HavanaReporterY O U R S O U R C E O F N E W S & M O R EA Monthly Newspaper of the Prensa Lat ina News Agency

©THEYEAR IXNº 9JUN 27, 2019HAVANA, CUBAISSN 2224-5707Price: 1.00 CUC / 1.00 USD 1.20 CAN

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UNESCO Joins Celebrations of Havana’s 500th Anniversary

Pastors for Peace: Solidarity with Cuba Continues Despite Difficulties

The Fire Festival Lights Up Santiago de Cuba Habana Selfies, A Portrait

of the Marvelous City

Expanding Cuba’s National Production

Incomplete Inclusion of African Descendants

Society

Culture

Economy

Latin America

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THEHavanaReporterYOUR SOURCE OF NEWS & MORE SOCIETY.HEALTH & SCIENCE.POLITICS.CULTURE

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President: Luis Enrique González.Information Vice President: Moisés Pérez MokEditorial Vice President: Mario H. Garrido Chief Editor: Luis MelianEnglish Editor: Mitra GhaffariTranslation: Dayamí Interian/ Yanely Interián

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PANAMA CITY.- “In spite of the blockade and the strong measures imposed by the United States, Cuba is cautiously developing a sustainable tourism model, receiving close to five million visitors,” affirmed Xiomara Martínez, an official of the Cuban tourism sector.

In an interview with The Havana Reporter, Martínez - a tourism advisor in Mexico and Central America - noted that despite difficulties in the supply of resources, Cuba has maintained constant development.

She added that the investments made in the sector are not addressed to a specific market but rather, to the whole world. In this sense, she mentioned that many of the ongoing investments in Havana are related to the city’s 500th anniversary, on November 16.

“The actions undertaken on the occasion of Havana’s 500th anniversary will not stop this year; they will continue until 2021, as a lot of investment is being made in hotels. For instance, the Packard was a building in ruins and today it is a wonderful piece of architecture as a result of the renovations,” she commented.

According to the official, other actions are focused on the Paseo del Prado, a promenade that treasures a long history and several legends. Restoration programs also address patrimonial hotels in the city’s historical center, the Malecón (seawall), traditional festivals including the Bolero and Danzón, and the city’s carnival, to take place in August. The 500th anniversary of Havana is a special event for citizens of Havana as well as foreigners visiting the island, she said.

“Tourists who come to Cuba today not only want to enjoy the sun and the beach, but because Cuba is more than that, tourists also come for the culture, the cuisine, the environment and the interpersonal exchange, which are Cuba’s great treasures. That’s what captivates foreigners and makes them feel at home,” Martínez commented.

According to the official, other attractions are emblematic places such as Tropicana, and Havana’s nightlife, which captivate tourists with its lively ambience.

In relation to the Tourism Ministry’s strategies, Martínez affirmed that Cuba will continue to strengthen the quality of services provided in order to meet at least 90 percent of visitors’ expectations.

“There’s a wide variety of services that complement the tourist industry, including the paladares; that is, the private restaurants developed by Cuban entrepreneurs that bring out the flavor of the country’s rich culinary tradition,” she said.

Tourism is one of the most important industries in the Cuban economy and “the people that work in this sector, the executives and professionals, have the mission to

show an authentic Cuba to all who are interested, contrary to the media’s profile of Cuba,” the official added.

In addition to the beach, events and conferences, Cuba also offers travel to patrimonial cities that still preserve their culture and traditions, deeply rooted after more than 500 years.

Those cities include Baracoa, the first village founded by the Spaniards, Bayamo, Camagüey, Sancti Spíritus, Trinidad, Remedios, Santiago de Cuba and Havana.

Martínez, who recently attended the 10th edition of the International Tourism Fair in Panama, stated that the main objective of that event was to promote the 500th anniversary of Havana – one of Cuba’s seven patrimonial villages, that joins celebrations of the anniversary of the Panamanian capital on August 15, 1519.

“Cuba has patrimonial cities that are a perfect combination of cultural and historical richness, thus providing for sustainable tourism,” she co

By NubiaPIQUERAS

Tourism in Cuba Keeps Growing

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NEW YORK.- The solidarity actions of Pastors for Peace continue in spite of the increase of the travel restrictions to Cuba and the hostile policy imposed by the government of the United States.

The above statement was made by Executive Director of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization-Pastors for Peace, Gail Walker, the daughter of Reverend Lucius Walker, the main promoter of this project.

“Cuba is not alone; most of the U.S. citizens know that Washington’s policy against that Caribbean state is nonsense and they reject it.”

“Our solidarity actions are more important now than ever. U.S. president Donald Trump wants to put an end to the ties between both countries, but Pastors for Peace will carry on with its work and will continue pushing for the end of the U.S. blockade,” Walker said.

The activist also noted that “Cuba is an example that a more fair society can be built and that’s why it is really important

for the U.S. people to see the reality of that Caribbean nation.”

This year, Pastors for Peace is developing Caravan No. 30 amidst a context characterized by the intensification of Washington’s measures against Cuba.

According to Walker, the different travel licenses imposed by the White House on the U.S. citizens are a mechanism to “control what we do, where we go;” that’s why they continue travelling without those permits. “Love is our only license,” she stressed.

In this sense, she recalled that that’s what they’ve done since 1992, for the love of their friends in Cuba and committed to the cause of lifting the U.S. blockade.

For his part, coordinator of the Pastors for Peace program, John Waller, stressed the obsession the U.S. government has on Cuba because “the island is an example.”

“In Cuba, free health and education are guaranteed and it’s very safe; no one there has to worry because of someone getting into a school and shooting at the kids,” he said.

Waller also spoke about the recent travel restrictions that affect both, the Cuban and the U.S. people.

“This year, the Pastors for Peace caravan is really important because it happens at a time when the government of the United States tightens measures against Cuba”, Cuban ambassador to the United Nations Ana Silvia Rodríguez affirmed.

Rodríguez, who is also Cuba’s acting permanent representative to the UN, said that the caravan members can send a strong message to the United States and the rest of the world by opposing Trump’s hostile policies.

“Washington believes that they can put pressure on us, but they have not learnt anything in all these years of Revolution, as my country will not make any type of concessions,” the diplomat stressed at a solidarity event organized in New York.

“Since the beginning, in 1992, the caravan members have made great

sacrifices to carry their solidary support to Cuba. Now, the U.S. government has tightened the net around Cuba by intensifying its hostile policy. We see it, for example, with the activation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act,” she recalled.

