US-Cuba Travelers: Fred Burks Travel Case No. 1 NEWS

(This is publicly posted information, an update on the very first travel case that OFAC has submitted to an Administrative Law Judge. I believe that all the 90+ cases are the same, with regards to the Accused ADMITTING/CONFESSING 'Cuba travel' to US Customs. There are several points of interest, below. Of course, you can find more by Googling +"Fred Burks" +Cuba)

Dear friends,

Just yesterday, Feb 5th, my dedicated attorney Daniel Press submitted a 25-page response to the government attorney's Motion for Summary Judgment. The government's Motion asked the judge to find me guilty without a hearing, as I had admitted to the allegations of spending money in Cuba and importing six Cuban musical instruments. Mr. Press, working very closely with key attorneys in the incredible Wall of Lawyers, submitted a brilliant response challenging this motion from a number of different angles. The judge now has 15 days to decide whether or not to grant the Motion.

The very well researched response focuses on several points:

· The government has failed to comply with its own regulations. According to their own regulations, OFAC was required to acknowledge my request for a hearing within 40 days of receipt of my request, which was sent in June 2001. Acknowledgment was not sent until Sept. 2003. They were also required to respond within set time limits to my several requests for information on my case in 2001 and 2003. They still have not done so, as required under their own rules.

· The Cuba travel ban is unconstitutional on the grounds of discrimination based on national origin. Americans with a relative who is a Cuban national are allowed to visit Cuba once a year for humanitarian reasons without a license. This clearly discriminates against the vast majority of Americans in favor of Cuban Americans. In addition, the consequence for Cuban Americans visiting more than once a year is a warning letter for the first offense, and a $1,000 penalty for all subsequent offenses. Yet the penalty for other Americans, like myself, is $7,500 for first offense, and $10,000 for all subsequent offenses. This differential penalty treatment is clearly discriminatory.

· The Cuba travel ban violates our constitution right to freedom to travel as established by the Supreme Court in 1958. The stated reason for the embargo and travel ban is to cut off cash flow to an enemy state. This reasoning is clearly invalid, as provisions within the travel restrictions have allowed very large amounts of cash inflow in the form of remittances from Cuban Americans to their relatives in Cuba. Yet while the current administration clamps down on licensed travel, they are at the same time allowing increased remittances of this kind. This clearly contradicts any rationale for the travel ban.

· The assessment of penalty is both improper and excessive. The law states, "the penalties provided may only be imposed after the opportunity for an agency hearing." Further, the TWEA (Trading With the Enemy Act) under which the travel ban is promulgated, states business transactions are subject to penalties in an amount equal to the amount of the transaction. In this case, my fine would be about $500 (the amount I spent in Cuba) rather than the arbitrarily set penalty of $7,500 being applied to all Cuba travel cases.

This only a brief summary highlighting the key points in the arguments presented. There are many other excellent challenges to these regulations based on clearly listed court decisions in the past. If you know of anyone who is facing a hearing for travel to Cuba, we are happy to share this incredibly well researched response to the Motion for Summary Judgment. Have interested individuals contact me.

There are five wonderful lawyers consulting on my case as it moves through the system. They are part of a national network of committed attorneys who are willing to provide free legal advice and representation to those who, like me, are facing fines for travel to Cuba. Without these dedicated friends, I would not even think about challenging these regulations. I give many, many thanks to these amazing attorneys.

Though these generous lawyers give advice and represent people like me pro bono (no charge), there are some costs (like travel expenses for taking depositions) which they cannot cover. I talked with Ana Perez at Global Exchange, who told me that they are planning to set up a fund to help support those with travel ban cases in paying whatever fees are necessary to support the best defense of their cases. I'll keep you informed on how this develops.

The media continues to show interest in my case. I've had three radio interviews since my last update and an article is due to come out soon in La Opinion, the largest circulation Spanish language newspaper in the country. One of the radio interviews was a full hour discussion on prime time at KGO, the largest talk radio show in Northern California. The host, John Rothman, was very sympathetic. Even though Mr. Rothman welcomed contrary opinions, every one of the listeners who called in expressed their support of my efforts to challenge these ridiculous regulations. We're doing our best to get the word out.

The noose is tightening. Ol' GW sure has a throbbing hard-on against Cuba.

Las Vegas SUN
February 26, 2004

Bush Tightens Rules on Travel to Cuba
By TERENCE HUNT
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) -

President Bush tightened U.S. travel restrictions against Cuba on Thursday, a move likely to strengthen his election-year standing in politically important Florida and heighten tensions with Fidel Castro's communist regime.

Bush's order, less than two weeks before Florida's presidential primary, said Castro's government had used sometimes deadly force against American and Cuban citizens over the past decade and might do so again. Such an incident "could threaten a disturbance of international relations," Bush said.

Bush's action expands the government's authority to prevent the unauthorized departure of Cuban-bound ships from U.S. waters. U.S. authorities would be empowered to inspect any vessel in U.S. territorial waters, place guards on ships and take possession under certain circumstances.

Castro's most ardent Cuban-American opponents represent a vital voting bloc in Florida, the state whose contested election results in 2000 gave the presidency to Bush. Since taking office, Bush has traveled 19 times to Florida, where his brother, Jeb, is governor.

The United States has enforced a trade embargo against Cuba for more than more than four decades, and relations have been deteriorating over the last year.

The State Department's recently canceled talks on migration issues, which normally are held every six months. U.S. officials said Cuba has not been cooperating in achieving the goal of safe, orderly and legal immigration.

The Bush administration has accused Cuba of meddling in Latin America, sometimes in collaboration with the country's main South American ally, Venezuela.

The tightening of Cuban restrictions came on the same day that Bush rescinded a travel ban on Libya. The United States moved toward better relations with Tripoli in December after Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi renounced terrorism and development of weapons of mass destruction.

On another front in the turbulent politics of the Caribbean, Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday openly questioned whether President Jean-Bertrand Aristide can continue to serve effectively as Haiti's leader. It was the closest Powell has come to suggesting that Aristide bow out as president before his elected term ends in February 2006.

Bush has pledged to turn back any Haitian refugees who attempt to reach U.S. shores. The Coast Guard said it has intercepted about a dozen small vessels within 50 miles of the Haitian coast during the past three to four days.

