Cuba's exports have not kept pace with other countries of the region. Of the 20 countries in the region for which comparable IMF data are available, Cuba ranks last in terms of export growth -- below even Haiti. Mexico and Cuba had virtually identical export levels in 1958 -- while Mexico's population was five times Cuba's. Since then, Cuba's exports have merely doubled while Mexico's have increased by almost 130-fold, according to IMF statistics. Cuba's exports in 1958 far exceeded those of Chile and Colombia, countries which have since left Cuba behind. The lack of diversification of Cuba's exports over the past 35 years also is remarkable, when compared with other countries in the region. Cuba's enviable productive base during the 1950's was strengthened by sizable inflows of foreign direct investment. As of 1958, the value of U.S. foreign direct investment in Cuba was $861 million, according to United States government figures published in 1959. Adjusting for inflation that foreign investment number amounts to more than USD 4.3 billion in today's dollars. Contrary to popular perception, U.S. investors were not focusing on the sugar industry in the 1950's. U.S. firms began to gradually sell their Cuban sugar holdings to Cuban firms beginning in 1935. By 1958, U.S. firms owned fewer than 40 of Cuba's 161 mills. While U.S. firms were moving away from sugar, they were rapidly investing in a range of other ventures, especially in infrastructure development. According to U.S. government statistics, 41 percent of U.S. direct investments in Cuba were in utilities as of 1958.
As the numbers above imply, Cuba had a very favorable overall balance of payments situation during the 1950's, contrasted with the tenuous situation today. In 1958, Cuba had gold and foreign exchange reserves -- a key measure of a healthy balance of payments--totaling $387 million in 1958 dollars, according to IMF statistics. (That level of reserves would be worth more than 1.9 billion USD in today's dollars.) Cuba's reserves were third in Latin America, behind only Venezuela and Brazil, which was impressive for a small economy with a population of fewer than 7 million people. Unfortunately, Cuba no longer publishes information on its foreign exchange and gold reserves. MASS MEDIA It is no exaggeration to state that during the 1950's, the Cuban people were among the most informed in the world, living in an uncharacteristically large media market for such a small country. Cubans had a choice of 58 daily newspapers during the late 1950's, according to the UN statistical yearbook. Despite its small size, this placed Cuba behind only Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico in the region. By 1992, government controls had reduced the number of dailies to only 17. There has also been a reduction in the number of radio and television broadcasting stations, although the UN no longer reports these statistics. However, it should be noted that in 1957, Cuba had more television stations (23) than any other country in Latin America, easily outdistancing larger countries such as Mexico (12 television stations) and Venezuela (10). It also led Latin America and ranked eighth in the world in number of radio stations (160), ahead of such countries as Austria (83 radio stations), United Kingdom (62), and France (50), according to the UN statistical yearbook.
"There has also been a reduction in the number of radio and television broadcasting stations, although the UN no longer reports these statistics. However, it should be noted that in 1957, Cuba had more television stations (23) than any other country in Latin America, easily outdistancing larger countries such as Mexico (12 television stations) and Venezuela (10). It also led Latin America and ranked eighth in the world in number of radio stations (160), ahead of such countries as Austria (83 radio stations), United Kingdom (62), and France (50), according to the UN statistical yearbook."
The official description of the coat of arms is the following: "The National coat of arms represents our island. It is shaped like a pointed leather shield, and divided into three sections. In its horizontal upper part, there is a golden key between two mountains, and a sun rising over the sea - which symbolises the position of Cuba in the Gulf, between the two Americas, amidst the emergence of a new state. The blue and white stripes, down the left hand side, represent the situation of the island, in terms of its division into states, in the colonial period. Down the right hand side, a Cuban country scene is dominated by a royal palm tree - the symbol of the ubreakable character of the Cuban people." The royal palm is the Cuba National Tree: "The National Tree: La Palma Real (The Royal Palm). Although it's present all over the Caribbean, it's everywhere at the Cuban country side. It's a source of wood and materials for rural construction, the same for hats, oil and other elements for the tobacco industry. Because of its erect figure, bearing any difficult storm, it's the most respected, symbolizing the strong character of the Cuban people." The National Flower is not related to the national symbols, but has some historical value: "The National Flower: La Mariposa Blanca (The White Butterfly), an endemic jasmine used by Cuban women during the independece war to transmit messages among the rebel forces. It's a symbol of purity, fight and independence. It grows in humid places, like river shores and lagoons. It could also be cultivated in gardens and backyards." The National Bird, however, is flag-related: "The National Bird: El Tocororo (Priotelus temnurus). An endemic bird similar to a Quetzal, reproduces in its feathers the colors of the National Flag: red, blue and white. It's a symbol of freedom, because inside a cage it dies."
