Artículos relacionados con las elecciones, la cultura y el turismo destacan en el número dos del mes de febrero del periódico The Havana Reporter, que también aborda temas regionales como la política de Estados Unidos hacia Venezuela y el tráfico humano. En esta edición, con fecha 26 de febrero, se analizan además la frágil paz de Colombia y la brecha salarial como obstáculo en el camino hacia la igualdad de género en América Latina y el Caribe.

1. HavanaReporter
YEAR VIII
Nº 4
FEB 26, 2018
HAVANA, CUBA
ISSN 2224-5707
Price:
1.00 CUC
1.00 USD
1.20 CAN
Y O U R S O U R C E O F N E W S & M O R E
A Bimonthly Newspaper of the Prensa Latina News Agency
©THE
Photo Feature
Sierra Maestra, Ideal
Spot for Hikers
Colombia’s Fragile Peace
P. 11
P. 12
British Portraits on Display in Havana
Culture
P. 6
Latin America
International Drum Beats to
Move Havana in March
P. 7

2. President: Luis Enrique González.
Information Vice President: Hector Miranda.
Editorial Vice President: Lianet Arias
Chief Editor: Luis Melian
Translation: Dayamí Interian/ Sean J. Clancy/Yanely
Interián
HavanaReporter
THE
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E-mail: thehavanareporter@prensa-latina.cu
2 TOURISM
HAVANA.- Cuba’s and particularly
Havana’s capacity to cater to the culinary
demands of visitors from all around the
world has notably improved.
Culinary experts are conducting
studies to offer tourists the best of Cuban
cuisine and chefs are adapting traditional
recipes to suit different tastes.
Cuban food is often very greasy and
quite sweet, something European visitors
in particular don’t like.
Having tasted Cuba´s most traditional
dishes just once, vacationers generally
opt for meals closer to what they are
accustomed to eating elsewhere.
Cuban chefs and food industry
specialists are now trying to revive
common Cuban recipes for visitors and
have recently conducted research and
launched books that give advice on the
topic.
A visit to Cuba inevitably means
coming into contact with its cuisine, so
it can be reassuring to know that dishes
-- from the simplest to the most refined --
are prepared by high-level professionals.
And given that tourism and food go
hand in hand, many guests are interested
in learning about Cuba’s culinary stars.
The Federation of Culinary
Associations of the Republic of Cuba
(FACRC) is a professional body with
a presence in the tourism sector that
considers the preparation of dishes an
essential element in understanding the
country’s culture.
Andgiventheleadingrolenowplayed
by wines in global cuisine, Cuban chefs
and other specialists are now frequently
spotted at international fairs.
FACRC was first established in 1972,
and in 1981 the initial founders were
joined by other Cuban culinary sector
specialists, all of which comply with Act
1320 -- converted to Act 54 -- covering
associations that exist in the country.
FACRC is a member of the World
Association of Chefs Societies (WACS)
which has 67 associated countries.
FACRC’s plan of action includes
contacting and visiting other countries
and participating in international events.
The federation is also a member of the
Latin American and Caribbean Culinary
Federation (FEDECALC).
The Cuban association has 25
thousand male and female members
from 15 national organizations, and
covers all aspects of the culinary sector.
Cuba’s Food Day
Food industry spokespersons have
described Cuban Food Day as the best
opportunity to become familiar with the
country’s culinary traditions.
Since 1984, Cuba has celebrated this
day on October 18. On that date, a Cuban
culinary team won a Gold Medal at the
Culinary Olympics in Frankfurt, Germany.
The Culinary Olympics are organized
every four years by the World Association
of Chefs Societies, to which Cuba
belongs.
Gold Medal Cuban Cuisine
Text & Photos by TinoMANUEL

