“Now with the Americans coming, it will mean a better life”, said Reinaldo Peres, 42, a waiter in central Havana.
Advertisement
Obama has said he wants to cement ties with Cuba so that whoever follows him as president could not reverse the policy change.
“He’ll be meeting with Raul Castro as the President of Cuba”, Rhodes continued.
“We feel that the Cuban economy, and the public sector companies comparative to non-state companies can all be part of the effort to develop these relations”.
Mr. Sanchez was detained Saturday at the Havana airport upon returning from Miami with his wife. Cuba’s government restricts Internet access to the vast majority of its 11 million residents, meaning most people get their news from relatives living overseas, visitors to the island, pirated Internet signals and weekly compilations of news and entertainment passed around on digital memory sticks. Several Republican candidates, including front-runner Donald Trump, have said they would close the newly reopened U.S. Embassy and take a tougher line with the Cuban government. Some say the opening was designed exclusively for US companies to squeeze as much money out of Cuba as possible.
Dissidents called for Mr Obama to promote “radical change”, notably a “stop to repression and use of physical violence against all political and human rights activists”.
Mr Obama and Mr Castro agreed in December 2014 to end decades of frozen relations that began when Cuba’s revolution overthrew a pro-US government in 1959.
Vidal said that Cuban officials hope whoever is the next president will continue Obama’s policy of engagement.
“With Cuba’s rich history, natural beauty and strong culture, there is no question the entire USA hospitality industry has watched Cuba with great interest, and we are thrilled to lead the charge and bring our sophisticated, high-end brands into the market at this inflection point”, said Thomas Mangas. The economic embargo and travel restrictions are still in place, and can be lifted only by Congress. The closure of Guantanamo Bay is high on the list of Cuban demands. “Unfortunately, it is doubtful that the president will bring up the need for reform during his visit”.
Cuban law prevents widespread direct hiring of Cuban workers by foreign firms.
During the president’s three-day tour of Havana, he is scheduled to have a working meeting and state dinner with Castro, but not his brother Fidel Castro, the founder of the Communist revolution. He will give a speech at the Grand Theater of Havana – carried on Cuban television. Who’s this?’ the president deadpans.
On Tuesday, the Obama administration removed the last meaningful restrictions on travel to Cuba, announcing that it would allow individuals to visit the island for “people to people” educational trips.
The startup, which pairs vacationers and other travelers with short-term home rentals, was previously only licensed to to do business in Cuba with USA travelers.
-Allowed Cuban citizens to start earning salaries in the United States without having to start the immigration process, as long as they don’t pay special taxes in Cuba.
“Well, I’m looking forward to it. The American people and the Cuban people are friends”, Obama replies.
Advertisement
In a reminder of how tightly Cuban society is still controlled, the Castro government announced a virtual shutdown of Havana during Obama’s stay. Gesturing at her worn-out sandals and soft drinks for sale, she added, “All this is here, in this country, and the United States is way over there”.