The action against Cuba was hailed by Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., a leading anti-Castro lawmaker. He said it was "another clear sign of President Bush's commitment to enforcement of the law and his support for democracy in Cuba."

In Havana on Thursday, Castro's government confirmed that most Cuban-born people living outside the island can visit the country without a visa starting June 1 if they have a valid Cuban passport.

In his order, Bush said Cuba "has over the course of its 45-year existence repeatedly used violence and the threat of violence to undermine U.S. policy interests. This same regime continues in power today, and has since 1959 maintained a pattern of hostile actions contrary to U.S. policy interests."

Bush said that over the past year, Cuba has taken a series of steps to destabilize relations with the United States, such as threatening to rescind migration accords and to close the U.S. interests section in Havana. Further, he said top Cuban officials have said repeatedly that the United States intended to invade Cuba, despite explicit denials from the United States.

The president noted that the United States had warned Cuba last May 8 that any political moves that resulted in a mass migration would be viewed as a hostile act.

Bush directed Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to develop new rules to keep "unauthorized U.S. vessels" out of Cuban territorial waters.

The president said the passage of American boats into Cuban waters could bring injury or death to anyone on the vessels, "due to the potential use of excessive force, including deadly force, against them by the Cuban military." Crossing into Cuban territorial waters is already against U.S. law for unauthorized vessels, he said.

Moreover, such boats and ships bring money and commerce into Cuba, which runs contrary to U.S. policy aiming to "deny resources to the repressive Cuban government," Bush said. Castro's government may use such cash to support terrorist activities, he said.

Scores, perhaps even hundreds, of yachts sail to Cuba from the United States without permission annually, most of them docking at the Marina Hemingway in western Havana. On any given day, usually a few American-based yacht can be seen docked the marina. Not a single vessel flying a U.S. flag was spotted late Thursday afternoon.

Bush cited long-standing U.S. grievances against Cuba, calling it a state-sponsor of terrorism and saying that it has demonstrated "a ready and reckless willingness to use excessive force" against U.S. and Cuban citizens. He pointed to incidents in the 1990s, including the shooting down of two unarmed U.S.-registered civilian aircraft, the use of force against U.S.-registered vessels and the sinking of an unarmed Cuban vessel that resulted in the deaths of 41 Cuban citizens in 1994.

The new rules governing American boats' movement to Cuba expand restrictions that have been in place for years. Those rules covered vessels originating in Miami, while Ridge's new rules will apply to boats leaving from anywhere in the United States, White House and congressional officials said.

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I don´t think this is going to make things any better.
From www.pravda.us

Fidel Castro: "Bush couldn't debate a Cuban ninth-grader"

We all know the Bush family tree is a little shaky when it comes to common sense.

But I am going to Cuba as much as I can to learn how their system works in the belief that the blockade will be lifted in the next 4 years and there may be some business oppurtunities available to Americans.

Castro is smart and has started buying food stuffs from the United States. These are cash deals, as allowed by the United States.

Castro is spreading his spending around to several states. The farmers and politicians in these states love the influx of cash. Castro is basically creating a lobbying group that should be stronger than the anti-castro group that helped get Bush elected.

But that is just my opinion.

http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rt/cuba/commission/2004/c12237.htm

The Bush administration just released it's new and improved policy statement meant to accelerate the 'transition' of power in Cuba.

Between Fidel and GW, I don't think it's worth going there anymore.

Read this report at your own peril, to learn what the American gov't is doing to hasten a transition in Cuba.

Meanwhile, we pay billions of dollars to China in a trade defecit each year. Hmmm... I forget, was it Cuba or China that was a terrorist, communist nation??

Here are some excerpts from the above policy statement. Guys - this is some scary stuff. I'd think twice before booking a trip to Cuba.

Bush and his brother needs the votes of the cuban-americans. They're coming right out and stating how they plan to undermine the Castro regime.

�� Continue to strengthen enforcement of travel restrictions to ensure that permitted travel is not abused and used as cover for tourism, illegal business travel, or to evade restrictions on carrying cash into Cuba. This can be accomplished by increasing inspections of travelers and shipments to and from Cuba and continuing training of inspectors at all points of entry and pre-clearance facilities on the identification of unlicensed travelers.

�� Effective March 1, 2004, the President expanded the Cuba national emergency to provide the Coast Guard authority to require pleasure boaters to demonstrate that they have the appropriate Treasury and Commerce licenses before granting them a permit to leave U.S. territorial waters for Cuba. In order to improve unity of effort, responsiveness, and overall effectiveness, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies should increase active participation in intelligence sharing and establish agreed-upon protocols for locating and prosecuting pleasure boaters who travel to Cuba illegally. We recommend an increase in both maritime surface patrols and air sorties in the region by law enforcement agencies. �� Revise the U.S. Government licensing policy to limit the issuance of temporary sojourn permits for private travel, except for the explicit delivery of humanitarian goods or services or when it is in the U.S. foreign policy interest. To mitigate against undue burdens on legitimate religious and humanitarian groups, we recommend increased efforts to reduce the costs charged by licensed scheduled charter flights.

�� Offer rewards to those who report on illegal remittances that lead to enforcement actions. An undetermined amount of remittances are sent illegally to Cuba, via third country companies and through “mules” who carry the money to Cuba either directly or through third-countries. Rewards will encourage efforts to identify and eliminate illegal remittance networks. �� Direct U.S. law enforcement authorities to conduct “sting” operations against “mule” networks and others who illegally carry money to Cuba as a means to disrupt and discourage the sending of illegal remittances.