3. 3CUBA
HAVANA.- Visitors on vacation
in Cuba at the moment might
not be aware that general
elections are set to take place on
the island on March 11th.
Biographical information
and passport style photos of
the candidates to the provincial
assemblies and the national
parliament are on display
in public places – such as
supermarkets and drugstores
– indicating that the process is
underway.
Cuba’s electoral system –
unburdened by satirical canvass
posters, political maneuvers and
expensive propaganda – works
without the injection of funds
that favor any one candidate
over another.
The system is designed to
select candidates who can best
represent the people based
on their personal merits and
past experience. Candidates
are combatants, doctors,
workers, engineers or self-
employed, united by a common
commitment to their homeland,
a public service vocation and
their personal merits.
The second phase of Cuba’s
general elections follows a
preliminary phase that was
conducted late last year, which
the Island´s authorities report
was successful.
The 2017-2018 elections
covered all 168 People’s Power
Municipal Assemblies (city halls)
with delegates elected from a
list of candidates proposed by
the people that initially included
over 27 thousand names.
Cuban citizens over the age
of 16 have the right to vote,
propose, and nominate, as well
as be nominated themselves.
BACKGROUND
History records describe
Cuba’s elections during the
neocolonial period as plagued
by corruption and political fraud.
Opposition candidates were
sometimes murdered, while
soldiers and police prevented
voters who opposed the
government from exercising
their right.
In 1974, the Cuban
government conducted a pilot
project in the western province
of Matanzas to create local
People’s Power institutions.
The study formed the basis
for the drafting of a proposal on
a structure to be implemented
nationwide.
April 10, 1975, marked
the beginning of a process
examining a draft of the
Constitution of the Republic of
Cuba in which over six million
Cubans took part.
This Magna Carta initiative
was proposed in a popular
referendum on February 15,
1976, and approved by 98
percent of the voters. On
February 24 of that same year,
the constitution came into
effect.
The first formal elections
since January 1st, 1959, were
held in 1976 when leaders of
the People’s Power Municipal
Assemblies were elected.
In October 1992, the
Parliament unanimously
adopted a new Electoral Law
establishing a direct and secret
voting process in national and
provincial elections, following
a proposal from the Fourth
Congress of the Communist
Party held a year earlier.
CUBA’S 9TH LEGISLATURE
During an extraordinary
session last January 21,
the nation’s 168 People’s
Power Municipal Assemblies
nominated 605 candidates to
the People’s Power National
Assembly (Parliament) and 1,265
to the provincial assemblies.
These candidates were
selected from more than 12
thousand nominees from 970
national and territorial meetings
of representative organizations,
including the Cuban Worker
Federation (CTC); the Cuban
Women Federation (FMC); the
National Association of Small
Farmers (ANAP), the University
Student Federation (FEU)
and the High School Student
Federation (FEEM).
Onceconcluded,candidature
commissions commenced a
comprehensive consultation
process in institutions,
organizations and workplaces
to hear people’s opinions on the
candidates.
Between January 5 and 14,
the 12,515 district delegates
elected during the first stage of
this process had been consulted
on the proposal of provincial
delegates and parliament
members from their territories.
Elections in Cuba are almost
upon us and on April 19 the
Parliament of the 9th Legislature
will be convened.
The nation’s president, Raul
Castro, reiterated in public that
he “will have concluded [his]
second and last mandate as
Head of State and Government,
and Cuba will have a new
president.”
Fidel Castro, the historical
leader of the Cuban Revolution,
once said that the nation was
“Fortunate not to have copied
but to have drafted an original
Constitution based on how
elections should be conducted
in our own country.”
He also said that “everybody
understands that our system is
very democratic and in effect,
it is more democratic than
all others applied, either in
socialism or capitalism.”
Fidel Castro added that
the principle of the people
nominating and electing their
candidates was being put into
practice for the first time.
FACTS ABOUT THE
FORTHCOMING PARLIAMENT
287 of the 605 candidates are
already district delegates; that is,
47.4 percent.
It was taken into
consideration when selecting
candidates that all of the
country’s municipalities
were represented by at least
two members -- one being a
municipal delegate -- to ensure
that the interests of every
locality are represented at the
State’s supreme body.
This current legislature will
have a turnover of 55.8 percent
– 338 candidates are being
proposed for the first time to
assume the responsibility of
serving and defending the
people’s interests.
148 of the 267 candidates
(morethanhalf)whohavealready
served as parliament members
have served only one mandate.
80candidates--13.2percentof
the total -- are between 18 and 35
years old and 89.25 percent were
bornafterJanuary1st,1959,giving
the pool an average age of 49.
Candidates are Appointed on Merit
Texy & Photos by DeisyFRANCIS
CUBA-ELECTIONS

