US-Cuba Sister Cities Association
[home] [what's new] [sister index] [events] [search] [e-newsletter] [USCSCA newsbits] [Cuba News]

Testimonial, 6/21/01

Dear Friends:

I send a brief note to tell you that I just returned from a three week visit to Cuba after 40 years. I was 12 years old when I left, and though not much has changed physically, much has changed ideologically.

Needless to say, the Cuban people were hungry to hear what US citizens have to say about their country. There is so much miscommunication on both sides that it is hard to know where to begin. 

One of the most interesting developments is the institution of a republic system of democracy. Every neighborhood elects a representative who then becomes a voting member of the next level of government and so on, until the president (Fidel Castro) is finally elected by the "asamblea." The flaw is that it is only a one party system, not unlike the PRI in Mexico was for many years. The communist party continues to dominate the ideology of the evolution of the country.

I found the people well dressed and fed. There is no visible poverty, though there is no one who displays "being rich." It is evident that everyone is educated and medically cared for. The country has huge problems with transportation, and that makes food inaccessible to varying parts of the population. They have recently opened the country to tourism, and that has given it an economic boost. This, however, brings the usual worldwide problem of prostitution (the Cuban woman is gorgeous and sexy)! And hustling. 

The second largest source of dollars is foreign aid from families is the US. It is estimated that 86% of the Cuban population receives some form of aid from a relative in this country. 

I had some moving personal experiences as I revisited the homes in which I spent my childhood, as well as the school I attended. I was amazed by how much my memory had unconsciously retained. 

I also went as a representative of the Santa Fe/Cuba Sister City association to the city of Holguin, where I met with officials in the hopes of expediting this endeavor. The people of Cuba seem most eager to have the embargo lifted, and that more open relations will benefit both countries. 

Holguin is a town that has turned into a city. The people have a "folksy" appearance, shy and withdrawn until you get to know them. The City is rich with heritage and tradition. It is suspected that the native village on that site was the first visited by Columbus when he first landed in the Americas. It was inspiring to visit the bay where he disembarked. 

Cuba is as beautiful as its music and its art depict. Hopefully, our country will soon allow open travel so that everyone may experience such beauty and passion.

Un fuerte abrazo,

Bernardo Monserrat
President
Santa Fe-Holguin Sister City Project
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Kick off meeting, 4/2/01

A meeting was held in Santa Fe, Monday, April 2, 2001 to consider city sisterhood between that New Mexico city and Holguin, Cuba. The committee of 15, gathered at the Santa Fe City Council Building to hear a presentation by the Carlos Balin~o Institute which included video, color slides and a written report on the history, geography, climate, culture, economy, education and health in Holguin province.

The audience liked the fact that Holguin's Bariay beach was the spot of Columbus' landing in 1492. They also liked that this area of Cuba is the richest in anthropological findings of early Taino native civilizations (native descendants still live in the area and practice their culture). Both facts make Santa Fe and Holguin perfect historical (and cultural) matches.

The committee unanimously accepted to work for sisterhood with Holguin.

The city of Holguin (capital of Holguin province) has a population of 242,000 . Since the triumph of the Revolution in 1959, Holguin manufactures the nation's mechanical equipment for the sugar industry. The region is a leading world exporter of nickel with major mining at Moa. Holguin also has the fastest growing ecotourism industry in Cuba with a major hotel resort at Guardalavaca Beach.

Holguin city was founded in 1525 by Captain Garcia Holguin. The Pilgrimage of the Cross had been a traditional festivity in Holguin but was gradually abandoned since the early 50's until the Cuban government revived it in 1993.

More information on the region (including photos) is available upon request to CBIACS at cana11@juno.com

CBIACS 
Cubans Abroad in Support of the Homeland & Revolution

Send mail to CompanyWebmaster with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000 CompanyLongName
Web services donated by AfroCubaWeb
Last modified: June 11, 2004