----------

VIII. UNDERMINE THE REGIME’S SUCCESSION STRATEGY
50
Approaching his 78th birthday, Fidel Castro has conspicuously deteriorated physically and probably mentally as well. His decline over the last few years has been apparent on several occasions at public events in Cuba and abroad. The quality of Castro’s decision-making has declined along with his physical condition. He has savagely denounced foreign leaders who have been the targets of bizarre and belligerent outbursts. Foreign visitors have been shocked by his decline, although little of this has attracted international media attention. On the island, however, Cuban officials are aware of his impairments. Senior leaders have been called upon to cover for him and explain away his misstatements. Nothing remotely like this public checking of his absolute power has ever happened before. The senior Cuban leadership is now faced with the reality that Fidel Castro’s physical end is at hand and is making preparations to manage a “succession” of the regime that will keep the senior leadership in power. The regime’s survival strategy is to maintain the core elements of the existing political structure in passing eventual leadership of the country from Fidel to Raul Castro and others currently in the senior leadership. U.S. policy must be targeted at undermining this succession strategy by stripping away layers of support within the regime, creating uncertainty regarding the political and legal future of those in leadership positions, and encouraging more of those within the ruling elite to shift their allegiance to those pro-democracy forces working for a transition to a free and democratic Cuba. To these ends, attention and pressure must be focused on the ruling elite so that succession by this elite or any individual is seen as what it would be: an impediment to a democratic and free Cuba. Targeting current regime officials for U.S. visa denials is one instrument available to the United States to hold them accountable for human rights abuses against the Cuban people and others, including the torture by Castro regime officials of American POWs in South East Asia, or for providing assistance to fugitives in Cuba from U.S. justice. Current U.S. law prohibits assistance to a transition government that includes Raul Castro.

Some more problemas for the Cuban people. Things do not look good. This news article reports on further restrictions on the Cuban people. They cannot use dollars to buy what they need. Fidel is attempting to return 'fiscal equality' to his socialist-based island. The people are pissed... here's the article

Cuba Freezes Most Sales at Dollar Stores

By JOHN RICE
.c The Associated Press

HAVANA (AP) - Officials suddenly halted most of the dollar sales that Cubans have come to count on and warned of higher dollar prices for food and gasoline. They blamed new U.S. measures meant to undermine the island's communist government.

Scores of agitated people lined up for last-minute purchases at late-night variety stores after the official declaration was read on Cuban state television shortly before 8 p.m. Monday night.

The measure could have dramatic effect on everyday life in Cuba, where hard-currency stores offer plentiful goods - from soap to spark plugs - that are available in scant quantities, if at all, at highly subsidized prices in Cuban pesos.

Except for food, gasoline and personal hygiene products, the announcement said, sales in dollars ``are suspended until further notice.'' It was not clear if they would resume at some point.

It also said that dollar prices would be raised on food and gasoline - and perhaps other products if the stores reopen. Prices in pesos, the government said, would remain stable.

Sales of goods at dollar stores ``are suspended until further notice,'' announcers on state television announced, reading an ``official notice.'' Crucially, food and personal hygiene products were exempted.

Cuba blamed the measure on ``the brutal and cruel'' measures adopted last week by President Bush to strengthen the embargo of Cuba and to hasten the end of the communist government here.

The announcement said the U.S. proposals ``are directly aimed at strangling our development and reducing to a minimum the resources in hard currency that are essential for the necessities of food, medical and educational services and other essentials.''

Many analysts had seen the Bush measures as a relatively modest tweak to the broad U.S. economic embargo that has been in place against Cuba since the early 1960s.

Bush said Cuban-Americans now can visit relatives on the island once every three years rather than once a year. They can spend $50 a day rather than the earlier limit of $164.

Visits and money transfers are limited to immediate family members - excluding uncles and cousins - and officials and Communist Party members cannot receive funds. More money would be allotted for dissidents.

Cuban officials have warned the measures could be a possible prelude to stronger U.S. attacks, possibly even an invasion.

They warned Cubans Monday night that ``days of work and sacrifice await'' and said further measures could follow if the new steps are insufficient.

A permanent closure of the dollar stores could be another step back from the liberal reforms enacted in the early 1990s to cope with the loss of aid and trade Cuba had enjoyed with the Soviet Union.

Possession of dollars was legalized in 1993 to draw dollars from growing tourism and family remittances into the state stores. The government has steadily offered more and more goods in the U.S. currency while the Cuban ration book of items available in pesos has withered.

For many Cubans, rations now cover eight eggs, a pound of chicken, a half-liter of cooking oil, six pounds of rice a half-pound of a ground meat-soy mixture and a few other goods each month.

The rest must be purchased at far higher prices either in pesos or in dollars.

Many of those lined up Monday night at shops built into gas stations were buying cooking oil and soap before prices rise. Most expressed frustration at the measures. Some said they blamed Bush. Nearly all declined to give their names and a few physically threatened foreign camera crews.

The announcement did not make clear whether dollar-only shops in hotels and other tourist areas crucial to Cuba's economy would also be closed. Many until now have catered to Cubans as well as to foreigners.

The government assured Cubans that other aspects of the economy would not be affected: they can still change money, buy food in pesos at private farmers markets and use the socialist health, education, free rent, cultural and sports services.

It was not immediately clear what would happen to the goods now sold at dollar stores.

The dollar-only shops have been associated with social inequalities that have worried Cuban leaders. An elite of people with access to greenbacks can easily buy everyday goods that a doctor cannot on a salary equivalent to $25 a month.

>>>For many Cubans, rations now cover eight eggs, a pound of chicken, a half-liter of cooking oil, six pounds of rice a half-pound of a ground meat-soy mixture and a few other goods each month.

Looks like communism is working well for them. Share the wealth - oh yeah...

One thing for sure? When the next window of opportunity opens to permit us access to the cuban country girls?... it's gonna be awesome. After this type of repression, the girls will be extraordinarily happy to meet any gringo with a few pesos in his pocket.

Bush and The Bearded one must go.

Usually to prevent people from circumventing travel bans, the U.S. depends upon other countries to deny travel to or report those who travel to, embargoed or restricted countries, especially U.S. citizens.

The problem, is that the U.S. has pissed off so many countries, that they routinely disregard, ignore or just plain refuse to enforce any regulations requested by the U.S. in upholding these bans.

It is no problem to circumvent these restriction by simply going to a south, central american or carribean country that do not particularly care about american policies. Fortunatly, Mexico is one country that conveniently ignore U.S. directives. It will still be possible to board a Cuban airline flight from most Mexican airports that travel non-stop to Cuba. Most travel agents that work with these airlines will, for a few dollars, provide you with an "alias" to keep your name from prying eyes. In a lot of cases a passport was never consulted or asked for, never stamped, so very little record of your flight or stay was recorded. This was true pre 9-11 and for the most part, even after 9-11.

OG

I will confirm that I was able to recently visit Cuba via Mexico, and my passport wasn't stamped either entering or exiting Mexico.

That said, I still cannot imagine why anyone would want to hobby in Cuba right now. YMMV.

