- Obama has not solved any problems for Cuba – Dagbladet.no

Alamar / Havana (Dagbladet): – Naturally, we have hope for the future, but so far has not Obama solved anything for us. It is far ahead. The blockade continues, and if Obama gets along Congress during his presidency, is uncertain. And we do not know what comes after, says Emerito Lores.

Dagbladet visiting suburbia Alamar a few mil outside the capital Havana to hear what they think about the future by Barack Obama’s opening for normal relations between the US and Cuba. Everyone thinks it is positive that the relations between the two countries is improving and that neighbors should be friends, not enemies.

Doubt change

But after more than 50 years hostility and blockade it takes little more than handshakes and fine speeches before confidence can be built. Many doubt the will of its own leaders, whether they really want to befriend the United States.

– My mother does not believe she will see any change in Cuba in their lifetime. Many people think that the authorities here do not really want the blockade to be removed. Lest their own incompetence for the day, says one woman.

Let Americans come!

Others are more optimistic, and hope the blockade is lifted.

– Let American tourists come here and spend your money here! We also want they invest here, said Mario Roy. He is retired military, now he has an administrative job in criminal justice. He Thinks Cuba are progressing slowly, but controlled.

Lores, also former military, is clear on that defense, revolution forces, must not be weakened. He has two children, one is a doctor, the other is studying medicine. Both have received free education.

– How is not in the US, says Lores, a member of the Communist Party.

Missing money

25 years old Leonel trained firefighter like his father. But he works as self-employed, “cuentapropista” refurbish and renovate houses. It provides twice as much in salary, equivalent to 40 dollars. He agrees with Emerito.

– I want to keep the system. But our major problem is finance. Money. Otherwise I have what I need in Cuba, he says. He believes Obama opening has given a lighter and less tense atmosphere in the country.

Lores believes the US blockade is the main explanation for Cuba’s economic problems, but not all. He is a member of the Communist Party and states that capitalism never again turn to govern Cuba.

But he does not deny that Cuba has many problems due to poor organization and leadership. He had to take early retirement and new job in agriculture in addition to get more money to spend.

– earnings was not enough to support his family, he explains. The job of chief of a state agricultural cooperative coupled with pension provides better livelihoods. But Lores does not deny that prices for goods and wages whatsoever hanging hop. Government salaries remained at similar 15-20 dollars a month. Rationing card for a month gives some basic goods reaching a week or two.

Missing technology

At the party congress in 2011 struck Raul Castro and Communist Party PCC firm that improvement of the economy is absolutely necessary to salvage the Cuban socialism, revolution. And to do it must imports down and exports up. Raúl has long been recognized that wages are insufficient to cover families’ basic needs. But to increase wages, the state must downsized, production and productivity must up.

A series of reforms in agriculture, including prolonged lease of government land, access for farmers to sell part of their crops whom they want to market, have so far had limited results. Cuba imports according to various estimates 60-80 percent of its food needs. Lores is not merciful:

– Instead import 80 percent of the food we need, it should be vice versa. We could produce 80 percent of the food, because we have the land, says Lores and turn out with your hands.

– We’ll rent a farm, but must buy all the equipment itself. In order to operate well, needed a tractor, two oxen, irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides. We do not get any of it. What we need, we must pay out of pocket. Such as this we come nowhere says Lores and shows its machete and his hoe.

The cooperative supplies food to schools, kindergartens and other public institutions in the capital. Without profits, it is not the money to invest in the necessary technology.

– There are too many governing agriculture as sitting in an office and have no knowledge of it, he says.