March 28, 2007

CORRUPTION IN MIGRATORY AFFAIRS

By Gilberto Figueredo

      Havana – In spite of the supposed vigilance and government migratory controls of the communist regime, dozens of Cubans abandon the island with the help of alleged state officers, involved in secret smuggling operations, who claim to have official connections with diplomatic personnel established in the capital, according to the ¨George Washington¨ Center of Social Studies and Investigations.

      By means of labor contracts illegally obtained, the emigrants, after paying large sums of money (between 5 and 10 thousand American dollars or European euros), travel, from the ¨José Martí¨ International Airport, to Canada, Netherlands, Spain, Germany and other countries from the old communist block.

      According to investigation accessed by Carta de Cuba, toe 58-year old Cuban citizen, Marsella Pereira Bordelais, living in 1013 San Lázaro Street, between Espada and Hospital, the migratory illegal operations are no problem, since she is being helped by a supposedly retired Coronel from the State Security, whom she calls José Ramón. This José Ramón –says Pereira- takes care of contacts with the alleged diplomats, in order to deliver the money and obtain the labor contracts and visas.

      A retired ex-combat pilot from the regime’s Armed Forces has taken the necessary steps to travel to Canada, also by means of a supposed labor contract. To Alvaro –the ex-pilot’s name- such procedures have cost him 8 thousand dollars, money sent by a daughter living in Miami.

      According to Alvaro’s wife, the arrangements for the trip began on last December, through a neighbor called Silvietta García Salazar, who lives in Alamar neighborhood and is only located by a cellular phone. In Cuba, to have such phones is the same as collaborating with the government. Supposedly this ¨state officer¨ can fix the necessary papers for the trip and guarantee the illegal departure toward some other destiny, which can be Canada or Spain. The government officers’ corruption seems to allow such kind of illegal transactions, which seems to be developing very lucratively in these last years.

DANGER OF TUBERCULOSIS

By Abel Escobar Ramírez

      Ciego de Avila – Hundreds of tuberculosis cases are turning up in the Ciego de Avila Province, according to reports by the local sanitary authorities. At the policlinics and Family Doctors Offices, more than sixty cases of tuberculosis infection have been reported, basically among children and adolescents. Notwithstanding the possibility of an epidemic, the media has kept silence. As informed by a health worker who preferred to remain anonymous, every day new cases are being detected. It’s quite alarming to see so many people with tuberculosis symptoms¨, admits a doctor named Escalona, who works at the provincial hospital.

      Tuberculosis was a disease practically eradicated in Cuba. It only appeared sporadically among the penal population. And it was justified due to the health conditions at the Cuban prisons. But now the so called extinguished disease is moving along the city streets. Health officers admit that the lack of hygiene at gastronomic establishments could be a factor for tuberculosis to contaminate persons going to such places, where light meals and sodas are being sold. ¨Here we don’t have detergents to wash the dishes… we only clean them with hot water¨, indicates Rogelio Mesa, manager of La Palma coffee shop, located in Republic Street, in Ciego de Avila.

FEAR OF LABOR LEGISLATION

By José Raúl García

      Santiago de Cuba – The introduction of new labor legislation has kept hundreds of workers worried in this eastern city. As recently explained by Carlos Lage –the so called third man in Castro’s nomenclature- the new labor legislation pretends to control the workers’ indiscipline and corruption at the working places. Among the different aspects of the proposal, the fulfillment of the labor journey is contemplated, as well as the entry and exit of workers, in time. Such matter has worried Lorenzo Aguila, who labors in the city’s railroads. ¨They are going to demand us to enter in time at the workshops, but there aren’t adequate transportation facilities that can guarantee you to be on the job in time. In Santiago, public transportation is almost inexistent. I come to work on a bicycle, and many times I’m late¨, pointed out Aguila, a 57-year old locomotive mechanic. The subject of corruption, or robbery, at the work site is another distressing matter. At the paste factory in town, more than 120 workers labor. The majority of them manage to take home a little wheat floor or oil, which is almost normal¨, expressed Ramón Ortiz, a security guard at the company. Every day, at the labor collective meetings, the syndicates are reading the new regulations. In an assembly which took place at the ¨Saturnino Lora¨ Hospital, nurse Zoila Araújo asked if with the new rules they were going to raise the workers’ salaries, as well. The union leader presiding the meeting only answered: ¨At this time, that’s not possible, comrade¨.

 

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