The ambassador also mentioned that the travel restrictions to Cuba also became stronger: “Is it out of a fear that the U.S. people know the reality about my country?” she questioned.

The travel of Pastors for Peace was moved to this month as in July – the regular date – the U.S. and Puerto Rican activists that join the Venceremos Brigade will be in Cuba to commemorate their 50th anniversary.

In addition to bringing their solidarity to Cuba, the Pastors for Peace caravan members, under the guidance of late Rev. Lucius Walker, emerged with the objective of facing the economic, commercial and financial blockade the United States has imposed for almost 60 years.

Pastors for Peace: Solidarity with Cuba Continues Despite Difficulties

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HAVANA.- Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Cuba Alberto Navarro defended rapprochement with the island following 20 years of “turning its back” on Havana.

According to Navarro, Havana and Brussels – the institutional capital of the 28-member union – are experiencing a “honeymoon period” after being apart for a long time. The current position was redefined just two years ago.

In an interview with The Havana Reporter, Navarro noted that the Cuba-EU Joint Council held on May 2018 fostered a collaboration that been developing since the 1990s through the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office.

However, the diplomat recalled that the then Spanish president José María Aznar had implemented the so-called ‘Common Position’ in the EU, a policy that practically froze ties between EU countries and Cuba.

Twenty years later, Brussels abolished the initiative and completely redefined relations with Cuba by signing the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement.

Under that accord, both parties increased collaborative projects, which then amounted to about 30 million Euros and at present exceed 100 million, the ambassador indicated.

The Spanish diplomat also highlighted the increase in political dialogue on topics such as human rights, unilateral sanctions and coercive measures, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, illicit arms trade and the Millennium Development Goals.

Cooperation between both sides is aimed at the following sectors: agriculture, renewable energy and Cuba’s economic and social development, the diplomat said.

In line with this, he mentioned that an expert exchange program on topics such as tax collection is already in place and is managed in Havana by the Ministry of Economy and Planning.

The European ambassador referred to the implementation of a regional project to take place in Havana, addressing the rehabilitation of the Santa Clara Convent, located in the city’s historical center.

In relation to this, he described that the idea is to create a workshop program to train youth from other Caribbean countries on patrimonial restoration.

During the interview, Navarro also reaffirmed the European community’s firm opposition to the extraterritorial application of the Helms-Burton Act against Cuba.

In this sense, he noted that the EU doesn’t accept the fact that the United States wants to apply its legislation to the rest of the world.

The impact of that legislation, endorsed in 1996 by the U.S. Congress, is to discourage investors and cause fear and uncertainty among those who want to invest in Cuba, he added.

The ambassador stated that Brussels has defended that position ever since the rule was endorsed, highlighting the support of countries such as Canada, Mexico or Japan, which have antidote regulations.

As he said, that stance was recently reaffirmed by Bruno Rodríguez, Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister, and Federica Mogherini, European Union Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security.

The European Union recently filed a lawsuit against that rule at the World Trade Organization and announced the possibility of applying the “blocking statute,” which prohibits the application of Title III in the community’s territory.

Similarly, the said statute allows defendants to receive compensations in European courts.

Last April, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had announced that as of May 2, the repeated suspensions of Title III would come to a close.

The said title allows U.S. citizens to file lawsuits at U.S. courts against individuals or companies that “deal” in properties nationalized (legitimately) by the Cuban government after 1959.

Navarro indicated that until now, with the exception of a specific case related to the San Carlos Hotel that is managed by the Spanish chain Meliá in Cienfuegos, no lawsuit has been directly filed against a European company.

EU Ambassador Defends Rapprochement with Cuba

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WASHINGTON.- Cuba’s influence on the United States is wide-ranging and few understand the extent that Cuban has influenced U.S. life and culture.

An important book representative of the Cuban imprint on the United States was launched on May 13 at the Cuban embassy in Washington D.C.

Entitled “Cuba in the USA,” the book was inspired by the large collection of retired lawyer and intellectual Emilio Cueto. It illustrates the influence that the author’s country of birth has had on the country where he has been living since 1961, in regards to visual arts, literature, music, theater, dance, film and television.

Printed by the Polymita publishing company, the new volume contains over one thousand photos by Julio Larramendi, also Cuban-born, and portrays the island’s impact on education, sports, religion, masonry, cuisine, tobacco and fashion.

During the book launch, which was part of the celebrations marking the 100thanniversary of the Cuban Embassy in Washington, Cueto referenced various chapters and shared interesting details with the public.

“A deep Cuban influence can be seen in U.S. libraries, because the island is part

of U.S. history,” said the scholar during his opening remarks.

According to Cueto, there are at least three events that connect Cuba with the United States, which are always included in the U.S. history books: the Spanish-Cuban-American War (1898), the Bay of Pigs Invasion(1961) and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).

It’s interesting to see the Yellow Kid, one of the first and most famous comic characters created by Richard F. Outcalt, represented on a 1898 pin, in which he is holding a Cuban flag and saying “Long Live Cuba,” Cueto said.

“We wanted to make a book that could tell something beyond what is normally said about Cuba and the United State; a book on the cultural and human side and, above all, about what we call everyday life,” the author told The Havana Reporter.

“Cuba has occupied a place on the table, the bed, the television and in the drinks of the U.S. people; so much so, that you can find a Cuban sandwich anywhere,” he highlighted.

Cueto noted that the work he has done collecting objects and information for decades is like a bridge that illustrates Cuban influence on the U.S.

The political ups and downs are temporary, and “this book allows us to focus on something that is eternal, because it has nothing to do with the tension created and prolonged by politics,” he noted.

“What’s not temporary is that José Martí founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party in the United States, that the Cuban anthem was

recorded there, the flag was painted there. All of this lasts forever; it is part of our communal ties that we have to cultivate,” Cueto stated.

The volume took a little over two years to prepare, and in addition to being launched in the U.S. capital, it has been presented so far in Havana, Matanzas, Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba, New York and Miami.

Text & Photos: DionySANABIA

Book HighlightsCuba's Influence on U.S.

WASHINGTON.- The administration of President Donald Trump has dealt another harsh blow to U.S. travel to Cuba by implementing new restrictions, contradicting the wishes of many in U.S. society to eliminate those bans.

U.S. citizens had been prohibited from traveling to Cuba as tourists and could only do so under 12 categories, including family visits, support for the people, and journalistic, religious or educational activities.

With the objective of reverting normalization of bilateral relations, in November 2017, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) modified the general license of the people-to-people educational activities and cancelled its authorization for individual travel.

