Cuba Journal 
Cayo Coco (or “Coco Key” in English) is an island in north central Cuba that is best known for its all-inclusive resorts. It is located in Ciego de Ávila Province and is part of a chain of islands called Jardines del Rey (“King’s Gardens”). The cay is administered by the Morón municipality and is named … Read more
Rules for sending money to Cuba (remittances) from the US have been relaxed for many years, but only recently have packages and gifts to Cubans been possible. In March, the first direct mail from the US to Cuba officially arrived at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana. It was first flight to carry U.S. direct … Read more
Cuba’s economy is largely state-controlled, with the government owning most means of production and employing a majority of the workforce. Key sectors of the island nation’s economy that generate foreign exchange include the export of professional services (largely medical personnel to Venezuela & Brazil); tourism, which has grown significantly since the mid-1990s, with 3.5 million … Read more
Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications for US President Barack Obama, said in an interview with Vice Media about Cuba, “For what ever reason, it’s easier to bomb another country than it is to engage another country.” July 20th marks the completion of the first year of restored diplomatic relations between the … Read more
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) approved FedEx’s uncontested application to become the first all-cargo airline to provide scheduled flights to Cuba. FedEx has thus far been the only all-cargo carrier to seek scheduled authority to Cuba. Beginning January 15, 2017, the company will commence once-daily Monday through Friday service between Miami, Florida and Matanzas, … Read more
Cuba’s original inhabitants were an Arawak people called Taino who became extinct following settlements by Spanish colonists. From its discovery by Columbus in 1492 until the Spanish-American War in 1898, Cuba was a Spanish colony. In the 19th century, the country became a major sugar producer, with slaves from Africa arriving in increasing numbers to … Read more
In 2011, Cuban scientists contacted Roswell Park Cancer Institute to discuss a vaccine Havana’s Centro de Inmunologia Moleculogia Molecular (CIM) had developed for potential use in treating advanced stage lung cancer and other cancers. After discussions that focused on the science as well as building trust, CIM and Roswell Park entered into an R&D partnership … Read more
Havana is filled with musical Cubans eager to delight any audience with the sounds and rhythms that make up the heartbeat of Cuba. The island nation spends 10% of its annual budget on education, compared with 4% in the United Kingdom and just 2% in the US. School attendance is compulsory from ages 6 – … Read more
The persistent news coverage about Cuba’s biotech and pharmaceutical sectors suggests there is a boom underway. The reality is not as expansive as the level of attention warrants, but there are several examples of credible collaborations that point to the potential for Cuba to contribute to the medical community. Here is one example. In 2011, … Read more
As part of a formal Memorandum of Understanding signed in Havana on July 9, The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and Cuban National Museum of Natural History (Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Cuba, MNHN) will collaborate on research, exhibitions, and education. The July 9 agreement follows a century of scientific collaboration between AMNH … Read more