Castro's bloody footprint on Cuba's back will soon be over, and the re-construction will then begin. Before that happens, this book - together with a few more - should be read by those who hope to stake a claim on the future of that island. The book is educational and informative, although it seems to put a lot of emphasis on the upper middle class of pre-Castro Cuba and little on the lower classes, with some small exceptions on the issue of race and Afro-Cubans. Too much is also made of Desi Arnaz's negative portrayal of Cuban men, although I never knew until I read this book that Eamon de Valera was half Cuban and that the Capote in Truman was Cuban. But it does hit the nail right on the head on the formula via which the Cuban culture and character - so different from other Latin American countries - was formed. The powerful influence of the USA and all things American upon the island may have been somewhat blown out of proportion (especially when not brought to a lower class context), but it was (and is) nonetheless important and a key ingridient in the make-up of the modern Cuban. I suspect that when Cuba opens up to the world, those Cubans who remained in the prison island will soon re-join the interrupted life of a island full of paradoxes, brilliant thinkers and an unfortunate history of dictators and bloodshed. And perhaps the marriage between Castro's Afro-Cuba and the exile's mostly white-Cuba will result not in a baptism of fire (or blood) but in an incorporation of lessons learned in 50 years of modern exile with the astounding eneregy and creativity of the Cuban people.
my aunt has been to cuba. you all need to go there before trying to claim to know how it is. there are toilets. and to quote my aunts exact description "i've never seen happier people in my life. they are all dirt poor and wish that wasn't so, but they are genuinely happy"
basic economics... if they went anywhere else in the world, they may be poor, but, as everyone has a very similar amount of money, none are particularly poor within cuba, as its their spending power that decides on prices of stuff...
Fidel sent Che? That was a bit of news to me... Do you have some sort of documentation? Why? Why? Documentation? Actually, since the special period, there is a great disparity between poor and rich. Some make 10 dollars a month, others over 200 dollars. But I bet things would have been much worse, if the government wouldn't do their best to end this disparity.
Not exactly, Chris. Domestically created products are priced relative to local earnings. But any imported products are much more expensive (and thus out of reach) with a weak dollar.
the way out for them is a socialist federation of latin america in whihc they can all trade amongst each other
Agreed. And hop efully an end to the blockade, so that Cuba can trade with U.S. companies just a few miles from the shore of Cuba. But that is just wishfull thinking.
And now it is top five in Latin America in calorie consumption. Care to explain? You do not mention that Cuba is improving and expanding its electrical capacity while we speak. Google "The Energy Revolution", if you like.. Who cares how many daily newspapers there were, when over 23 percent of the population (50 percent in the rural areas) were illiterate?
yes the big fish in cuba dont miss anything with turist dollars. "this are a small elite group within the cuban Gestapo" . a PC in a private cuban hands = No way Jose unless you want end up in cubas well known Jails. Have you seen 1 cuban from cuba post anything in the Hip Forum? the answer a FAT NO . even chinese are known for posting in american or european websites and thats = RED CHINA!.
OH REALLY so all of this news papers company i guess sold the papers to americans to cover the cost ....as you know most americans in the 1950s could read spanish i think 90% of americans did.
Thank you. I like your basic political pillars. Some Cubans do have computers. But I think they are mainly job related. For example at family business and at doctors. No, but me and others have communicated with Cubans over the internet. A few have PC's in private hands, but they are a minority. There are 3,4 computers per 100 inhabitants, and because of lack of computers, Cuba tries to have them by public, so that as many cubans as possible, can use the internet. So you will have to make an application, if you want a computer in your home. Yes, there are restrictions. But is the situation as bad as you want to portray it? Apparently not. Who gives a shit how they covered the costs. A significant portion of the cuban population couldn't read or write. THE PRIORITIES WERE WRONG! China isn't red.
china is far from red, and they have severe internet restrictions (hell, just restrictions in general, when the stones played there, the government stopped them from playing songs they deemed as provocative)
