Introducing Cuba through education, culture, healthcare system, political system, economy, and other facts.

1. El Ajiaco: introducing Cuba
today
Jorge G. Arocha, BD, PhD.
Adjunct professor, Faculty of History and Philosophy
University of Havana

2. What do you know about Cuba?

3. What do you know about Cuba?

4. What do you know about Cuba?

5. What do you
know about
Cuba?

6. What do you know about Cuba?

7. First impressions are important, but…

8. FERNANDO ORTIZ:
“The metaphor of the ajiaco
symbolize the formation of
the Cuban Culture”
Fernando Ortiz

9. GEOGRAPHY
 It has a total area of 110, 922 Km2, and has four additional
island groups: Los Colorados, Sabana Camagüey (Jardines del
Rey), Jardines de la Reina, and Los Canarreos.
 Seasons: Two, well defined. Dry from November to April; and
rainy from May to October.
 Most of the Cuban territory is flat (75%), with some low heights
and mountains.

11. POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION

12. NATIONAL SYMBOLS: The lone star flag
The Lone Star Flag

13. Coat of arms

14. On to combat, people of Bayamo
For the homeland looks on you proudly
Do not fear a glorious death
Because dying for the homeland is to
live.
To live in chains is to live
Plunged in affront and dishonor
Hear the sound of the clarion
To arms, brave people, to arms.
National
Anthem

15. THE NATIONAL FLOWER
Mariposa
Was used by
women for carrying
messages during
the 19th century
liberation wars

16. THE NATIONAL BIRD
TOCORORO

17. THE NATIONAL TREE
La Palma real

18. OTHER SYMBOLS…
The lines

19. THE NAME
The name Cuba comes from
the Taíno language;
however the exact meaning
of the name is unclear but it
may be translated either as
"where fertile land is
abundant" (cubao), or
"great place" (coabana).
CU
BA

20. RELIGION

21. • According to the constitution Cuba is a lay state that guarantees
equality before the law for all the religious manifestations, as well as
the right of every citizen to practice his or her religion of choice, to
convert to another, to practice more than one.
• Elements of the Catholicism, introduced by Spanish colonists, and of
African religious brought by the slaves brutally torn away from their
cultures, to which later were added elements of spiritualism.
RELIGION

22.  Education is free and mandatory up to ninth grade.
 Illiteracy was eradicated in 1961. (Literacy: 99.8%)
 There is a high level of instruction and the population has access
to a national system of education from day-care centers for the
children of working mothers, to primary, secondary, technical
schools and universities located all over the island. (Education
expenditures: 12.8 % of GDP)
EDUCATION

23. EDUCATION
Primary
Secondary
• Basic Secondary
• Technical / Vocational studies
Tertiary
• Diplomado courses
• MA, MSc
• PhD

24. • The lowest infant mortality rate in Latin America (4.5
deaths/1,000 live births).
• High life expectancy (78.7; male 76.4 years and female 81.1
years).
• Universal and free health care for all. (Health expenditures: 11.1
% of GDP)
HEALTH CARE

25. HEALTH CARE
• Family doctors and polyclinics in neighborhoods are part of a
primary network complemented by hospitals; dental clinics;
maternal, old age, and disable persons homes, among other
institutions.
• The country has also become a destination for health tourism
where many persons from abroad receive specific attention
and treatment.

26. INFORMATION/ COMUNICATION/
MEDIA
• Media: The government owns and operates 4 national TV networks and many
local TV stations; government operates 6 national radio networks, an
international station, and many local radio stations.
• Internet:
• Users: 3.432 million (Mostly from hotspots, hotels and institutions).
• Cost 1.50 CUC/ hour (38 CUP).
• From institutions access is free.
• The Package: Software, books, news, soap operas, TV series, films, magazines,
sports…

27. STATE AND GOVERNMENT
Council of State & Council of Ministers
National Assembly of PP
People’s Supreme Court

28. It is constitutionally depicted as a
Marxist-Leninist “socialist state guided
by the principles of José Martí, and the
political ideas of Marx, the father of
communist states, Engels and Lenin.”
CUBAN CONSTITUTION

29. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PEOPLE’S POWER
NATION
PROVINCES
MUNICIPALITIES

30. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PEOPLE’S POWER
1. 609 members serve five-year terms.
2. The assembly meets twice a year.
3. Article 136 states: "In order for deputies or delegates to be considered
elected they must get more than half the number of valid votes cast in the
electoral districts".

