Havana wrap-up part one

[Colt45]

» It certainly makes me consider dimensions to my hobby

» that I otherwise would not have reason to.

One of the reasons I waited YEARS before buying my first Cuban cigar.

[El Presidente]

No offence but they need a democracy like a hole in the head. While things are tough, the thought of US troops coming down the streets to liberate them is generally despised by the average Cuban living in Cuba.

They need a Singaporean style 40 year development plan under the control of a benevolent dictator or similar with a goal of global integration and economic development commencing with the regions and working back towards the capitals.

Housing repair/infrastructure/agriculture/employment.

Democracy would need to be introduced slowly starting with local councils, moving onto regions etc etc. The increase in standard of living needs to be controlled Cuba wide so that there is not a huge discrepancy between capitals and country.

Foreign investment needs to be controlled. No foreign purchase of residential property for first 20 years. National Gov't funded home ownership scheme for all Cubans. Anything different will lead to mass poverty.

You need to allow the average Cuban the opportunity to build wealth before having to take on cashed up foreigners.

It will be a painfull transition which a traditional democracy has no hope of controlling (You would have a new Gov't every 24 months).

Just my 2 cents. I am not overly hopefull of Cuba's future outside of being a retirement village for wealthy Europeans and Americans.

Sensible, thoughtfull, pragmatic governments in South America have been thin on the ground.

[J-ROD]

Very nice report. I, like many here, feel a deep sorrow for the way the people of Cuba are treated. Hopefully it won't be long til this all changes.

[Ben]

El Prez's last post sums up my fears for the future of Cuba. It's going to be mighty rocky for a while over there when old Fidel keels over.

[korryp]

» No offence but they need a democracy like a hole in the head. While things

» are tough, the thought of US troops coming down the streets to liberate

» them is generally despised by the average Cuban living in Cuba.

»

» They need a Singaporean style 40 year development plan under the control

» of a benevolent dictator or similar with a goal of global integration and

» economic development commencing with the regions and working back towards

» the capitals.

»

» Housing repair/infrastructure/agriculture/employment.

»

» Democracy would need to be introduced slowly starting with local councils,

» moving onto regions etc etc. The increase in standard of living needs to be

» controlled Cuba wide so that there is not a huge discrepancy between

» capitals and country.

»

» Foreign investment needs to be controlled. No foreign purchase of

» residential property for first 20 years. National Gov't funded home

» ownership scheme for all Cubans. Anything different will lead to mass

» poverty.

»

» You need to allow the average Cuban the opportunity to build wealth before

» having to take on cashed up foreigners.

»

» It will be a painfull transition which a traditional democracy has no hope

» of controlling (You would have a new Gov't every 24 months).

»

» Just my 2 cents. I am not overly hopefull of Cuba's future outside of

» being a retirement village for wealthy Europeans and Americans.

»

» Sensible, thoughtfull, pragmatic governments in South America have been

» thin on the ground.

I just don't see this happening in my life or my children's life. It seems that it will get much worse before it gets any better.

Nice report and look forward to some of the new cigars this coming year.

[Ginseng]

» No offence but they need a democracy like a hole in the head. While things

» are tough, the thought of US troops coming down the streets to liberate

» them is generally despised by the average Cuban living in Cuba.

»

» They need a Singaporean style 40 year development plan under the control

» of a benevolent dictator or similar with a goal of global integration and

» economic development commencing with the regions and working back towards

» the capitals.

»

» Housing repair/infrastructure/agriculture/employment.

»

» Democracy would need to be introduced slowly starting with local councils,

» moving onto regions etc etc. The increase in standard of living needs to be

» controlled Cuba wide so that there is not a huge discrepancy between

» capitals and country.

»

» Foreign investment needs to be controlled. No foreign purchase of

» residential property for first 20 years. National Gov't funded home

» ownership scheme for all Cubans. Anything different will lead to mass

» poverty.

»

» You need to allow the average Cuban the opportunity to build wealth before

» having to take on cashed up foreigners.

»

» It will be a painfull transition which a traditional democracy has no hope

» of controlling (You would have a new Gov't every 24 months).

»

» Just my 2 cents. I am not overly hopefull of Cuba's future outside of

» being a retirement village for wealthy Europeans and Americans.

»

» Sensible, thoughtfull, pragmatic governments in South America have been

» thin on the ground.

Though some in the government may not appreciate your candor, rest assured that I do. Your trenchant analysis and proposal makes eminent sense to me.

Wilkey

[Taino]

I'm with you Prez but also we have to understand that any change/solution to what Cubans are living now will have to go under a bunch of deaths.

Unfortunately it would be very very hard to believe for me that this regime will end up (in any possible way) peacefully… and I certainly hope I’m wrong.

[Wiley]

I like this last post of yours Rob. I remember the days of debating this very point back, although not specifically about Cuba, in college 20 years ago.

[El Presidente]

It is today as always the major talking point in Cuba (amongst friends you can trust).

Despondency is at an all time high.

[Van55]

» Thanks for the write-up Rob. I also agree 100% w/ Tampa's reply from above.

I could not disagree more with Tampa's reply from above. Truth is an absolute defense to a defamation claim. By declining to identify the specific vendor, Rob casts doubt (perhaps fairly, perhaps not) on all internet vendors who claim to buy direct from Havana. I fully understand Rob's need to exercise business discretion, but I cannot laud it as "the High Road" as my good and respected friend, Tampa, does.

[swl]

»

» "...... The opening of Cuban hospitals to Latin American patients

» seeking private treatment (for a hefty fee) has been the straw which has

» broken the camels back. Cubans necessitating operations are treated as

» secondary citizens."

There was an article on The Wall Street Journal recently about the thousands of medical workers that the Cuban Government sent overseas (mostly Latin American countries that are friendly to Cuba like Venezuela) to help pay for imports to Cuba specially crude oil from Venezuela.

[GoatLocker]

Thanks for the great debrief of your trip Rob. Sad to hear things are deteriorating. As you say, the future is not looking bright for the average Cuban. Post Castro reforms will be slow, if they occur at all.

On the bright side, looking forward to the new cigars!