More press reports:

Senseless crackdown on Cuba
By Douglas Starr | May 12, 2004

WHILE AMERICA was watching the images of abused Iraqi prisoners, I saw the same images from my hotel room in another country slated for regime change: Cuba. I'd gone there to do research on that nation's biotech industry. During the week I spent there I learned more about my own country than I'd expected -- much of it disappointing. I'd always been an agnostic on Castro and Cuba, but it's hard to remain that way after seeing the collateral effects of our four-decade embargo. Whole sections of Havana seem to be decaying. Hospitals exist day to day on medicines, researchers improvise scientific equipment, and there are national shortages in just about everything. Even accounting for Cuban mismanagement, world health authorities have linked the embargo and its ripple effects to epidemics and food shortages.

The embargo does more than cut off American trade. It seeks to prevent all other commerce as well. Under the ever tightening restrictions, no ship that loads or unloads anything in a Cuban port can dock in America for six months. Food and medicine have been restricted. Foreign companies that do business with Cuba are discouraged or even prohibited from doing business in the United States. In other words, even though no other nations agree with our Cuba policy, we bludgeon them into acquiescing. Sound familiar?

Those measures are sinking to new levels of meanness under the Bush administration. Eager to curry the Miami extremist vote, the administration has eliminated all "people to people" cultural exchanges and university-related educational travel. Customs agents at airports in Canada, Mexico, and other third-country way stations have been alerted to nab any American tourists who might try to end-run the travel restrictions. The enforcement branch of the Treasury Department has beefed up its anti-Cuba surveillance, devoting 21 full-time employees to enforcing the Cuban embargo and travel ban. Only four track the finances of Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.

Explaining the policy in a February speech, Treasury Secretary John Snow said, "We're cutting off American dollars headed for Fidel Castro, period."

But is it really about dollars? Or is it about stopping all contact between Cubans and Americans?

This spring the Treasury Department canceled permission for 75 American neurologists and bioethicists to travel to Havana just days before they were scheduled to depart for an international conference on coma and death. In February the State Department refused to allow Ibrahim Ferrer, the 76-year-old singer with the Buena Vista Social Club, to attend the Grammy Awards because his entry would be "detrimental to the interests" of our country.

Just a few weeks ago, our government fined Barbara and Wally Smith, a retired Vermont couple, $55,000 for violating the travel ban. Their crime: bicycling around Cuba and creating a book and website about the trip.

With the election approaching, Bush wants to tighten the screws even further. Last week the government released its long-awaited 500-page plan to help remove Castro's "decrepit regime," in the words of Assistant Secretary of State Robert Noriega. We will be spending $59 million over the next two years to help bring about the regime change in Cuba, up from the current level of $7 million per year.

Maybe there was once reason for the embargo. But the Cuban missile crisis was more than 40 years ago. The island poses no threat to us now, especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union. (The Bush administration's charges of bioweapons production have been shown to be groundless by a team of distinguished American investigators.)

Nor does the embargo have anything to do with human rights. China had a worse record when Nixon opened the door in 1972, and American trade helped liberalize that nation. Americans can legally to travel to such paragons of human rights as Libya, North Vietnam, and Algeria. Cuba is the world's only country to which the United States forbids our own ordinary citizens to travel.

The Cubans I met were well educated, resilient, and showed no trace of self-pity despite facing daunting odds every day. They enjoy universal literacy and health care. Despite Cuba's poverty, its life expectancy and infant mortality rates equal those of the United States, according to the World Health Organization. They seem to have creative energy to burn.

They're also eager for American tourism and trade, which experience shows would liberalize their politics. Meanwhile, as one Cuban asked me: "Aren't we allowed to have our own form of government?"

Back in my hotel room, I flipped on CNN and watched the kaleidoscope of images that constitute the news from America: Soldiers in body armor, Michael Jackson waving to admirers, a commercial for a lumbering SUV. And then came the photos of the abused Iraqi prisoners. Does this reflect the values of the world's greatest democracy? Or does it reinforce what the rest of the world thinks our nation has become -- a spoiled, self-absorbed, adolescent bully?
__________________________________________

Douglas Starr is co-director of the Knight Center for Science and Medical Journalism at the Boston University College of Communication.

© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.

One month ago, Castro changed the national currency from the US Dollar back to his Cuban Peso. If you arrive on the island with US dollars, you can exchange them to pesos and pay Fidel 10% on the transaction. What do you get for that 10%? Nothing. So stop at the money exchangers booth BEFORE you get to Cuba and take either Canadian dollars or Euros to avoid the 10% conversion 'tax' on US Dollars.

Some of my previously well-to-do cuban friends have emailed me in the past month to tell me how difficult life has become for them. They have my sympathies.

http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/cu1/wwwhmain.html
This link takes you to the mainpage of the US Intersection in Havana. It's a good place to get info on what's new in Cuba.

The text of a speech given in Miami in November highlights the current plight of Cubans. If you have ever been to Cuba, you know that what is written here is true.

http://usembassy.state.gov/havana/wwwhc1109sp.html

US Interests Section.

Stealth bill would drop restrictions on travel to Cuba

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/cuba/sfl-flbcubatravel0210sbfeb10,0,4639522.story

By Alexia Campbell | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
February 10, 2009
They didn't waste any time.

While most of the nation focused on the stimulus bill winding through Congress, nine representatives introduced a bill calling for an end to the 46-year-old ban on travel to Cuba.

The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 4 would allow American citizens unrestricted travel to Cuba for the first time since 1963. The bill by Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass., and eight co-sponsors would also lift limits on travel by Cuban exiles living in the United States. The president would not be able to regulate travel to the island unless an armed conflict or armed danger arises.

The bill has gone too far, said Francisco "Pepe" Hernandez, president of the Cuban American National Foundation. Cuban exiles should visit their families whenever they want, but tourists shouldn't spend money in resorts that Cubans are barred from. "It's improper and should not be allowed until the Cuban government makes some reforms," he said.



Related links
Images of Cuba Photos
The Cuban Revolution: A timeline in pictures
The cuban revolution That's not the case for Jose Lopez, president of the Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports Latin Chamber of Commerce and a staunch supporter of the trade embargo.

"It's a betrayal and it's not going to resolve anything," said Lopez, who left Cuba in 1961.