The Trump administration now decided to further tighten those bans by also prohibiting people-to-people educational group travel, which is the category that most U.S. citizens have used to visit the island.

In addition, the measures that took effect on June 5 put an end to what became the most popular means for U.S. citizens to visit the island: cruise ships.

The Industry and Security Bureau of the Department of Commerce, in coordination with OFAC, announced that the types of airplanes and vessels authorized to travel to Cuba would also be limited.

“Therefore, private and corporate aircrafts, cruise ships, sailing and fishing boats and similar means of travel will be prohibited to go to Cuba,” the institution said.

Consequently, Norwegian, Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruises announced the immediate cancellation of their stops in Cuba. The International Association of Cruise Lines informed the public that nearly 800,000 passenger bookings -either completed or in process- were negatively affected by the Trump administration’s new measures.

The new restrictions were immediately rejected by members of the U.S. Congress, business entities, local authorities and organizations in favor of the normalization of relations between the two countries.

Many of those voices condemned the negative impact that the restrictions will have on the Cuban people and U.S. companies, and called them a violation of the U.S. people’s right to travel freely.

Trump Hits Cuba with More Travel RestrictionsBy MarthaANDRES Similarly, they warned about the hypocritical stance of the U.S. government

because, according to Trump, his increased hostility toward the island aims to support the Cuban people, while instead his measures greatly hurt Cubans.

Florida Representative Kathy Castor, of the Democratic Party, said in a release that the Republican President’s policy strongly affects the owners of small businesses and self-employed Cubans, as well as their families and U.S. citizens’ right to travel.

In the meantime, the U.S.-Cuba Business Council noted that these regulations will interrupt trade operations in the tourist sector, which does not agree with the administration’s announcement that it would try not to affect the U.S. companies that are legally doing business with the country.

The same day that the new bans took effect, the Democrat Senator from Vermont, Patrick Leahy, strongly condemned the restrictions, calling them dumb and shameful, and announced that he will present the Freedom for Americans to Travel to Cuba Act.

Leahy urged his colleagues, “to not let the same old, worn out, Cold War, isolationist, fear mongering, failed arguments about Cuba stand in the way of common sense.”

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HAVANA.- Diabetes, a chronic condition that according to the World Health Organization will be the seventh cause of death by 2030, proves to be a complex and highly prevalent issue in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Most countries in the region face an unfavorable scenario due to the alarming increase of the disease, with premature mortality indicators.

Factors such as family history, high blood pressure, lipid disorders and, especially, inactive lifestyles and obesity, are considered risks for this world health catastrophe, which affects over 422 million people worldwide.

Mexico is placed first in the world for childhood obesity (ages 6 to 12) and second in the case of adults, as almost 7 in 10 individuals are obese. About 35 percent of the country’s population is either overweight or obese.

According to María Luisa Ponce, a specialist in Surgical Sciences and a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the obesogenic environment boosts 95 percent of insulin-resistance cases, a risk factor in the development of diabetes type 2 and cardiovascular diseases.

Cuba is one of the Caribbean countries that also has high obesity

rates, mainly among women. For this reason, there are different programs in place to face diabetes in pregnancy and avoid complications to both the mother and the baby, which are provided by a multidisciplinary team in the hospital.

“At the end of 2018, the prevalence of diabetes in Cuba rose to 64.3 per one thousand inhabitants, which translates to 747,466 diabetics, as registered by the Primary Health Care Center. The prevalence of this disease is rising as a result of the increase of sedentary lifestyles and obesity,” director of the National Endocrinology Institute, Ileydis Iglesias, explained.

Senior adults over the age of 60 represent the highest rate of diabetic patients in Cuba, a figure that surpasses 200 people out of one thousand.

However, according to the Pan-American Health Organization, Cuba is a country that has better glycaemia control of its patients, in spite of limited access to glucometers for constant monitoring or insulin-infusion pumps for patients who cannot control their diabetes with multiple injections – as these devices are made with U.S. technology.

In this sense, the humanization of insulin treatment in Cuba stands out as a project that includes about 20,000

patients and is aimed at replacing the insulin via syringe procedure with a more convenient and suitable device, the NovoPen 4, which improves adherence and reduces pain to a minimal level due to its thin needles.

Manufactured by the Danish company Novo Nordisk, a world leader in products for diabetics, NovoPen 4 was first delivered to Cuban patients under the age of 19, then to patients under the age of 25, as well as to the blind, visually impaired and people suffering from chronic kidney disorders. The idea, though, is to reach beyond the groups currently benefitting from the NovoPen 4.

The advantages of having a national program that dates back to 1975 and the fact that Cuba has a nationwide network of centers to attend diabetic patients (18 in total), turn the country into an international reference for diabetes prevention and treatment.

Heberprot-P, the only medication of its type that has achieved reducing the risk of amputations in the country to over 70 percent; also stands out as a big achievement of the Cuban health system.

First applied in 2007, the Heberprot-P comprehensive attention program has

reached over 88,000 patients in these 12 years and has avoided about 17,000 amputations. This has been possible thanks to the increase and availability of therapy in about 405 polyclinics or primary attention centers throughout the country, in addition to 55 secondary attention hospitals.

According to Researcher of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center Manuel Raíces, in 2018 about 12,000 patients were treated in Cuba and amputations were limited to 1,700 – when 4,000 would have otherwise been made. This results in fewer costs to the health system and the family.

Specialists agree that in Cuba, people can live with diabetes and have a life expectancy very similar to those who don’thave the disease. However, they warn that this chronic condition is one of the main causes of death in the country and the world; the reason why prevention is essential.

With this global issue in mind, about 400 specialists from Latin America, Europe, Asia and the United States met in Havana from May 22 to 24 to take part in the I International Congress on Diabetes.

LATIN AMERICA&CARIBBEAN

Diabetes, an Alarming Disease

By LisbetRODRIGUEZ

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PARIS.- UNESCO is celebrating Havana’s 500th anniversary by welcoming Havana Historian Eusebio Lealto Paris, who gave a lecture at the organization’s headquarters.

During the occasion, the UN entity acknowledged the restoration work headed by the Cuban Historian.

Ernesto Ottone, Assistant General Director of Culture, highlighted Leal’s efforts, as well as supporting institutions and the State for accomplishing the restoration and preservation of the Cuban capital’s historical site.

“It has been a really hard, non-stop and effective work, despite many difficulties- not only those related to the economic context but also to the environment, particularly obstacles resulting from the proximity to the ocean,” he said.

The UN Representative recalled that Havana was registered on the list of World Heritage Sites in 1982.