31. President
1st Vice-
President
5 Vice-
Presidents
Secretary
23
members
Council of State
elected by the
National Assembly of
the People’s Power

32. Council of Ministers
nominated by the
President of the
State
President
1st Vice-
President
Vice-
Presidents
Members

33. The current Constitution also
attributes the role of the
Communist Party of Cuba to be
the “leading force of society and
of the state”; as such, it is entitled
to putting forward national
policy.
PCC: Partido Comunista de Cuba

34. Raúl Castro is the current
President of the Council of
State, President of the
Council of Ministers, First
Secretary of the Communist
Party, and Commander-in-
Chief of the Revolutionary
Armed Forces.

35. The Lineamientos de la política económica
y social del partido y la Revolución
The Lineamientos serve as a basis for
reordering the failing economic
framework within Cuban socialism.
Although the Lineamientos focus
predominantly on economic reform
and also address the forms of
economic organization.

36. CUBAN ECONOMY
 The Cuban state claims to adhere to socialist principles in
organizing its largely state-controlled planned economy.
 The average monthly wage is 740 Cuban pesos = $ 30
 Dual currency system: CUC & CUP

37. RATIONING BOOK
PRODUCT QUOTA/MONTH/
CONSUMER
PRICE CUBAN PESOS EQUIVALENT IN USD
RICE 5 POUNDS 1.25 PESOS 5,12 CENTS
2 POUNDS 1,80 PESOS 7,5 CENTS
BEANS 10 OUNCES 50 CENTS 2,08 CENTS
SUGAR, WHITE 3 POUNDS 45 CENTS 1,87 CENTS
SUGAR, BROWN 1 POUND 10 CENTS 0,41 CENTS
COOKING OIL ½ POUND 20 CENTS 0,83 CENTS
EGGS 5 UNITS 75 CENTS 3,12 CENTS
COFFEE 4 OUNCES 4.00 PESOS 16,67 CENTS
CHICKEN 1 POUND 70 CENTS 2,91 CENTS
MILK 1 LITER/DAY/CHILD 7.50 PESOS 31,25 CENTS
BABY FOOD 13 UNITS 3,50 PESOS 14,58 CENTS

38. RATIONING BOOK
PRODUCT QUOTA/ CONSUMER PRICE CUBAN PESOS EQUIVALENT IN USD
SOYA YOGURT 3 l/WEEK/CHILD<13 36.00 PESOS 1,50 USD
BREAD 80 GRAMS/DAY 5 CENTS 0,2 CENTS
PASTAS 400 GRAMS 80 CENTS 0,33 CENTS
MILK (DIETS) 1 Kg 2,50 PESOS 10,41 CENTS
MORTADELA ½ POUND 1.50 PESOS 6,25 CENTS
FISH 11 OUNCES 70 CENTS 2,91 CENTS
SALT 1 Kg 35 CENTS 1,45 CENTS
MATCHES 1 BOX 10 CENTS 0,42 CENTS

39. COST OF FOOD PROVIDED THROUGH RATIONING BOOK IN
NOVEMBER 2015
IN CUBAN PESOS IN USD
CONSUMERS OVER 13 YEARS OF AGE 17,20 0,72
CONSUMERS UNDER 7 YEARS OF AGE 28,20 1,17
CONSUMERS FROM 8 TO 13 YEARS OF AGE 53,20 2,21
PIZARRA PRECIOS SUPERMERCADO DE 26 Y 41, NUEVO VEDADO, PLAZA, LA HABANA

40. COST OF LIVING
Telephone billGas billWater bill

41. COST OF LIVING
Electricity bill

42. 0
20
40
60
80
100
1981
2006
2013
2015
91.8
78
77
72.3
8.2
22
23 27.7
State & Private Sector in Cuba (1981-2015)
State Sector

43. GDP - composition, by sector of origin
4%
23%
73%
Agriculture
Industry
Services

44. Cuban immigration (Pew Research Center)
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
45000
50000
FY2014 FY2015 FY2016
Number of Cubans entering the U.S

45. CHALLENGES
 What is socialism? Is it possible in the current conditions? Prosperous +
Sustainable.
 State sector and Private Sector.
 Raúl Castro: To fight the Overextended bureaucracy and corruption.
 Ending the two-currency system. Elimination of the Convertible Peso
(CUC).

46.  Media and communication policy.
 The future of the cultural/artistic… heritage.
 Independence, Sovereignty and Self determination.
CHALLENGES

47. Hasta pronto
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