects of American trade restriction reforms on Canada-Cuba trade relations )
February 1, 2003... As the Washington-Havana trading honey-moon continues, gains by U.S. agribusiness traders are being matched by losses on the Canadian side. Even worse, Cuba is dragging its feet on paying Canadian suppliers. Michael Thomas is president of...

Cimex conglomerate unveils 2003 plans.(Corporacion Cimex S.A. )(Articulo breve)
February 1, 2003... Corporacion Cimex S.A., one of Cuba's largest state corporations, says it will spend $34 million this year to upgrade the automobile fleet of Havanatur S.A., a Cimex subsidiary and Cuba's largest car-rental agency. Cimex will also begin...

Cuba threatens foreign drug dealers.(Articulo breve)
February 1, 2003... The Castro government warns it'll crack down on foreigners bringing illegal drugs into the island, but complained that it's not getting much cooperation from U.S. officials. Faced with a growing drug problem, Cuban authorities have begun...

Cupet: oil, gas output to rise 17% in 2003.
February 1, 2003... Cuba's oil and natural gas output will jump by 17% this year, reaching the equivalent of 34.1 million barrels in 2003--or an average 93,400 barrels per day. Fidel Rivero, president of state oil entity Cubapetroleo (Cupet), told the...

Holguin factory to produce bamboo.(Articulo breve)
February 1, 2003... The eastern province of Holguin will soon get a new factory to process bamboo for the domestic market. Cuban media says the factory will be capable of processing up to 8,000 meters of bamboo a year into beams and boards to build houses,...

Havana releases `terrorist' list.(governmental list of political dissidents, extremists )(Articulo breve)
February 1, 2003... The Cuban government has published a list of 64 people it calls terrorists. Not surprisingly, the list--which appears on a state-run website--includes Orlando Bosch, who masterminded the bombing of a Cuban airliner in 1973, as well as Andres...

Mexico's Vinales establishes air link.(Vinales Tours, airline Mexicana de Aviacion launch new air route between Mexico, Cuba )(Articulo breve)
February 1, 2003... Vinales Tours of Mexico City has launched a new air route between Mexico and Cuba, after inaugurating regular Tijuana-Monterrey-Havana flights in conjunction with Mexicana de Aviacion. Company executives say the addition of new flights...

Ruling favors Bacardi in trademark suit.(United States Patent and Trademark Office ruling on use of Havana Club rum trademark )(Articulo breve)
February 1, 2003... The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has delivered yet another legal blow to Havana Club Holdings (HCH) through its Jan. 21 decision to uphold efforts by the Bacardi rum empire to strip the Cuban government of its U.S. rights to the Havana Club...

European commission to open `embassy'.(planned international relations office in Havana, Cuba )(Articulo breve)
February 1, 2003... The European Union and Cuba have signed an accord to open a European Commission office in Havana on Feb. 14, with the aim of coordinating economic and political ties. Cuba's ambassador to the EU, Rodrigo Malmierca, told Spanish news agency...

Cuba rolls out welcome mat for students.(visits of American college students to Cuba )(Articulo breve)
February 1, 2003... The Cuban government allowed 905 U.S. college students to visit the island during the 2000-01 school year, a 64% increase over the year before. The Associated Press said this number is likely to grow as students increasingly turn to the only...

`Casas particulares' licenses suspended.(permits for renting private dwellings, rooms to foreigners )(Articulo breve)
February 1, 2003... Faced with a fall in the demand for tourism services, the Cuban government has stopped issuing permits for new casas particulares, or rooms in private homes. Depending on location, size and the number of rooms, owners who rent rooms to...

Tampa-matanzas ferry may start up soon.(company Yucatan Express plans ferry services between Florida, Cuba )
February 1, 2003... A Tampa company aims to launch--by the end of February--the first ferry service between Florida and Cuba in 41 years. The Miami Herald reports that Yucatan Express, which operates the 320-cabin, 485-foot Scotia Prince, plans to embark from...

Sanros reports shrimp revenues.(Articulo breve)
February 1, 2003... Cuban state entity Sanros captured and processed 377 metric tons of shrimp in 2002, according to government reports. The company, located in the eastern province of Las Tunas, reported a 21% growth over 2001, achieving a yield of 900 kilograms...

Black farmers hope to clinch $20m deal.(possible agreement between National Black Farmers Association, Cuba for export of agricultural products )(Articulo breve)
February 1, 2003... The National Black Farmers Association is working on a deal to sell Cuba $20 million in food ranging from chicken to wheat this spring, reports the Associated Press. John Boyd, head of the group, said more than 10,000 black farmers would...

Cuba toughens traffic rules.(Articulo breve)
February 1, 2003... Cuba's Interior Ministry has introduced a revised traffic code designed to bring order to the island's chaotic traffic situation. The new regs, which took effect Jan. 1, classify infractions as highly dangerous, dangerous and less...

Difficulties force Sherritt to revamp Cuba unit.(Sherritt International offers to exchange equity and debt of subsidiary Sherritt Power for parent company's securities )
February 1, 2003... Toronto-based Sherritt International Corp. is proposing to swap its equity and debt for that of its struggling Cuban subsidiary to head off a cash crunch at the end of March, reports The Globe & Mail. Sherritt Power Corp., in which Sherritt...

Isolated and poor, Guantanamo province is a breed apart. (Geography).
February 1, 2003... This is the 7th in a series of monthly articles on Cuba's 14 provinces by geographer Armando H. Portela, who has a Ph.D. in geography from the Soviet Academy of Sciences. Portela currently resides in Miami. Located at Cuba's eastern tip,...

Calendar of events.(cultural and business events )(Calendario)
February 1, 2003... If your organization is sponsoring an upcoming event, please let our readers know! Fax details to CubaNews at (301) 365-1829 or send an e-mail to larry@luxner.com. Feb. 1-28: "Cecilia Valdes, A Cuban Ballet." Video recording based on novel...