“The list includes places that, because of their features, have universal and particular values, and Havana has that exceptional quality,” he affirmed.

Leal stressed the importance that the UNESCO registration of the Cuban capital had on both the country and Latin America.

“Its declaration was a call for Cuba and for other countries to do their best and be fully committed,” Leal said.

The Cuban official added that thanks to the work conducted, “the restoration is part of Cuban culture today; we have founded a federation of patrimonial cities that go from Baracoa (in the east) to Viñales (in the west).”

As part of the conference, the book “Para no Olvidar” (Not to Forget) was launched. Published by Ediciones Boloña, this book includes details about the work conducted in recent years.

Ediciones Boloña’s director Mario Cremata noted that this is the first volume in French that has been published by the institution and serves as part of a series that shows the before and after of restoration work conducted in Havana.

During his stay in Paris, Leal was also welcomed by UNESCO General Director Audrey Azoulay. During this meeting, culture and heritage were the main topics of conversation.

The historian appreciated the “moral and civic support” given by UNESCO to Cuba’s efforts in the field of protection and preservation of national heritage.

Leal also reiterated the invitation to the General Director that President Miguel Díaz-Canel had made last year to visit Cuba.

The UNESCO Representative gave her appreciation and affirmed that she will visit Havana before the end of the year, a visit she is very excited about, she noted.

The UN official also stated her “appreciation for and acknowledgment of” the commitment and work conducted by the Historian and the country, as well as for the “mutual cooperation and trust” with her organization.

Both parties stressed the contribution UNESCO has made to peace, a topic with which Cuba is actively committed and defends as one of the main pillars of its foreign policy.

UNESCO Joins Celebrations of Havana’s 500th AnniversaryBy LuisaMaría GONZALEZ

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By Marta CABRALES

SANTIAGO DE CUBA.- In the dead of the summer, when the city is at its hottest, the 39th edition of the Fire Festival will once again bring together artistic talents and knowledge from the Caribbean islands.

This has been the case ever since the festival was first held in 1981 as a union of dramatic arts in the Caribbean, becoming an international event two years later. In 1984, it was dedicated to Grenada and its leader, Maurice Bishop.

The fight to defend traditional popular culture is an element that unites everyone who will come together in Santiago, to establish or renew ties regardless of language or geographic barriers.

The main objective of all 39 editions has been to honor the spiritual legacy of some 20 Caribbean and Latin American territories, including Haiti, Grenada, Guyana, Brazil, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba and Suriname, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Bonaire and Martinique.

The festival has also been dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Cuba and other historical dates on the island, to the English and French-

speaking Caribbean, to the Spanish imprint and diaspora, to Africa and to CARICOM (Caribbean Community).

Other editions have paid tribute to Haiti’s 200th anniversary of independence, José Martí and world equilibrium, Havana’s 500th anniversary of founding and the continental Caribbean areas of Colombia, Mexico and Brazil.

In 2018, the Fire Festival celebrated Puerto Rico as the guest of honor country, and this year the honor will be dedicated to Uruguay. Eduardo Lorier, the Uruguayan ambassador in Cuba, praised the cultural show held at Teatro Heredia (Heredia Theater) as a prelude to the International Caribbean Festival, held uninterruptedly for almost 40 years in this Cuban city.

The International Colloquium “The Caribbean that binds us”-the theoretical section of the event- has provided updated information about the history, culture and current affairs of the regional countries. The latest analysis covered interesting topics such as the exodus to Florida before and after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, its unfavorable economic situation today and Puerto Rican emigration to Cuba at the beginning of the 20th century.

The large artistic program will encompass plays, dance and music, poetry and storytelling performances, both by representatives of the traditional popular culture of different Cuban regions and the participating countries.

Once more, the opening and closing ceremonies on July 3 with the Snake Parade and July 9 the Burning of the Devil, respectively, will be very significant and light up the city.

The homage to the runaway slave in the town of El Cobre, religious rituals at the Juan Gonzalez Beach, the farmers’ and Haitian parties, the award-granting ceremony of the International “Casa del Caribe” Prize and different cultural shows also form part of the event.

It was precisely during the 12th edition of the festival in 1992 when it was proposed to hold an international trade fair to bring together the economies of this geographical region. Known as ExpoCaribe, the 16th edition of the fair was held this year from June 19 to 22 at the Heredia Cultural Center.

During these events, Santiago de Cuba once again embraces its Caribbean brothers and sisters, with their various realities and dreams.

The Fire Festival Lights Up Santiago de Cuba

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT(THR is not responsible for any changes made by sponsoring organizations)thr@prensa-latina.cu

UPCOMING EVENTS

GibaraInternationalFilm Festival,

(Jul 7-13)

8 CULTURE

Havana MozartFestival

(Oct 25-Nov 2)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT9THE CARIBBEAN

By OdalysTROYAIn Concert Against Sea PollutionHAVANA.- The production of plastics grows year after year, totaling some 300 million tons annually. However, only half of that plastic is recycled and therefore, over nine million tons –the equivalent of a truck full of waste every minute- end up in the ocean every year.

Protection of the ocean is essential to humanity, as it regulates weather and global warming, produces half of the earth’s oxygen and absorbs 25 percent of CO2 emissions. Consequently, it is crucial for the equilibrium of climate change and food security around the world.

This is why protecting the earth and its oceans is a top priority for Caribbean countries, which are among the most vulnerable to climate change, and any action in favor of that goal is of the upmost importance.

On June 1, artists, politicians, celebrities and scientists gathered at the “Play it Out” concert held in Antigua and Barbuda, an event intended to encourage the fight against the use of disposable plastics.

Norway’s duo Nico & Vinz, the St. Lucia rock band of New York, reggae star Rocky Dawuni and the Australian singer and composer Cody Simpson, together with local artists, dedicated their music to this fight.

Sponsored by the President of the UN General Assembly, the Ecuadorian María Fernanda Espinosa, the concert was held at the Sir Vivian Richards National Stadium.

According to Espinosa, this joint action can help change the course of the current crisis due to plastic-related contamination.

Jamaica, Belize, the Bahamas, Barbados, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago are among the Caribbean countries that have joined the prohibition on the import and use of disposable plastics and polystyrene with the objective of avoiding environmental deterioration.

According to Espinosa, there are many international movements in favor of ending the use of plastic containers.

Play it Out is the product of a world campaign that she has been advocating against the use of disposable plastics as President of the UN General Assembly, Espinosa recalled.