Tourism dollars spent in Cuba will inject more oxygen into the dying Castro regime, he said. Lopez also thinks Cuban exiles who want to return to the island whenever they please are abusing their refugee privilege.

Many expect President Barack Obama to back a change in the policy. As a candidate for the presidency, Obama spoke in favor of reducing restrictions on remittances and travel to the island.

Co-sponsors to the bill include representatives Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., Sam Farr, D-Calif., and Ron Paul, R- Texas.

The travel restrictions to Cuba are ridiculous. So we shouldn’t be able to travel to any country that does not have a form of government the US feels is best? I guess half the world would then be off limit. What makes travel to China any different? Vietnam? Russia is not pro-democracy enough, so let’s stop travel there too!

Aye, this is such an idiotic policy. Punish the average Cuban….. Castro and his cronies’ are doing just fine, but this policy only hurts the people.

For a supposedly free country, the US is not all that free.

Then, on the flip-side, I wonder if Cuba with its present government and without US restrictions in place all along would have actually been a good form of government for its people. With enough infusion of capital, and tourist spending money, the socialist state policies of health access and education, doesn’t seem so bad compared to many of the other Latin American countries with crushing poverty and people living in the slums.

The embargo and travel restrictions were ridiculous from the start. The day before Kennedy signed off on the embargo, he had one of his aides purchase 1200 Cuban cigars for his later use. This sort of hypocrisy was not a good start for what was to be one of the United States' most enduring foreign policy debacles.

I am concerned though with all the other stuff going on in Washington these days Obama may not want to spend any political capital getting this bill through soon. It's a pretty good bet though something like it will get through during his Presidency, although since the embargo or trade restrictions were codified in the 1990's (unbelievably) it would seem a reversal of the embargo and trade restrictions would require an act of Congress, most likely meaning 60 Senators not 50, supporting it.

"The land of the free" my ass.
... and don't get me started on the "home of the brave" part, either.

Wombat, what are you trying to say?

I surmise Mr. Wombat is saying that the USA is a collection of chickenshit, docile prisoners.

Does that offend you? Do you want to do something about it? What would you do?

I find it unfortunate, but, I can see how the world sees it that way. What am I going to do about it? Try and make the world a better place, 1500 to 2000 bhat/pisos, 200 Real or 150000 Colombian Pesos at a time.

(Message edited by smitopher on February 10, 2009)

I heard that this omnibus spending bill has tucked into it, among many other surprises, that the ban on travel to Cuba is lifted. Don't know if that's true, haven't read the bill (who has?).

They will compromise to allow Cuban nationals and family member to visit but ban average tourists. I wont be unfettered access, at least I hope not.

Last thing I want to see is all the PLM's from DR and Costa Rica suddenly flood the place and fuck it up.

More headlines to suggest that Obama will seek to improve relations with Cuba:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/08/cuba-obama-administration

I predict 2009 may be the last year of the full embargo as we know it, meaning we MAY soon be able to use FF miles to fly direct to Havana. Won't THAT be nice?

But then again DonGringo, aren't you concerned that the real reason Obama is doing this is because he wants to learn from Castro how to best re-distribute the wealth? LOL

Obama scares me more than Fidel. I heard he's even putting a 40% tax on aspirin?!

It's part of his program to tax anything that's white and works.

Well, the only thing left to be scared by about Fidel is he looks like a corpse and might scare little children on Halloween.

Incidentally DG, did I detect in your last post an underlying concern Obama would tax your white sheets? LOL

This policy change is way overdue. Come on .... we've been fucking around with China for decades, and they do the same shit that Fidel has all of these years. All of our allies deal with Cuba. At this point, it's just seems petty and personal and foreign policy should never be that.

Hey guys, I am a consultant to the Government, via a DoD contracting company. The bill to lift the travel ban will be on the Congressional floor next week. The majority of our Congressional leaders (Both political parties) support this bill. Most likely, the ban will be lifted by September of this year.

Lanierd,

thanks for the 'heads up', please keep us updated as there has been a lot of recent interest expressed in traveling to Cuba.

CFK

Okay -

I just read a news story that the Obama administration lifted the ban on travel to Cuba so that family members can travel more frequently and stay longer. Also, they can send more money. They can send pre-paid cell phones or cell phones on plans paid in the US. In addition, the Obama administration gave the go ahead for telecom systems to include or improve their signal into Cuban territory to enable or improve cell phone connectivity.

However, this news story did not explain whether I can travel to Cuba as a tourist or not.

It seems to me that this lifting of the ban has done nothing for me as a tourist.

Can anybody clarify what the real score is for those of us who want expand our horizons?

Does anybody have the straight story on this?

AJ

AJ, I posted this the other day, it may help answer your question....1 the us gov't can fine you, but very rare, 2 according to the article, i believe it will open up....

"The estimated 200,000 U.S. citizens who travel to Cuba each year without a Treasury Department licence can face up to a $7,000 fine. But the vast majority, flying from Toronto, Montreal, Mexico, Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Jamaica, are never questioned or bothered by authorities upon their return to the United States. For example, only 21 people were penalized in 2006." per The globe and mail, newspaper, Toronto, Ont.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090409.CUBA09ART2239/TPStory/?query=cuba

Relatives are now allowed to visit every year instead of every 3 years.

The push is on now to open up Cuba to all Americans, it's in the house and senate, and highly likely appears it will happen at some point.

I read the story on Yahoo home page.

What the news papers and TV fail to report is that the rest of the world has been going to Cuba on vacations for years.

I love Americans? as reported in the UK. The three pirates holding a ship`s captain hostage were killed with just three single shots to the head. three crack seal snipers hidden aboard an American warship all fired at the same time,US navy chiefs revealed yesterday.

The 1st stumbling block will be a needed repeal, or drastically ammended, "Helms-Burton Law" in the U.S. Senate that makes it illegal to even negotiate normalization with Cuba while either Fidel or Raul remains in power. Obama will need to show political courage to get this thru Congress, even a friendly congress. I hope he steps up to get it done but I doubt he will given other more pressing (in his opinion) items on his agenda. He probably won't want to be distracted with that right now but who knows.

You don't need to repeal a law, you just pass a new law that supercedes the older one. Happens every day.

I think the point is Congressional action will be necessary to reverse the restrictions on Cuba; the President can't do it alone.

