Things are getting better in Cuba
According to this Financial Times article, it appears that the regime is easing economic constraints after fifty years of a despotic iron grip.
Overseas private investors and homebuyers are to be given a rare chance to buy Cuban real estate in a move that marks a further loosening of the economic constraints imposed on the island since Fidel Castro seized power 50 years ago.
I put emphasis on the term overseas because the reality here, which the Financial Times blatantly ignored, is that these so-called loosening of economic restraints benefits only those who are not Cuban, and of course, the ruling elite who will be collecting the cash from the sale of these leaseholds. Not one Cuban outside the ruling elite will benefit from this. Life will continue as it has for the last half decade for them with the only difference being there will be a new place for the regime to send them to work as slave laborers.
Yes, things are getting better in Cuba. What I would like to know is when are things going to start getting better for Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet and the rest of the Cubans on the island?
Oh boy, I can't wait to go back and buy some real estate!
Eh, wait a minute.
How am I going to get title?
How will I be provided title insurance?
How am I going to get an accurate survey?
I guess I'll have to pay cash because I'm sure there isn't any financing.
How is the property valued? Appraisal? Yeah right!
Will I be able to sell my property? To whom?
Eh, minor details............................
So the Castros have enslaved the island, and now, after 50 years, are selling off the plantation.
My prediction: Naive foreigners will "buy" property, fix it up, then have it confiscated by the Cuban government in the Cuban version of "eminent domain."
My e-mail to the author of this article, Daniel Thomas:
Daniel,
I'm a journalist, too, so I know it sucks to get email that finds fault, but I felt I had to write a note to say that I wish you had included just one fact in your story: "Cubans, however, are not allowed to own or purchase property, as has been the case since the government nationalized private property."
I think that by writing that Cuba is "moving toward a freer market economy" it undercuts the fact that this supposed change does not extend to citizens on the island. The truth is that very few people understand how restrictive the Cuban government is toward its people, and this story made it seem that life is going to get better for people on the island because of this move. It's not.
Anyway, not picking on you, just wanted to ask you to consider the point the next time you write about Cuba.
Thanks for taking the time to read this note.
Carlos Frías
http://www.cfrias.com
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