“If we consider that 13 million tons of plastics go to the oceans every year and that they are killing marine life, this is one of the most serious environmental problems that we have,” she stressed.

Antigua and Barbuda, she noted, is a country that is taking the prohibition on the use of plastic bags, bottles and plastics in general, very seriously. They have adopted truly revolutionary and rapid action, she said.

Antigua and Barbuda is an example to be followed, because “it is also highly

vulnerable to climate change; a country that relies on its oceans and its main economic activity is tourism.The Nation has adopted a brave decision that is now a success, a global example,” Espinosa noted.

During the concert, María Fernanda Espinosa praised a new commitment to fight one-use plastic pollution, known as the “Declaration of Antigua and Barbuda.”

PLASTICS IN THE SEAIn 2013, the UN Environmental

Program (UNEP) noted that at least 6.4

million tons of plastic waste ends up in the ocean every year. Today, that number has been brought to more than 8 million tons.

According to the UN Development Program, 20 years ago, a submarine descended 10,988 meters to the deepest part of the ocean: the Mariana Trench, in the western Pacific Ocean.

A plastic bag was found there. The scientists believe that it was the first plastic waste found at such depth, which will take between 400 and 1,000 years to disintegrate.

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For 4 News Headlines per day for just $1CUC / month, Send an SMS with the letters PL to 8100

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HAVANA.-Habana Selfies, a film that is undergoing the postproduction stage, will be a portrait of the Cuban capital, free from the typical clichés used to describe the city, director Arturo Santana said.

“We tried to be loyal to the city and its icons, without falling back on repetitive approaches. I cannot imagine Havana without the Morro Castle or the Revolution Square, but we showed them in a different and interesting way,” Santana added.

The filmmaker affirmed that the new production shows emblematic places in big shots, but also illustrates small details of normal places in Havana.

After almost two months of pre-production and six weeks of shooting, the film promises to be a portrait of the city’s multiple and every day faces, with its love stories, laughs, conflicts and ironies.

Inspired by paradigmatic love films such as Paris, je t’aime; New York, I Love you; Río, I Love you and Berlin, I Love You, Director Santana also wanted to give Havana a love story.

The filmmaker, who is also the scriptwriter, explained that the film fits into the comedy genre, but is also described as loving, sensual, erotic and urban, as the action takes place in the city streets.

The film deals with six stories that are the backbone of the narrative, which are based on different resources, such as the melodrama, the absurd and the farce.

This is another present to Havana, as the city celebrates its 500th anniversary on November 16 – when a special presentation of the film will be made.

However, the official première of this feature film will take place in December, as part of the 41st edition of the Latin American New Film Festival, held in Havana each year.

The film was produced by Carlos Huerta, music by GermánVelazco, and edited by Daniel Diez, while Alexander González and Celia Ledón were the photography and art directors, respectively.

With the special performance of renowned actress Daysi Granados, the cast features young and talented Cuban actors such as Yeny Soria, Ray Cruz, Armando Miguel, Leonardo Benítez and Cheryl Zaldívar.

Santana affirmed that he was extremely happy with the production and final result, which doesn’t always happen, he added.

The audience will then have the last word, something which is important for any filmmaker, or artist in general, as the audience opinion is the one that matters.

However, the film’s crew and cast have high expectations and affirm that the film will immediately get through to the audience, because of its style, topic and language.

Because of its clever and dark drama, the director’s previous production – Bailando con Margot (Dancing with Margot), 2015 - already caused a strong reaction among audiences. This feature film was awarded the Best First Work award in 2017 by the Association of Latin Entertainment Critics of New York, the United States.

Santana, who previously produced music videos, has directed over 150 audiovisuals, including advertisements, documentaries and short films such as Besos y Lágrimas (Kisses and Tears, 2011); La Forastera (The Outsider, 2012) and Subir al Cielo (Going to heaven, 2012).

Habana Selfies, A Portrait of the Marvelous City

By CarolDANVERS

HAVANA.-Beginning with its 14th edition this year, the Caribbean Art Festival (CARIFESTA), one of the region’s most emblematic cultural events, will have a permanent logo.

Each host country had traditionally designed a logo for every edition of the festival, but now the decision to have a permanent one aims at providing the party of the Caribbean community with a more uniform seal.

The new logo was approved during a recent meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development held in Georgetown, the headquarters of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The logotype of the first CARIFESTA edition was 'a dark hand rising, grasping the sun, depicting the skills and aspirations of the tropical man with talent untold,” a symbol of the Caribbean people defining themselves and articulating their expectations.

The topic of the upcoming event will focus both on tangible and intangible

aspects of cultural heritage and development.

It aims at looking for ways and means for the Caribbean people, artists and professionals of the cultural field to connect with each other, share ideas and information, while investing in cultural development to thus create more solid national and regional creative industries.

The festival’s 14th edition will take place August 15-26 in Trinidad and Tobago, with the topic “Connecting, Sharing and Investing.”

Artists and culture specialists from some 30 Caribbean countries will get together in Trinidad and Tobago, which will be hosting the event for the fourth time (the previous occasions were in 1992, 1995 and 2006).

The program will include national nights, film, literature, art, food and community festivals, symposiums, a megaconcert with the best Caribbean artists, as well as green spaces, with yoga sessions and other healthy activities.

The Caribbean Art Festival will Have a Permanent LogoBy AmandaFLORES

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HAVANA.- The Cuban capital has hosted a photographic exhibit by Cuban Artist Gabriel Guerra Bianchini. The work, exhibited as an outdoor installation for the first time in Cuba, has been on display along one of Havana’s largest boulevards, Paseo del Prado.

The billboard structures that have been internationally associated to marketing and publicity have taken on a new artistic meaning in Cuba, an idea that Bianchini tried out during the XIII Havana Visual Art Festival.

Entitled Utopia, the series is composed of 16 photos mounted on eight structures, which offer fresh images of Cuba’s everyday scene, while embellishing Havana for its 500thanniversary.

From the streets of Colón to Genio, the public can appreciate the series El

Espejo y la Mar (The Mirror and the Sea), based on the artist’s personal experience in Havana that comes to life in this conceptual and surreallove story.

The pieces also illustrate a country surrounded by clouds with a poetic and encouraging horizon, inviting the public to daydream while gazing at enchanted scenes.

The artist’s dream comes true in his images, where spectators can see themselves in a reflection and even take a selfie, which they might share with friends or post on social media.

The artist is planning a future exposition for Quinta Avenida, (Fifth Avenue),in Havana’s Playa municipality. Who knows,one day we might see artwork fill all the main streets of Cuba’s historical center, too.