I had lunch today with a buddy from Miami. He and I used to run into each other all the time back in the days when I was hitting Cuba every month. He still goes every weekend, and he informed me just how easy it is to take a direct flight now.

Although the travel ban still exists, apparently the new Obama administration is doing nothing to enforce it. When I asked how he 'qualified' to take the DIRECT flight, his response was 'I just told them I had a wife in Cuba and that was the end of it - they never ask for any documentation'

Here's one of the charter companies that makes several MIA-HAV flights daily

http://www.abc-charters.com/pages/flights.asp

Which begs the question; has the travel ban ended in practise if not in theory?

I will be exploring this and updating the board with my findings

Looking forward to the report, since you know what Cuba was like "back in the day..."

Deeg, very interesting, thanks for the info.

"Qual de todas, puede ser mi futura esposa" Me gustaria buscar....

I called that charter flight service and they said the direct Miami to Havana flight costs $470 including taxes.

When I asked what requirements there were to take the direct flight, she asked if I had relatives in Cuba. I said yes, and she said I would have to sign a travel affidavit to that effect.

And considering how many cubanitas I barebacked? I'd say the odds are quite good that I do in fact have 'relatives' in Cuba :D

This certainly peaks my interest.....but I wonder if the government checks out the travel affidavit in anyway. How long has your buddy being doing these trips?

The risk I suppose is that a customs and immigration guy will get bored harassing people by going through the pictures on their laptops, and decide instead it would be fun to harass people by scrutinizing their travel affidavits.

Or something like that.

I have a friend who takes those flights often. He's Cuban born, but he said they don't usually ask him much. I, on the other hand, am always carrying cigars, and am Irish-white. So chances are they'd want to have a chat with me...

My friend who goes to the island EVERY weekend also brings back cigars, which is why he seldom takes the direct flight. He is caucasian, and actually did have a cuban wife at one time which is why the cuban immigration doesn't hassle him. They prolly think he's just some lovestruck puppy visiting his wife every weekend :rolleyes:

Going to Cuba from Flroida via another country is a royal pain in the ass IMHO, because you have to buy two flights and give up an entire day in the process. So that's two days lost for each trip. The reason I posted this info about the direct flights is because I would LOVE to be able to just hop a flight and be there without all this cat and mouse nonsense.

Now here's something y'all might find interesting. This other guy I know married a cuban woman with no intentions of ever bringing her to the States. Basically he just set her up in a shitty little place for like $500 - not rent - PURCHASE price. So when he visits, he doesn't always have to pay to rent casas at $40/night.

The cuban gov't taxes US dollars 20% on the exchange rate, and he objects to paying this tax. So on his flight in, he always brings the things cubans so desperately need/want like vitamins, first aid kit, tennis shoes. All stuff that costs around $20 at Costco, and only one of each item. All things that he can defend as being legitimately his to avoid paying any import tax. After a while, Cuban Customs realized he never had anything and they rarely search him.

And the punchline? His 'wife' knows what type of girls he likes, and has them available for him upon his arrival. We're talking non-pros who are just trying to help out their families. He never pays these girls, but his wife gives them something they need for their family.

While he's there, the wife cooks, cleans and takes care of him. Of course he brings things for her too, and he's good to see that she gets like 50-100 USD/month so she lives well. Of course I pay that every DAY in alimony, but that's another topic

His trip costs are usually this:
$550 airfaire
$200 gifts
$ 50 'incidental expenses while in cuba'

When he leaves, he brings back enough cigars to more than pay for the entire trip.

Just a little something to think about in case some of you are wondering why I'm so interested in seeing direct travel to Cuba open up.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090724/ap_on_re_us/us_cuba_travel_violation

LOS ANGELES – A U.S. citizen trying to challenge the ban on travel to Cuba on Friday bemoaned his inability to get arrested or cited — even after having his passport stamped in Havana and bringing back Cuan memorabilia.
Mytchell Mora, a 39-year-old freelance entertainment news producer, said he told U.S. customs officials he broke the law after flying through Costa Rica home to Los Angeles early Friday.
Officials punched some information about him into a computer and sent him home without punishment, Mora said. They didn't even confiscate his Cuba T-shirt or postcards.
"I am just so surprised nothing happened to me," Mora, who lives in West Hollywood, said in a phone interview. "What can you really do when you're saying, 'take me to jail or give me a ticket,' and they do nothing to you?"
Mora hoped to get arrested or cited after his fourth trip to Cuba so he could challenge the country's travel ban, which he says discriminates against anyone who isn't Cuban-American and punishes Cuba's people, not its government.
Mora said he hopes he may still be cited so he can challenge the policy in U.S. courts.
Most Americans who travel to Cuba do so on the sly, sneaking in and back without permission from U.S. authorities.
But Mora is trying to make a point.
He traveled to Cuba without permission in 1999 and 2000. About six months after the second visit, he got a letter from the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control saying he had to explain why he went to Cuba, who he stayed with and how much money he spent — and could face fines or jail time if he failed to respond within 10 days.
He wrote back asking to exercise his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and never heard back.
Mora returned to Cuba in 2002 and told the Communist Party newspaper Granma which flight he would take to return to the United States. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, he was pulled out of line by U.S. authorities who said they were waiting for him.
After answering questions about why he went to Cuba, Mora was released and his bags were not checked.
On Friday morning, Mora said he immediately told U.S. authorities that he broke the law and should be subject to a secondary inspection and have his bags checked. Mora said a supervisor was called over and typed information into a computer, but let him keep his souvenirs and leave the airport.
The Associated Press left a message Friday for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees passport checks at Los Angeles International Airport.
During his eight-day trip to Cuba, Mora spent about $50 in government-controlled stores on a green and red Che Guevara beret, a Cuba T-shirt, Cuban flag refrigerator magnets, and postcards featuring a picture of Fidel Castro shaking hands with author Ernest Hemingway.
"They say if you buy these clothes or anything else, it goes to Castro's hands," Mora said in Havana. "I don't think $30 for a shirt is going to make or break this guy. The money I spend goes to the people and their homes, not the government."

Not sure I would want to test this myself (don't have the balls), but if anyone wants to volunteer....go ahead and please report on your arrest or freedom :-)

It's as if this guy was reading my mind lol!

