InfoAnda - Cubans enticed, bewildered by economic opening

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Displaced Christians want pope to help them return | 14 April 2009
'Details' still outstanding in new US arms treaty: Russia | 19 December 2009
Iran arrests Stuxnet 'spies' who hit atomic work | 2 October 2010

A chronology of Israel's relationship with Gaza | 29 December 2008

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Cubans enticed, bewildered by economic opening

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition World Cubans enticed, bewildered by economic opening AFP - 1 hour 18 minutes ago Send IM Story Print Cubans enticed, bewildered by economic opening HAVANA (AFP) - – Milagros, a typist, wants to know if she is allowed to use a computer or only her old typewriter, and Lazaro wonders whether the law will stop him from advertising the sale of cult candles and necklaces. As private enterprise bubbles up in Cuba after decades of official disfavor, Cubans have a million questions about how far they can go under the economic reforms being pushed by President Raul Castro, the first such overhaul in 14 years. "There is bewilderment -- a lot of people have the desire to act and not much knowledge of the new laws, because there were a lot of restrictions before," said Lazaro Mendez, who has been in business for himself for 26 years. "I worked alone because I wasn't allowed to have assistants," he added. Mendez is surrounded by the herbs, mortars and bowls in a store where he sells paraphernalia used in Santeria, the syncretic Afro-Cuban cult that blends Yoruba religious beliefs and Christianity. At the entrance to his shop, strategically located in the populous Cuatro Caminos neighborhood, one of his 10 employees is barking into a megaphone: "Candles for 3.50, necklaces for 10. Compare prices and see!" Next door, in a store five times smaller, Miriam Velazquez complains: "I don't understand this, he can use a megaphone, but the sector (police) chief won't let me play religious music as mood music. They'll take away the license I just took out to earn a living." What's allowed and what isn't? The confusion is so great that state-run Radio Rebelde recently turned over its microphones to Labor Ministry experts for several days to take questions from the public. Hilda called from Camaguez for guidance on what she can and can't sell in her snack shop. Maribel, a teacher from Granma, asks if she has to get permission from her school to moonlight selling sweets. Adrian from Holguin wants to know if he can let a sales assistant work alone in his shoe store from time to time. Despite the uncertainties, doubts and risks, 85,000 people have requested business permits since Castro authorized private ventures in 178 fields as an option for the 500,000 Cubans who face being laid off from the bloated state bureaucracy. But old habits die hard. In the licensing offices, government bureaucrats still ask for the burdensome paperwork once required of the few people given permission to go into business for themselves. So officials have taken to repeating over and over again to the public: "Two photos and an identity card. Nothing else!" Restaurants still produce menus that list only a fraction of the available dishes, a practice born from evading past prohibitions on serving certain prohibited items, like meat. And their caution is not gratuitous. Small businesses were abolished in 1968 by Fidel Castro, and only allowed back in 1993 to ease the economic crisis that swept Cuba after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The regime backpedaled in 2004, and many Cubans who went into business for themselves wound up giving up because of the onerous bureaucratic controls and the stigma of being known as potential capitalists. In pushing the latest wave of reform, Castro acknowledges that the times call for a change of mentality. "We must defend the interest of those who work on their own account, just as we do any other citizen," he said in a speech in December. "Erroneous and unsustainable concepts about socialism have to be transformed." At the same time, however, he warned that "the concentration of wealth will not be allowed." But Lazaro Mendez is undaunted. He has big plans for the entryway of his shop, where he exhibits images of Yoruba deities. Not satisfied with just a megaphone, he is getting ready to do something that until now has been prohibited in Cuba -- hang a sign that advertises: "Herbalist of 4 Caminos. Religious articles." Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - Sunday, January 23 Zsa Zsa Gabor out of hospital after leg amputation Reuters - Sunday, January 23 'Man on Wire' director takes chimp film to Sundance AFP - Sunday, January 23 At 83, Harry Belafonte still sings of justice Reuters - Sunday, January 23 Dutch director pursues Indonesian family at US fest AFP - Sunday, January 23 News Search Top Stories More than 40 injured in Algeria clashes Irish PM Cowen stands down as party leader New DNA experts in Knox murder appeal 'Inconclusive' Iran nuclear talks enter final day Obama vows to shift economy into overdrive More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Bank of America posts heavy losses New DNA experts in Knox murder appeal Obama vows to shift economy into overdrive Toshiba to build 'huge solar plant' in Bulgaria Obama to name GE chief as top jobs adviser More Most Viewed » More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Entertainment Photos Yahoo! News Network Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Sunday, 23 January 2011