Bianchini’s Art Installation in Havana By NayelaVELAZQUEZ

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12 LATIN AMERICA

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BOGOTA.- Two and a half years after its signing, the implementation of the Peace Agreement is undergoing a critical phase as a result of the political fight between advocates of a historic milestone in Colombia and right-wing leaders who disapprove of the agreement reached in Havana.

A distinct feature showing the fragility of peace in the country is the persistence of political violence taking place, which has targeted social leaders and former guerrilla members of the dissolved Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP).

A report of the Popular Education and Research Center (CINEP) recently revealed that 648 persons were killed in Colombia in 2018 because of ideological reasons.

In that same period, 1,151 death threats were registered, in addition to 22 disappearances, 66 cases of torture and 48 attacks.

“There could be many more victims to come,” CINEP director Luis Guillermo Guerrero stated. In his opinion, in more than half of the cases, murderers are members of paramilitary groups.

Spokesman of the United Nations Human Rights Office Rupert Colville agrees with the statement above. As he warned, in the first four months of this year, the situation seems to have gotten worse, with more than 50 social leaders killed.

The UN official denounced that “the stigmatization campaigns have led to increased danger for leaders, especially against those who live in rural areas, characterized by the lack of basic services, high levels of poverty and illegal crops.”

On top of this unfortunate situation comes the murder of over 130 former FARC-EP guerrilla members since the signing of the Peace Agreement, in November 2016.

“What’s happening in Colombia is a crime against peace; the humanitarian crisis is getting worse in regions that have historically been neglected by the State,” said the Defend Peace Movement, composed of former ministers, congresspersons and other leaders.

In addition to the massacres against social leaders and former guerrilla members, the number of displaced people because of the prevailing violence in the rural areas is also concerning. It is estimated that 124,000 people abandoned their homes in 2018 due to the violence in their territories.

The advocates of the peace process have not only reacted angrily to the marked violence but also to the barriers imposed by Iván Duque’s government on the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), a pillar of the agreement.

The crusade against JEP became evident by the president’s objections to its statutory legislation and the arrest of Jesús Santrich, former guerrilla commander, after the peace court ordered to set him free and applied a non-extradition warrant due to a lack of evidence.

“Colombia’s peace is too precious to abandon…Duque and his right-wing allies have sabotaged peaceful progress under the pact,” an opinion piece in The New York Times stated a few days ago.

According to the article, peace in Colombia “may be unraveling,” which would represent “a disaster for the country, for the region and for the cause of democracy.”

The journal added that responsibility of which falls on the government, as after the guerrilla members were disarmed and returned to civil life, it has ignored most of the promises that it had made, such as providing help and development to rural areas.

About a hundred U.S. congresspersons agreed with the opinion piece in regard to the decline in peace, and stated that the government’s stance against transitional justice – which is essential to know the truth about war, serve justice and compensate the victims - is unconstitutional and contrary to democracy.

Clamor in defense of the Peace Agreement was also expressed recently by over 260 academics from 13 countries, who voiced their “indignation” and demanded strong actions against what they described as a “constant and systematic bloodshed.”

In sight of such adversity, the Revolutionary Alternative Force of the Common (FARC) has appealed to local and international communities to mobilize in defense of the peace process.

The historic Peace Agreement, which had been negotiated in the Cuban capital, put an end to 60 years of armed conflict, in which over 260,000 Colombians lost their lives, eight million suffered internal displacement and dozens of thousands went missing.

Colombia: A Critical Scenario for Peace

HAVANA.- In recent decades, Latin America has experienced various social transformations that have benefited a considerable part of historically oppressed sectors of society. However, some issues are yet to be solved concerning African descendants and their full rights and inclusion.

This group largely consists of descendants of Africans enslaved during the slave trade, a shameful chapter in the history of mankind that dates back to over 400 years.

African descendants represent one fourth of the Latin American population, with over 90 percent concentrated in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Ecuador.

Although the number of Afro-descendants living in poverty decreased between 2002 and 2012 with the wave of progressive governments in the region, different studies reveal that this population group continues to face structural barriers that hinder their full social and economic inclusion.

According to a report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the number of Afro-descendants in the region amounts to 111

million inhabitants and noticeably accounts for the poorest sectors of each country.

Some reports sustain that the Afro-descendant people are 2.5 times more likely to live in chronic poverty than white or mixed-race people, receive less education and are more exposed to violence.

VARIABLES OF PENDING INCLUSIONWhile many factors have caused this

situation, ECLAC has warned that structural inequality is manifested in different spheres of development such as health, education and work.

Gaps can be seen in these sectors to the detriment of Afro-descendant populations, along with the combined effect of gender, generational and territorial inequalities.

wIn this regard, the World Bank offers some examples: The Afro-Brazilians that

finish elementary education can reduce chances of poverty by over nine percent, and if they complete their middle and junior high school, chances can be reduced by 16 and 23 percent, respectively.

However, the gaps in education prevail and only 64 percent of the Afro-descendants finish elementary school -compared to 80 percent of non-African descendants. In Uruguay, two in every three Afro-descendants drop out of middle school.

In 2017, this group represented only12 percent of adults with degrees in higher education in Latin America.

ACTIONS AGAINST A LONGTIME INJUSTICE

Regardless of national or regional peculiarities, the hierarchical and racist

structure of the colonial period determined that African descendants, together with indigenous people, had increasing disadvantages, unequal opportunities and lack of liberties, ECLAC acknowledged.

This panorama worsened with the suppression of Afro-descendants in the region, a process that also disregards the large contributions that this demographic has made to social and cultural development of Latin American countries.

Nonetheless, changes that are favorable to this social sector in the region can be perceived today.

There is greater recognition of African descendants thanks to various organizations and activists, countering a malevolent history of slavery and social exclusion.

With signs of change, ECLAC mentioned the inclusion of ethnic and racial variables in national statistics, which have not been reported in most countries since the first half of the 20th century.

Another positive element is that some countries have adopted policies such as affirmative action in the labor market and in academic institutions, awareness campaigns, anti-racist laws and the empowerment of a political representation of African descendants.

Incomplete Inclusion of African DescendantsBy VivianaDIAZ

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13ECONOMY

HAVANA.- One of the main courses of action the Cuban authorities have proposed to continue developing the country is to reduce its dependence on the import of goods.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has called to strengthen production throughout all sectors of the national economy, which “goes hand in hand with the dynamic nature of the tourist industry, in order to boost foreign investment and trade,” he said.