To the best of my knowledge, the USA has never prosecuted anyone found guilty of violating the travel ban, and after all those black congressmen visited there this year you can bet there's no teeth in that law.

Technically, he's just risking being fined $7500. The surprising thing is that during Bushwad's term this guy was fined, pled the 5th and they dropped it?

Noone in the gov't has the stomach to enforce this outdated policy.

The guy was an idiot. Dept. of Homeland Security, and thus Customs, Immigration, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, etc. don't run the stick when it comes to Cuba. If the guy had a box of Cohibas, then yeah, they're illegal per Customs and can be confiscated. Going to Cuba is not.

Dept. of Treasury runs the stick in this case, and that stick is the threat of a pretty big "civil penalty" for violating the act. It's not a fine, since the guy did nothing illegal. He violated the Act, which means they can lay a civil penalty against him if they want.

No, they would never arrest anyone for going to Cuba. What they will do is notify Treasury and let Treasury decide what they want to do, but that's well after you return.

Cat
If you'd read the article, you'd realize that he's already been fined $7500 in 2002, and he challenged and won that - during the BUSH admin



(Message edited by DonGringo on July 24, 2009)

LA Guy writes "The risk I suppose is that a customs and immigration guy will get bored harassing people by going through the pictures on their laptops, and decide instead it would be fun to harass people by scrutinizing their travel affidavits. "

Taking photos and video of cuban girls, while admitedly risky, remains a worthwhile venture nontheless. To reduce your risk of getting caught, consider storing all your media on a 4gig SanDisk Micro SD card like this one



and find a creative place to store it during the trip out of Cuba.

Upon your safe arrival home, retrieving your SD card can be accomplished with the aid of any tools such as these







Some will find the the latter more comfortable, however the stainless model provides for a more controlled delivery and easier examination.

Those who aren't blessed with regular movements should expect to exam several cycles before retrieving the card. If however, like most of us your diet while in Cuba consists of esspressos and black beans, same day retrieval is the norm.

Deeg, the point is, DHS doesn't give a shit if you've been to Cuba, and they won't arrest you upon return for going there. The problems would all be later with Treasury, if there were ever any problems at all.

What was your point when you said 'it's not a fine, it's a civil penalty'. Every definition I can find of the term 'civil penalty' states it's a fine!

I must've been absent the day they taught 'double-speak' in school.

Obama sure wasn't though. Saying that cop 'acted stupidly'? And tapdancing around, doing everything BUT apologizing, while legions of cops are the only reason he's still alive and in office.

Nigga pleeze

I had secretly planned on going to Cuba by stealing Don Gringo's identity and letting him pay my fines when I got back. However, that lowlife ruined my plan by putting a stupid SD chip on the photograph of his finger, thereby making it impossible for me to lift his fingerprint. Unfortunately, the Don Gringo "penis print" I was able to obtain from another website doesn't seem to be good for anything, other than providing a good laugh.

I guess I'm going to have to formulate a plan B.

I've spent the past week in bed, recovering from the swine flu, and log in to read that Laguy contemplating identity theft. Which one?

Incidentally, thank you for not making fun of my genitalia. Poor guy's survived horrific beatings, putrid working conditions and countless hours in an enlargement device similar to a torture rack. If there's a shred of decency in your black soul, you'll let him save what's left of his dignity.

How much did you have to blowup the penis print so that you could see it?

MM

With or without a magnifying glass?

If it's fingerprints you want Laguy, then next time you're visiting your mother, check the showerglass enclosure.

Please tell her I hope her hip gets better soon. I'm bringing the handicap rail and rubber matting so she won't have any more 'falls' while bathing 'alone'

The point of the article is that he tried to get arrested, and even after receiving a letter from the US Trasury Department 6 month after his 2nd visit he in the end did not get any fines assessed to him - only the threat of one. The article states "could face fines or jail time if he failed to respond within 10 days"

So he has traveled 3 times to Cuba - each time wanting to get caught - and so far has been unable to get fined or arrested. If he had been fined along the way then he could challenged it in court - which he wants.

So, these direct flights to Cuba sound ever more appealing :-)

Regarding pictures - I got pulled out for a secondary inspection from my last trip back from Asia. They looked at the pictures on my camera, opened my laptop, etc. I did have pictures of many girls - but they were all of legal age. The guy asked me who they were and I responded "just friends". That was it. I think the focus of customs is catching people with pics of underage girls. So, unless you are hiding illegal pics, I am not sure it is necessary to be so worried about customs seeing them. But....if you have pics of underage girls then you better start sweating bullets and worrying.

I just love people who try to directly go out of their way to fight with the Feds.

What is the old saying about fighting the 800 lb gorilla? If I remember correctly, if he does not win all of the time, he will win most of the time.

Even if he did get their attention, and win his point, it will cost him all of his money and any future gainful employment.

Really stupid.

MM

I can't imagine after 40+ trips to the island that anybody still gives a shit. I've never had any problems going into the states after being in Cuba...

I beg to differ with those who say this guy's an idiot. What he's bravely attempting to do is effect change. He's taking a personal risk to do so as well.

Perhaps you guys missed the part where the BUSH administration backed down from this guy in 2002? That REALLY speaks volumes about the USA's distaste for putting teeth behind this travel ban.

In the end he has essentially proven that the Federal Government has no intention of pursuing a high profile case like his. Why? Whatever the outcome, the Feds lose twice.

First because if they jail him, or pursued collection of the fine for the matter, it only serves to force the issue into the spotlight of public opinion, making the Feds look bad.

Second, it would push the issue into the legal system. Once there, you could bet the democrats would champion his cause and move to pass legislation to lift the embargo. You wanna bet that's why the Bushies left this guy alone.

Interesting...

Lovingmarvin: I would be interested in knowing whether you continue to get pulled over by secondary when you return from Asia on future trips. My concern is both that once they find pictures they put you on a list that means you are more likely to be pulled over (and inconvenienced) on future trips, and also that if they start going through my laptop, I may assume the persona of Henry Lewis Gates Jr., without having Obama around to extricate me from the consequences.

"Overturning Cuba Travel Ban May Pass House This Year"

Apparently there is more forward momentum on this than people realize.

When he addresses the UN next month, Brazil's President Lula plans to ask Obama to end the embargo.

Hell, at the rate Obama's going, the USA may be MORE socialist than Cuba by 2012!

