Archive for the ‘Translator: Karen vB’ Category

The Land of Easy Pickings

April 17, 2010 1 comment

Cuba, the island of the tropical climate and, as the group Los Aldeanos says in their song, “The land of the easy-to-reach-mangoes.” What happens here does not happen in any other place in the world. Can you imagine Obama telling the American people that he ignores how much the country spends on imports? Here that is normal and nothing happens.

The president of the Councils of State and Ministers, Raúl Castro, in his most recent speech, publicly acknowledged on national television that people would be awestruck if the Economy Bureau would report on the millions and millions of dollars spent on the import of beans of all kinds, which can be produced in this country. Good grief! Note that he only listed one example.

It seems that certain matters are not on the agenda of the highest representative of the Cuban government. In another part of the planet that comment would have cost him the presidency, in the next elections.

If the historical leadership, which for so long has held all the power of the State, does not know those details, then who is in charge and who controls the failed national economy?  What is the purpose of those who sacrificed for fifty years and who enjoy the honey of the power? We know that they have many titles and that because of their age, they cannot command them all. Fine, they should retire!

A leader with self-respect would never commit the imprudence to acknowledge to the world that he knows nothing of certain details of the management of the government. However, the tropical climate is too relaxing. The important stuff often turns into a joke and the insignificant is a matter of the State. The country is falling apart while the government pours all its potential in mistreating a group of women who march in silence through the streets.

Nevertheless, Mr. President and all the officials that follow him, can give themselves the luxury of talking like that, because all his problems in his home are solved. What does he care if the majority of the people he governs have no rice to eat? Much less if their salary will only last them the first five days of the month.

Laritza Diversent

Translated by: Mari Mesa Contreras and Karen vB


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