During a tour of the recently held Cuban Business Fair, the president referred to the need of changing the import mentality among businesspeople.

“The fair should be a tool for efficiency in everything we do, and when we make our plans, we have to look first at what we can produce in the country and then

import only that which we are not able to manufacture domestically,” he noted.

Díaz-Canel also highlighted that it is necessary for the industry to make progress and acquire new technologies.

The strengthening of the national industry and its integration into the rest of the productive processes in sight of replacing imports is a must, due to the increase of the tourist demand on the island.

The President also stressed that it is imperative to reduce costs in order to obtain higher profits, as well as providing producers with incentives to increase efficiency and quality.

The President has emphasized tourism, stating, “we are still importing many products that could instead be produced within the country. Regarding tourism, we have to further develop agriculture, renewable energy sources and advanced technologies.”

In this sense, “each institution must reassess its connection to the tourist industry, in order to meet its needs and high demands. We now have an open road of development and prospects,” the Cuban President affirmed.

“We must admit that we have been able to cope with difficult challenges like large-scale hotel restoration and maintaining demanding markets in several parts of the world.

However, the quality of products and services provided by some entities to the tourist sector fall short.

According to Cuban Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero, the Cuban sector recorded a cumulative growth of six percent, with 4.7 million tourists in 2018.

This set a record for Cuba as a destination, as it hopes to welcome over five million total visitors in 2019.

Different investments have been made in hotel infrastructure as well as to support the development of the tourist sector, including the construction of ports, gulf courses and theme parks.

A development plan until 2030 envisions the completion of 610 projects -176 of them with the support of foreign investment.

The proven potential of the tourist sector calls for an economy with stronger national industry and less dependence on foreign import.

Díaz-Canel has said that tourism is one of the most dynamic and highest grossing sectors of the economy, so it is likely to become the driving force for the country’s development.

Expanding Cuba’s National Production

By IvetteFERNANDEZ

HAVANA.- The new measures the United States has taken against Cuba don’t seem to be a major worry for foreign businesspeople, who bet on Cuba’s present and future potential.

Since the White House activated Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, on May 2, Cuba has hosted several events with the participation of numerous foreign companies, a sign of the prestige and confidence that the country inspires.

Title III allows U.S. citizens to file lawsuits against individuals or entities - including third party countries – who have invested in properties on Cuban territory nationalized after the triumph of the Revolution, on January 1, 1959.

In the face of such a threat, the Cuban government has repeatedly ratified its support for foreign companies that have capital in the national territory, under the protection of Foreign Investment Act 118 and the 1996 Act for the Reaffirmation of Cuba’s Dignity and Sovereignty.

Washington´s threats did not keep a group of British business executives from visiting Cuba recently to get first hand information on the island´s investment opportunities.

The delegation, made up of 28 executives from some 20 companies, was informed of the opportunities existing in several sectors, including agriculture, biopharmaceutical products, banking and renewable energy.

No doubt, the International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2019) was the most important event held in May in Cuba. This fair was attended by 7,567 tourism professionals from 53 countries, including 263 journalists.

The nations represented the most during this event – considered the biggest and best to date - included Spain (482 experts), Mexico (166) and Italy (106).

Two administrative contracts were signed as a part of the fair, which was held in the Cuban capital: the first with the Canadian corporation Blue Diamond and the second with the Cuban Gran Caribe company. Both entities will manage new hotels in Cayo Coco and Varadero. In addition, the Cueto and Vedado Azul hotels, both in Havana, have started their operations.

One of the highlights of the fair was the participation of 50 businesspeople from 26 U.S. companies, a real challenge to President Donald Trump’s unilateral policies.

Havana, a city that will celebrate its 500th anniversary next November, also hosted the International Restaurant Fair and Hotels and Tourist Services (HostelCuba 2019), which was attended by 120 exhibitors from about 20 countries.

“Foreign businesspeople are confident and trust in Cuba,” José Durán, an executive of the Chilean company MTG – with more than 20 years of experience working in Cuba – told The Havana Reporter.

“The country has great potential; we are confident and trust in this nation because of its huge potential,” he said during the event, held at the PABEXPO fair.

Conrado Padilla, director of the Spanish firm ECUS, also affirmed that Cuba “is a really promising market, where we can bring our products.”

Padilla stated that he was impressed by the large number of hotels currently being constructed in Cuba. That was the reason for his participation, for the first time, in HostelCuba: to promote ECUS’s leading product, mattresses, in addition to futons, headboards and other items.

In recent days, Havana was also the host of a meeting between businesspeople from Argentina and Cuba, in addition to the III Meeting of the Cuba-Bolivia Working Group for Economic Collaboration. Both events have ratified the importance Cuba places on its relations with the rest of Latin America.

Additionally, the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba hosted the EXPOCARIBE 2019 Commercial Fair a few days ago, another example of Cuba’s global expectations in spite of Washington’s attempts to isolate this nation.

The World Bets on Cuba Despite Washington’s Measures By RobertoCASTELLANOS

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Spanish Minister of Tourism María Reyes Maroto speaking at FITCUBA

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New Mechanism for Stronger Cuba-Caribbean TiesBy LiviaRODRIGUEZ

HAVANA.- The recently founded Caribbean Customs Organization (CCO), which is expected to begin operating at the beginning of 2020, stands outs as a new mechanism for stronger relations between Cuba and the region.

During the 41st Annual Conference of the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) held in Havana May 24-27, representatives from nearly 30 countries signed the agreement that gave birth to the organization. The document will be officially ratified in all of the regional countries during the remaining months of this year.

The creation of CCO includes Cuba as a member country, the first time an institution of this kind has fully incorporated the country.

Up until now, the island has been limited to the status of a guest country of CCICR because, as stipulated by some clauses, the unanimous vote of its members was required in order to welcome a new associate.

The United States has been using that provision to prevent Cuba from joining the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council.

When CCO starts to function next year, Cuban authorities can officially work with other countries to enhance the customs sector in the region.

The adjunct secretary general of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Ricardo Treviño, mentioned that Cuba is expected to contribute greatly to CCO, due to its demonstrated role of leadership in customs affairs.

The Caribbean country has been recognized for its active participation in WCO conferences and has had a significant impact on the region in the field of customs, he stressed.

Similarly, Treviño said that WCO is happy about the creation of the regional entity, as it provides the zone with a stronger legal basis.

It also represents a new and more effective cooperation mechanism between WCO and the Caribbean, he added.

In the meantime, Cuba’s Minister of Finance and Prices, Meisi Bolaños, noted that CCO will help strengthen the response mechanism, consolidate relations between the member countries and maintain and develop cooperation.