Here's the rest of the article

"Sept. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Legislation to end a ban on Americans traveling to Cuba has enough support in the U.S. House of Representatives to win approval by year-end, said Representative Sam Farr, a California Democrat.

The bill to let U.S. citizens resume travel to the Caribbean island except in times of war or cases in which they face imminent danger has 181 votes in the House and needs 218 to pass, said Farr, a co-sponsor of the legislation. The plan is backed by travel groups such as the United States Tour Operators Association and the National Tour Association and human rights groups such as the Washington Office on Latin America and has been helped by President Barack Obama’s election, he said.

“It is believed we can get to this before the end of the year,” Farr, 68, said in an interview in New York. “We haven’t had a policy about Cuba. We’ve had policies about getting votes in Florida and Obama changed that by getting those votes.”

The U.S. ended restrictions on Sept. 3 on Cuban-Americans travel and money transfers to relatives in Cuba. The new rules also allow U.S. telecommunications companies to provide service in Cuba for mobile telephone, satellite radio and television. Exceptions to the 1962 trade embargo on communist Cuba include $500 million per year in agricultural exports, Farr said.

“If you are a potato, you can get to Cuba very easily,” he said. “But if you are a person, you can’t, and that is our problem.”

Pressure

Obama is under pressure from Latin American leaders to end the trade embargo to help improve relations in the region. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will ask Obama to end the embargo during the United Nations General Assembly this week, spokesman Marcelo Baumbach said Sept. 17.

Obama announced in April he would lift travel limits for Cuban-Americans visiting family in Cuba. At the same time, Representatives Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart, both Florida Republicans, issued a statement that the president had made “unilateral concessions to the dictatorship” that would “embolden it to further isolate, imprison and brutalize pro- democracy activists.”

Cuba’s former President Fidel Castro, who handed power to his brother Raul Castro last year, called on Obama to completely lift the trade embargo.

White House officials have said there are no plans to lift the embargo. At the same time, the administration is undertaking a full review of policy toward Cuba with the goal of advancing “the cause of freedom” in the country less than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the coast of Florida, Daniel Restrepo, a special assistant to Obama, said in April.

March Proposal

A group of House and Senate lawmakers proposed in March ending restrictions to allow all U.S. citizens and residents to travel to Cuba. Farr said the legislation, known as the “Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act,” also has enough votes to clear the Senate, where Senator Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, and Republican Senator Michael Enzi of Wyoming introduced the legislation.

“There’s a lot more openness in the Congress,” Geoff Thale, program director in the Washington Office on Latin America, said in an interview in New York. “Support is building. The travel industry and business community are not just formally in support but actively engaged. That’s why I think we’re going to see a difference.”

Senator Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who is of Cuban descent and sits on the Foreign Relations Committee, has vowed to fight the easing of travel restrictions.

Philip Peters, a vice president and Cuba expert at the Lexington Institute, a public policy research group in Arlington, Virginia, said proponents of the bill may succeed in winning congressional approval as public opinion grows among Americans that U.S. rules on Cuba aren’t in line with much of the country’s foreign policy.

‘Good Shot’

“They’ve got a good shot,” Peters said in an interview. “Certainly right now they’re in striking distance and they’ve got plenty of time left in the session.”

Ending the travel ban may lead as many as 1 million Americans to visit the island every year, Lisa Simon, president of the National Tour Association, known as NTA, said in an interview. It would also help push forward talks on human rights issues, Thale said.

“We’ve had a policy for 50 years of isolating Cuba and it hasn’t done anything about the human rights situation,” Thale said. “I don’t think there is some magic solution. I don’t think ending the travel ban will cause Fidel to say let’s have elections, let’s release all the political prisoners tomorrow. What it will do is open the process of dialogue.”

Obama’s administration has been showing a “gradual relaxation and diplomatic opening” toward Cuba, Thale said. He cited the government’s decision to reinitiate talks on migration and direct mail, and also to put down the billboard operated by the U.S. government outside its special interests section in Havana, which he said often displayed anti-Cuba messages. "

No wonder the Cubans in Miami are against normalizing relations. I would imagine at that point, they will lose their decades-old favoritism with Immigration and will be just regular illegal immigrants when they come ashore. Then again, the Cubans in Miami have never really been about freeing Cuba, at least not in the last several decades. They just want to run Miami-Dade into the ground.

Castro will layoff 1 million government workers - 20% of the gov't workforce? On an island of 11 million that will have a dramatic impact.

He's also talking about opening up some free enterprise opportunities for those he lays off. Back in the 90's when Russia withdrew their support was the last time the cuban economy turned to free enterprise to keep the socialist regime alive; a period we call the 'golden era' in cuban hobbying...

Will that era return with Castro's changes?

Here's the article:

President Raul Castro expanded self-employment fields on Sunday, ahead of looming government plans to slash as many as one million jobs -- 20 percent of communist Cuba's work force -- from state payrolls.
The economy, 95 percent of which is currently in state hands, does not have the ability to absorb such vast numbers of jobless. Castro's move aims to try to reduce the socioeconomic fallout, but it will be an uphill battle.

The Council of Ministers "agreed to expand the range of self-employment jobs, and their use as another alternative for workers who lose their jobs," Castro said as he gave a closing address at one of two annual sessions of the National Assembly.

After the crash of the former Soviet bloc, Cuba's cash-strapped government in the 1990s approved a wide range of self-employment. Positions such as beauticians, dog groomers, small restaurant owners and even lighter refillers were legalized as long as workers got licenses and paid taxes.

But social resentment emerged as an issue when some workers, particularly in small private restaurants, achieved dramatic levels of success.

The government began increasing taxation and regulation, and decreasing license-granting, until the self-employed sector was largely rendered paralyzed, like the rest of the economy.

Cuba has no regular access to international funding; it depends heavily on the cut-rate oil it gets from Venezuela in order to keep its fragile economy afloat. Tourism earnings and remittances from emigres also are key pillars of the Cuban economy.

Inefficiency is rampant and wages are woefully low.

Cubans' hopes had been running high that some change was coming to allow some economic opening in the Americas' only one-party communist regime.

By 2009, there were just 148,000 people out of a work force of five million who were legally self-employed.

Raul Castro, 79, said he would launch new wage and salary practices early next year. He did not give details.