CubaNews articles from March 2002

CubaNews archives from March 2002

Cuba makes second order of American food worth $32 million.
March 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- Reversing itself on a vow that it would only make a onetime purchase of food from the United States, Cuba in signed new contracts with US producers almost immediate after the final deliveries were made on a $37 million purchase...

Harder line expected after review of Cuba policy.
March 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- Otto Reich, President Bush's controversial choice to head Latin American affairs has begun a multi-agency review of Washington's policy toward Cuba that's expected to result in a tightening of sanctions, the escalation of...

Crackdown on illicit travel to Cuba spurs help from liberal legal groups.
March 1, 2002... Last summer, just months after George W. Bush assumed the presidency, he began tightening the US embargo against Cuba by cracking down on Americans who travel illegally to Cuba as tourists. The policy was in marked contrast to the Clinton...

House members form Cuba caucus to ease travel, trade restrictions.
March 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- Led by two House Republicans who battled their Republican leadership over the embargo before, a group of lawmakers have formed a Cuba Working Group to try to ease travel and trade restrictions. The White House is working on a...

Nascent insurance industry suffers through a tough period.
March 1, 2002... Insurance was never one of Cuba's major industries. Even before the revolution, insuring risk was limited to the wealthy who could afford to protect their private cars, sugar crops and a few other assets. After the communists came to...

Cuban firm provides travellers assistance, insurance coverage for tourist sector.(Asistur)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HAVANA -- It's not unusual for tourists to get into trouble while they are abroad and many buy travel insurance to protect themselves against accidents, lost luggage and theft. Since its founding more than 10 years ago, state company...

Sherritt reports mixed results.(Sherritt International Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Sherritt International, the largest single foreign investor in Cuba, reported steep losses and said it would meet with bondholders to try to renegotiate its debts in a bid to avoid default. The company has been hit by low nickel and coal...

Sweetheart oil deal with Venezuela may be in danger.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HAVANA -- Cuba is in danger of losing access to its supplies of cheap fuel from Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has slashed oil production over the past year as part of an OPEC-inspired effort to boost oil prices. The campaign has...

Oil well is a success.(Pebercan starts production from its five oil wells)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HAVANA -- Canada's Pebercan announced that its Canasi 5 oil well was successful and has entered production. Officials said that the 3,703-meter well tapped two oil-bearing reservoirs and is producing up to 3,500 barrels per day. Total...

Chilean-Cuban joint food-processing venture expands.(Alimentos Rio Zaza)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HAVANA -- A Cuban-Chilean joint venture has begun selling more than 40 new food products in Cuban retail shops. The products are produced by the Rio Zaza joint venture, which already sold about 60 products under the brand names Tropical...

PST offers more efficient maritime transportation for Cuban shippers.(Project Solutions & Transport joined hands with Cuban line Coral Container Lines)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HAVANA -- Chilean shipping company Project Solutions & Transport (PST) recently expanded service on its Santiago de Chile-Havana route. Through a strategic alliance with Cuban line Coral Container Lines, PST will operate a greater number...

Commodity export markets.
March 1, 2002... Depressed commodity prices continued to be a major hurdle to the island's aspirations to overcome economic weakness. In February, the good news was that nickel cash prices maintained their moderate improvement over the end of 2001 and that the...

Post office begins to offer email to the masses.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HAVANA -- Email is becoming more accessible to ordinary Cubans and more affordable. Select post offices in major cities around the country are now charging $4.50 (in hard currency) to anyone who wants to open an email account. The email...

Fidelismo: a monthly report on Cuba's maximum leader.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Longest Meeting A 12-hour marathon with former US drug czar Barry McCaffrey that covered a wide range of subjects, including political prisoners, reform, terrorism and drug interdiction. "It's time to leave the chasm of 1958-1959 and move...

Rumor of the day.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HAVANA -- Rumors that the government plans to confiscate farm animals being raised in urban areas are causing consternation among ordinary Cubans. The high price of meat and poultry (a frozen chicken costs as much as $7.50) has prompted many...