The creation of the organization is also a proof of the close relations Cuba has with other Caribbean countries. The historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, was the main promoter and supporter of those ties, Bolaños recalled.

For his part, the head of General Customs of the Republic of Cuba (AGRC), Nelson Cordovés, said that Cuba’s connection with CCO corroborates the international recognition of its good practices in customs affairs and its work to fight related crimes.

Cuba’s tireless fight against terrorism and drug trafficking in the region will be enhanced by the creation of the Caribbean Customs, he added.

Cordovés noted that it will allow for more effective coordination mechanisms in the region and greater cooperation between customs authorities.

The celebration of the CCLEC Conference in Havana for the first time recognizes Cuba’s work in the customs sector and, at the same time, encourages local customs authorities to work even harder, Cordovés stated.

Moreover, he thanked the Caribbean countries for supporting Cuba’s fight to lift the U.S economic, commercial and financial blockade and for the event’s large attendance.

During their stay in Cuba, members of the delegations that attended the CCLEC Conference talked with the Vice President of the Cuban Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas.

The participants of that meeting included: Menno Snel, the Dutch Minister of Finance, Taxes and Customs; Xiomara Ruiz-Maduro, Aruba’s Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Culture; Cornelius de Weever, Saint Martin’s Minister of Justice; and Kenneth Gijsbertha, the Finance Minister of Curacao.

The participants spoke about the Organization of Caribbean Customs and its impact on the cooperation of all Caribbean countries, including Cuba a sign of Cuban authorities’ increased interest in the event and its actions to expand ties between the Caribbean nations.

Ricardo Treviño Nelson Cordovés

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LIMA.- The most significant honor that Peru should aim for at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games is that of being a great host, offering a special touch of cultural identity to this extraordinary event.

Competitively speaking, the country is confident to win the same number of gold medals that it has won in all past games combined: eight, and hopes to exceed that figure.

Carlos Zegarra, an official from the Peruvian Institute of Sports (IPD), said some time ago that his fellow athletes could obtain 45 medals in total.

It seems that the low expectations are a result of the poor development of sports, the lack in participation and limited resources assigned to athletics in the country.

In many cases, the athletes are forced to look for the charitable support of companies, institutions and international opportunities. Sometimes, they have to resort to personal financial resources, if they have any.

Still, Peru’s athletics have real chances of winning gold medals in the marathon competition, thanks to figures like Inés Melchor and Gladys Tejeda (for women) and Christian Pacheco (for men), as well as women’s speed walking, with local experts betting on Kimberly García as the potential champion.

Tejeda, winner of many international competitions, was the marathon gold medalist during the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.

However, a doping test showed that she had involuntarily taken a prohibited substance. Hence, she was deprived of the medal and suspended for six months.

Shooting is another successful sport in Peru. This time, Alessandro de Souza is aiming for gold in the Trap event.

He confirmed his position as a top contender in the discipline during the 12th Championship of the Americas at the American Shooting Sport Federation held in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

In surfing, the Pan American hopeful is Benoit Clemente, as he recently won the World Championships held in Biarritz, France. The young Itzel Delgado also aspires for the title in stand up paddle boarding (SUP).

Stefano Peschiera and Paloma Schmidt aim for the gold in sailing, Natalia Cuglievan intends to repeat her water skiing feat in Toronto, and Felipe Franco Belmont also aspires for gold in water skiing, where he holds the U-23 world title.

In addition, Alejandra Grande is a gold-medal hopeful for Karate (Kumite), based on her gold medal in the Toronto games and silver medal in Guadalajara 2011.

HISTORYThroughout the 17 editions of the

Pan American Games, Peru has won eight gold medals in total; the first two in 1951 in Argentina, in the hands of sprinter Julia Sánchez and shooter Edwin Sánchez.

Then, 24 years later, Edith Noeding won gold in the 100-meter hurdle in the Mexico 1975 Pan American Games. In Caracas 1983, Carlos Hora became the gold medalist in shooting.

Alexis Carvajal gave a Karate gold medal to Peru in the Santo Domingo 2003 Games.

The last three were achieved in Toronto: Francisco Boza (shooting), Natalia Cuglievan (water skiing) and Alejandra Grande (karate).

Peru Sets Modest Expectations for Pan Am Games

By ManuelROBLES

HAVANA.- Many years ago Cuba had great potential in team sports. Both men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, handball and volleyball teams were always representing the country well at international events, from Olympic Games to world championships.

We still remember the three gold medals won by the women’s volleyball team in Barcelona 92, Atlanta 96 and Sydney 2000, and the world dominance of Cuban baseball. In spite of being a small island, Cuba won the respect of big nations with the best rankings in team sports.

However, the new century has not brought as glorious of times for Cuban display cabinets and shelves have been accumulating dust and spider webs. We can only appreciate the old trophies now; not one has been added recently.

Cuban sports have been experiencing a decline in performance throughout the 21st century. Disciplines that used to be the spearhead of the Cuban sport delegation began losing ground and stopped qualifying for the big events.

But today, a light can be seen at the end of the tunnel. Good news has arrived for Cuban sports fans –the ones that have

suffered the most- with the revival of national handball.

Handball was among the first sports to apply the policy allowing the reintegration of athletes that left Cuba and wanted to return to compete for their country. National team drafts have also elevated the level of the sport.

There has been so much trust placed on handball that it stands as the key team sport for Cuba, both women’s and men’s, during the Pan American Games in Lima at the end of July and the beginning of August.

The women’s team recently proved to be a good candidate for

the podium after the team went undefeated at the North American and Caribbean Championship (NORCA). They thus got the only slot for the World Championship to be held in the Japanese city of Kumamoto from November 30 to December 15, 2019.

The girls led by coach Jorge Koll was not the most popular team that went to Mexico but had been improving performance ever since they took bronze at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla 2018.

Prior, the men’s team had proved their abilities in the Colombian city of

Barranquilla, when they defeated all of their rivals to retake the title.

In April, the Cuban team won a slot for the Third Emerging Nations Championship held recently in Tbilisi, Georgia, where they won the silver medal. Coach Enrique Delisle´s team also went to this event as NORCA champions.

It is no secret that the Pan American Games of Lima now stand as the main event on the calendar for Cuban sports. In Lima, all sights will be set on the Cuban handball players, who will try to put a Cuban team back on top of the medal table.

By RaúldelPINO

High Hopes for Cuban Handball in Pan Am Games

Alejandra Grande

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