4. 4 U.S.- LATIN AMERICA
HAVANA.- Recent statements
on Venezuela by U.S.
government officials and
legislators make experts fear
that Washington is mounting a
final attack to attain a “regime
change” in the South American
nation by any means, including
the use of force.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex
Tillerson launched a harsh attack
on the Bolivarian nation and
openly incited overthrowing
president Nicolás Maduro by any
meansduringapressconference
conducted in Austin,Texas, a day
before the beginning of his tour
of Latin America.
As a follow-up to those
remarks, U.S. Republican senator
Marco Rubio reiterated on
February 9 the disrespectful
expressions against the Caracas
authorities in a series of tweets
in which he stated his support
for a military coup against
Maduro.
Rubio’s statement came
shortly after Trump’s message
last August, when he said that he
would not ‘rule out the military
option’ to face the Venezuelan
crisis, something that was
rejected by other countries in
the region.
During a senate hearing
held on February 13, Director of
National Intelligence Daniel R.
Coats predicted that economic
difficulties and international
diplomatic pressure will put
the Venezuelan government in
a tougher situation this year,
which will cause an increase in
emigrants to the United States
and other countries of the
region.
But the siege against
Venezuela has other
peculiarities. Maduro recently
revealed concrete evidence
provided by a very reliable
source about a US plan aimed
at provoking confrontation and
threatening peace between
Venezuela and Colombia.
Canada also decided to join
the political and propaganda
maneuvers. Canadian Foreign
Affairs Minister Chrystia
Freeland stated their support
for the decisions made by the
Lima Group, an entity opposed
to Caracas and composed
of Argentina, Brazil, Canada,
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico,
Panama, Paraguay and Peru.
The Peruvian government,
the host country of the Summit
of the Americas– to take place in
April –decided to withdraw the
invitation previously extended
to Maduro to participate in the
event.
All these hostile actions are
part of a scenario that is typical
of the Non-Conventional War,
and which includes elements
of domestic subversion, slander
campaigns and the encouraging
of discontent and violent actions
on the part of the opposition.
The movement of the
Colombian troops on the border
with Venezuela and the recent
visits of senior U.S. military
officials to Colombia –including
the head of the Southern
Command, Admiral Kurt Tidd–
are also part of the plan. For
that reason, the Venezuelan
authorities denounced the
mounting of military action.
Nevertheless, in recent
weeks the major U.S. media
outlets have tried to paint
a chaotic representation of
the South American country
through editorials and articles
included in newspapers such
as The Washington Post, The
New York Times, The Wall Street
Journal, and others.
These newspapers combine
concrete facts about the
situation in the country with
malicious projections aimed at
creating a negative opinion of
Caracas.
Some experts consider that
the next steps would be aimed
at increasing domestic tensions
by carrying out acts of economic
sabotage and civil uprising, so as
to provoke violent actions on the
part of the government and thus
show the world that the local
authorities suppress the people.
That would precede a potential
“humanitarian” intervention,
with the participation of troops
from neighboring countries – a
possibility some experts consider
very difficult, as an action of this
type is categorically rejected
by the Latin American and
Caribbean governments and
peoples.
Specialists interviewed by
The Havana Reporter foresee
strong economic sanctions,
including a potential and
limited war action against the
Venezuelan people and the
armed forces, as a gesture of
despair by the White House.
However, although a high-
magnitude aggression cannot
be ruled out, this would have
a high political and economic
cost and would need a huge
military operation – difficult
to be justified in the eyes of
the U.S. public opinion. Such
an aggression would hence be
preceded by a slander campaign
on the Venezuelan leadership
with the purpose of convincing
and persuading the people, a
processthatisalreadyunderway.
USA against Venezuela: Non-
Conventional War or Aggression?
By RobertoGARCÍA
PresidenteMADURO