Snap Analysis
Big powers leave Iran nuclear talks empty-handed
Karzai, MPs 'strike Afghan parliament opening deal'
More than 40 injured in Algeria clashes
Irish PM Cowen stands down as party leader
Ashton 'disappointed' as Iran nuclear talks end
Karzai backs down in dispute with Afghan lawmakers
Two die after blast rips through Russian shopping centre |
Lawmakers: Karzai to convene Afghan parliament
West African leaders move to starve Gbagbo of funds |
Italy court orders new DNA test in Briton's murder |
Australia beat holders Iraq to make Asian Cup semis
Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka, tweets pregnancy
Muslim killed and two injured in restive Thai south
Chinese money looks to invest in US
I've never had a salary raise: Indonesian president
South Korea aims for third in Winter Asiad
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Pakistan set to handle illegal refugees
Indonesia's Loan growth may slow to 19% in 2011: BI
Thai airports authority approves $130 m for noiseblighted residents
Indian state halts output at 23 iron ore mines
At 83, Harry Belafonte still sings of justice |
Google looks to its next decade
Afghan police commander killed by bomb
France urges resumption of Middle East peace talks
10 billionth download for Apple's App Store
Cowen resigns as party leader but remains Irish PM |
British expert says banks need major revamp
Portugal to re-elect president, boost for reforms |
Karzai backs down in dispute with Afghan lawmakers
Big powers leave Iran nuclear talks empty-handed |
MTV's "Skins" under fire for possible child pornography violations
New DNA experts in Knox murder appeal
Revolt-hit Kashmir under literary spotlight
Australia mulls cost of 'epic' floods
Sargent Shriver remembered for idealism at DC wake
Japan hepatitis B patients agree to $39 bln deal
Rare Sunda clouded leopard has two distinct types
Climate change: Dogs of law are off the leash
Australian honoured for Afghanistan battle
Cubans enticed, bewildered by economic opening
Cameron Meyer pips Goss to Tour Down Under crown
Zsa Zsa Gabor out of hospital after leg amputation
Fashion police on alert at Aussie Open
Wozniacki, Djokovic reach Aussie Open quarters
'Man on Wire' director takes chimp film to Sundance
US drone strike 'kills four militants in Pakistan'
At 83, Harry Belafonte still sings of justice
China weathers US storm, for now
APNewsBreak: Hawaii won't release Obama birth info
Dutch director pursues Indonesian family at US fest
Top Indian artist back on show, with more security
Missing boat with 5 Americans found in Philippines
Zsa Zsa Gabor out of hospital after leg amputation |
Teens charged in stolen vehicle crash that caused Hooter's Restaurant fire
Invasive lionfish lands in cookbooks and frying pans
Child pornography expert in hot water for manipulating images into child porn
Washington gives Tehran Freedom to harvest peaceful nuclear energy
Hillary Clinton Visiting Mexico On Monday To Discuss Bilateral Cooperation
EPA sued over its alleged inability to protect rare species from harmful pesticides
Wikipedia owns some WikiLeaks domains, but Assange won't take them over
Pentagon spends $193 Million in five years to expel gays
Giuliani considering 2012 White House run
NBC scores season rating highs with expanded Thursday night comedy block
Internet exhausting addresses, but no IPocalypse
Israel's Lieberman charts interim peace deal- report
Eurozone squares up to rescue fund re-design
Hezbollah chief to address Lebanon crisis
Afghan lawmakers drop Karzai court demand |
Spate of attacks kill eight in Iraq
Israel inquiry clears government and navy in Gaza ship raid |
Provisional results show South Sudan votes to secede
Rural poor rally in Tunis |
Afghan parliament deal brings protest, uncertainty
Egypt blames Palestinian Qaeda-linked group for bomb |
Brazil's landslide death toll reaches 803: report |
Israel's Lieberman charts interim peace deal: report |
Somali pirates could face S. Korea trial: report
Albania parties urged to resolve differences |
Haiti's Baby Doc is back: but for love or money? |
Scotland seeks to end 20-year US ban on haggis
Tennis: Federer through, Schiavone sets record
"King's Speech" reigns with Producers Guild award
Unusual destinations try to lure tourists
China banking giant confirms US plans
Google's Page brings change and questions |
Cellcom and Iway launch Internet system for cars |
China economy to grow 9.8% in 2011: think tank
Beef row threat to Taiwan-US trade talks: report
China to expand property controls: report
China adopts new rules to quell huge source of unrest
Regulators on the rack as Bangladesh stocks crash
S.Korean shipbuilder rolls out anti-piracy system
India to hike rates again over inflation worries
Prada: latest label to target booming China market
S.Korea says 35 firms to pour $7.8 bln in oil, gas reserves
King's Speech reigns with Producers Guild award |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01