Western Union to open money transfers to Cuba from all 50 U.S. states

[El Presidente]

 

 

Western Union to open money transfers to Cuba from all 50 U.S. states

Reuters

 

Odalys Paez sits inside a Western Union office to receive a remittance, in Havana, Cuba, October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini

March 2 (Reuters) - Western Union (WU.N) will vastly expand a U.S. pilot program for money transfers to Cuba, it said on Thursday, opening retail locations across the 50 states and allowing for digital service through its website and mobile app.

 

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/western-union-open-money-transfers-cuba-all-50-us-states-2023-03-02/

[Corylax18]

The below Paragraph is HUGE! It seems that the actual ownership of Orbit S.A. is still extremely murky. But I guess the Cuban Government has done enough to distance it from GAESA that the US finance department is comfortable with it. It doesnt seem much different than the previously banned "fincimex" setup, but what do I know. 

Western Union said Thursday it had signed an agreement with Orbit S.A., a Cuban-based company authorized by Cuba´s Central Bank to process the transactions.

https://havanaship.net/nueva-agencia-de-remesas-a-cuba-orbit

https://www.wlrn.org/news/2022-02-11/cuba-creates-a-new-money-transfer-agency-but-is-there-anything-different-about-orbit

[NSXCIGAR]

10 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

But I guess the Cuban Government has done enough to distance it from GAESA that the US finance department is comfortable with it.

Like it even matters if GAESA gets it directly or not or anything's inherently worse if the military is involved. The communist party ultimately gets the money. What a bunch of Kabuki theater. 

[Corylax18]

7 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Like it even matters if GAESA gets it directly or not or anything's inherently worse if the military is involved. The communist party ultimately gets the money. What a bunch of Kabuki theater. 

It does though, very much.

GAESA is the largest or 2nd largest company in the Caribbean, depending on whos numbers you look at. And they don't even do any actual business. They just take a skim, from every "legal" transaction related to Cuba. Raul's son in law ran it for years, until he died recently. Running GAESA is the 2nd highest position in Cuba, only after Commandante en Jefe. GAESA is what funds the Cuban military and therefore, their control over the population. The PCC (and communism in General) are just Paper Tigers in Cuba. Just like China, its used as a tool to control the people, nothing more. 

Gaviota, Transtur, Caracol, Tabacuba every consumer facing brand in Cuba is "owned" by Gaesa. (at least 51%) They only exist as they do because the Revolutionary Armed Forces allow them to, at a very high cost. 

This is why hotel rooms cost $400, $700, $900 a night. GAESA charges the foreign operating companies Exorbitant rates for everything. Labor, utilities, food, booze, everything needed to run a hotel. GAESA collects those payments in Hard, Foreign Currency, then pays the suppliers and laborers penny's on the dollar, in worthless Cuban Pesos. The entire "official" Cuban Economy is just one big Grift. 

The Mob never left Cuba, they just changed uniforms. 

[Corylax18]

Here is an article with more details about Raul's former son in law and how much power he had. I dont know who is charge of GAESA now, but its still a very good spot to be in. 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article263095118.html

[NSXCIGAR]

2 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

The Mob never left Cuba, they just changed uniforms. 

Of course, the Party is worse than the mafia ever was. My point is that GAESA or not the Party's going to get their money. To think Orbit will result in less money to the Party than GAESA is ridiculous.