Castro makes good on promise; Cubans line up for computers
Commie computers
IT SEEMS THAT Raul Castro has made good on his promise to let the Cuban people gorge themselves on all things electrical, with home computers going on sale in Cuba for the first time ever this Saturday.
Last month, the lesser Castro, Raul, who took over from his either already dead or dying brother Fidel, announced that Cubans would soon be allowed to buy coveted electronic devices like computers, DVD players, mobile phones and even toasters. If, of course, they could afford to.
In typical Cuban style, the masses pressed their eager faces up against the shop windows, trying their very best to catch a glimpse of the shiny new desktops on sale at central Havana’s Carlos III shopping centre. In a country where many survive on about $15 a month, the $800 computers are well out of most people’s price range, but a lucky few have managed to stash some hard earned cash under their mattresses, whilst others with generous relatives abroad have also been able to splash out on a new machine.
This is the latest freedom for Cubans since just a few short weeks ago, when they queued in their thousands to snap up newly legalised mobile phones and DVD players.
But despite the excitement that toasters, microwave ovens and computers can generate, Cubans are still very much aware of the fact that they are not yet entirely free. Internet access, for example, is still heavily restricted to domains such as workplaces and educational facilities, and continues to be heavily censored.
The Cuban government claims that it is the US embargo that is to blame for the continual restriction of Web access, saying that the American administration prevents the island from connecting to giant undersea fibre-optic cables, forcing the Castro government to use expensive satellites instead, which have very limited bandwidth.
Not to fear, however, as Cuba’s knight in shining (oily) armor, Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's anti-US President, has said that he himself will be paying for the construction of a new fibre optic cable to be laid under the Caribbean, for absolutely nothing in return. Honest.
Either way, seeing as the new cable will most probably be quite a long time in the making, Cubans shouldn’t get too excited about all the freedoms of the Net just yet. They can enjoy their toaster ovens to their heart’s content though. µ
L’Inq
BBC
See Also
Cuba
allows sale of computers, DVDs, rice cookers and toasters
Comments
Good stuff going on in Cuba
All Cuba needs now is credit cards so they can buy all this cool stuff they can't afford. That's how the rest of the world does it.Freedom in Cuba
If Cuba is now opening up to democracy in permitting cell phones etc. when is the Bush Regime going to permit democracy in the U.S.? Isn't it about time that there was democracy in the U.S.? If not, why not?Get rid of the moron you call a president and get back into to democracy. If you want peace in the world make sure that you do not elect John Crazy McCain to the presidency.
Obama Hussein Barack, will get all of you back, on the road to peace and prosperity.
Cuba
Sorry Kenneth but the US is not a Democracy but a Democratic Republic...big difference. You might bash Bush now but there will come a day that you will thank him for what he does (or maybe not if you're so blind). Either way, Bush is a Leader and leads like he is suppose to do, a President is not meant to follow public opinion, he is to do what he feels is best for the country. I'm not saying he's perfect, but I respect him for doing what he says he is going to do where Obama would just cowardly hide behind public opinion or make new entilement programs that takes my hard earned money...Back on topic...This is all fine and dandy about Cubans being able to buy computers. But the fact of the mater is, the Cuban Embargo is NOT inplace because of the general population, but because of the leaders in power. Cuba has a LONG way to becomming a Democracy and I do not see it comming in my lifetime unless the cubans revolt. All Raul is doing is given the cubans bread crums to keep them appeased...