More Cuba facts

In March 2003, 75 dissidents were arrested and charged with sedition and threatening national security. The arrests took place during the invasion of Iraq and were not widely reported. Sentences of up to 28 years were handed down. The Castro regime has conceded some liberties to citizens and is trying to look progressive. By necessity, the government has welcomed joint ventures with foreign capitalists. Ironically, the resort here carries a book by Castro called Capitalism in Crisis. Since 1993, Cubans can legally hold U.S. dollars, although they are not allowed to earn them. It’s estimated that half of Havana’s population has a sideline in dollars. Because U.S. dollars are so valuable, maids, whores, and potato smugglers are much richer than teachers, doctors, and other professionals who do not have contact with tourists. For example, a teacher earns about 400 pesos or $16 a month. A maid can easily make that much in a day or two. Many Cubans anticipate what they call The Change, when their 77-year-old leader passes on. (source: January 2004 Readers Digest)