5. HEALTH & SCIENCE 5
HAVANA.- The brain-science
relationship is one that has
revolutionized the 21st century,
transforming not only medicine
but also technology and
computer sciences worldwide.
Neuroscience studies
the nervous system’s
structure, chemical function,
pharmacology and pathologies,
andhowallitsdifferentelements
interact with each other.
However, all this goes far
beyond biology to establish
relationships with the new
technologies.
Cuba has an important
position in terms of
neuroscience. In fact, the
National Neuroscience Center
(CNEURO) founded in 1969
was one of the world’s first
institutions to use computer
sciences to analyze the electrical
activity of the brain.
Today, this center maintains
collaborative relationships with
different countries.
One of its main projects
nowadays is the China-Cuba
Laboratorywithofficesinthetwo
countries.Itslong-termobjective
is to create an atlas of digital
electroencephalography(EEG);
that is to say, an international
database accessible to experts
from both countries.
In order to enhance this
alternative even more, China
and Cuba, together with the
Quebec government (Canada)
launched a funded scholarship
program for cooperation in the
field of brain research.
Known as CCC (which stands
for the first letters of all three
countries), the project aims at
promoting access to data in
order to study biomarkers of
different population groups.
Chinese neuroscientist
Qing Wang, a member of the
Cuba-China Laboratory, told
The Havana Reporter that
this alliance will result in a
big platform grouping all the
databases connected with
neurosciences, with different
tools for brain analysis available.
Therefore, users will be able
to explore a large amount of
medical information, analyses
and brain images for their
research activities, Wang said.
Cuba,ChinaandCanadahave
big databases. “But now we are
working to bring them together
and have more information for
the three countries’ research
projects,”Wang explained.
CNEURO director Pedro
Valdés told The Havana
Reporter that Cuba’s
participation in neurosciences
megaprojects opens doors for
the Cuban medical, scientific
and technological fields.
The only way for
neuroscience achievements
to change the global trend in
diseases is by making them
accessible to primary healthcare
centers and the people, he
commented.
This is why the Cuban
experiences have attracted
so much attention, especially
since the brain mapping project
was developed in 2004, Valdés
highlighted.
The Cuban Neurosciences
Center enjoys international
recognition for developing
medical projects of social impact
connected with disabilities
caused by neural malfunction.
The introduction of
methods for early detection
of hearing loss in children and
the use of the cochlear implant
technology feature among its
achievements.
Its role in epidemiological
studies on learning disorders
and students’ behaviors are
worth mentioning as well, as
they have made significant
progress in the field.
Cuba & Neuroscience Megaprojects
By BettyHERNANDEZ

6. HAVANA.- A new exhibition at
the National Fine Arts Museum
reminds us of the most important
contribution made to history by
the British School of Painting: the
portrait.
The temporary exhibition
entitled The British Face: The
Change in the 18th Century
Portrait and open to the public
untilApril30,andwasinaugurated
with the attendance of Lesley
Saunderson, Deputy Head of
Mission at the British Embassy
in Cuba, the museum director’s
Jorge Fernández Torres, among
other guests.
Portrait painting became a
tradition in England in the late
17th century but it was not until
the 18th century that it reached
its crucial moment.
The English industrial
revolution in the second half
of that century changed the
social balances and allowed for
a new relationship between the
bourgeois classes and culture.
Previously limited to the
aristocracy and the clergy
only, the portrait soon became
accessible to the middle classes
and the exaggerated poses were
transformed into images more
connected with the reality.
Curator Carlos Vicente
Fernández told The Havana
Reporter that once the National
School of Painting became
consolidated, the British artists
developed certain formal and
conceptual codes for the portrait.
The portrait has been
historically considered a genre
of the social elite, because the
individuals want to somehow
perpetuate their image while
showing their social status,
Fernández noted.
“Theportraitcodesintroduced
by the British artists allowed to
highlight visual concepts such as
elegance and social standing,” he
added.
All these new conditions were
very welcomed by contemporary
painters and, above all, by the
19th century artists, the curator
stated.
Set in this context, the
exhibition comprises 18 works
by painters such as Thomas
Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds,
George Romney and Godfrey
Kneller.
Fernández explained
that the process to select the
pieces took into consideration
the chronological order, the
importance of the artists and
aesthetic quality.
The works on display at the
temporary hall on the fourth
level of the Universal Art Building
give viewers the opportunity to
appreciate portraits that could
not be exhibited at permanent
halls for lack of space.
The restoration process
included repainting, the removal
of rusty varnish and other
techniques typical of this artistic
manifestation. This complex
process had the support of
experts with the National Fine
Arts Museum’s Restoration
Department.
“The objective of my
exhibition is to show, in a
didactical way, the British style of
making portraits during the 18th
century, “he added.
In order to understand the
exhibition, it is necessary to recall
two major phases, the curator
explained.
“Beforethe(Cuban)revolution,
private art collectors preferred
the works made in countries
such as France, Italy or Spain.
However, others were attracted
by the British art. It is to those
collectors that we own much
of the British art collection we
have in our museum. In a second
phase, after 1959, it formed part
of the country’s public heritage,”
Fernández said.
The exhibition aims at
highlighting the development
and importance of portrait in
England during the 1700s.
In the era of the selfies,
rescuing the gold age of portrait
shows us how important is to
respect the past to create good
universal art.
British Portraits from the 18th
Century on Display in Cuba
Text & Photos by RachelPEREDA
6 CULTURE

7. HAVANA.- Dedicated this year to Brazil,
the 17th International Guillermo Barreto
in Memoriam Drum Festival will provide
a unique and treasured space for visiting
musicians and dancers to celebrate and
demonstrate their skills in Cuba.
Featuring Cuba’s most famous and
popular bands and organized by the
National Popular Music Center, the drum-
fest will take place in Havana from March
6th to 11th, with the Habana Compás
Dance Company playing a starring role.
The festival’s program includes
percussion master classes, custom
designed workshops for groups and
individuals, informal jam sessions,
concerts, visits to a range of cultural
institutionsandahostofotherinteresting
activities.
As usual, jazz and folk bands will
partake in the festivities and this year’s
principal venues are the Teatro Mella,
Salón Rosado de la Tropical, Hotel Palco,
and the ‘Casa de la Musica’ at the Cultural
Complex on 31st and 2nd streets.
Festival director, Giraldo Piloto told
The Havana Reporter that entries for
the percussion, casino and rumba dance
competitions will be accepted until
March 1st.
The percussion competitions will be
instrument based: kettledrum, drum,
conga and batá drum.
Contestants can combine two
instruments and there are no professional
or academic qualifications required to
participate.
Rumba contestants can participate
in the individual Columbia style
competition or as partners in the Yambú
or Guaguancó categories.
Only Cuban music can be performed
for the casino dance competition but the
rules do allow for stylistic improvisations.
The competitions are open to people
of all ages and from all countries.
The internationally renowned
musicians from Brazil and the United
States who have already confirmed their
participation will be joined by the Isaac
Delgado, Alaín Pérez, Roberto Fonseca,
Van Van, Alexander Abreu y Havana de
Primera, El niño y la verdad, Climax and
Los cuatro bands.
The Brazilian pianist, accordionist,
arranger, singer and composer
Joao Donato promises to be one of
the Festival’s star attractions and
performances by singer Fabiana Cozza
and Nanny Assis, a singer, drummer and
percussionist with very strong African
influences, are also anxiously awaited by
fans.
Performances by both Janis Siegel,
singer and musical arranger with The
Manhattan Transfer vocal band and Jim
Riley, drummer and director of Rascal
Flatts band from the US are also expected
to be sell out events.
The Mexican jazz drummer Antonio
Sanchez from the Pat Metheny Group and
the Canadian drummer and percussionist
Aldo Mazza are also sure to enthrall their
public.
Piloto emphasized that the Drum
Festival pays tribute to the musical legacy
of Guillermo Barreto, one of Cuba’s
most prolific instrumentalists and also
celebrates the unbreakable relationship
between dance and music.
International
Drum Beats to Move
Havana in March
By MarthaSANCHEZ
SPOTLIGHT ON 7
PHOTOS:PL

8. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT(THR is not responsible for any changes made by sponsoring organizations)thr@prensa-latina.cu
8 CULTURE
UPCOMING
EVENTS5th Havana World
Music Festival
(Mar.22-24)
Cuba´s National
Ballet Company,
GranTeatro de
La Habana
(Mar.30- Apr.1)
Young Cuban Film Makers Festival (Apr.3-8)

9. HAVANA.- The topic of human trafficking has
been widely discussed in recent years. Daily news
reports worldwide speak of the plight of victims,
the arrest of traffickers and the dismantling of
criminal networks.
Despite growing awareness and efforts
to tackle the issue, the International Labor
Organization indicated that until 2017, over 40
million people in the world were victims of this
kind of modern slavery in different ways.
Everyone, regardless of their race, age,
gender, nationality or social origin, is exposed
to this violation of human rights, a reality that
affects different nations, be it the country of
origin, transit or destination.
Specialists on the subject say that human
trafficking is a latent reality in Latin America,
even though the information and the databases
available to show the magnitude of the situation
are outdated and unreliable.
In Mexico, for example, the National Human
Rights Commission recently warned about a
report which lists Mexico among the top 20
countries in terms of the number of victims of
human trafficking.
Mexico is a source, as well as a transit territory
for thousands of illegal migrants who hope to
get to the United States in search of a better
future and who are often exploited by the major
international mafias.
In2017,theEcuadoriangovernmentprovided
assistance to 69 national victims of this business
who were deported from Mexico, Colombia and
Panama, the Foreign Affairs Ministry stated in a
press release.
The Latin American broadcasting station,
Telesur, denounced that in their transit through
Mexico, Honduran girls, teenagers and women
are kidnapped and sexually exploited, while
Guatemalans are used in domestic services and
Salvadorians are the target of organ trafficking.
The report adds that boys, adolescents and
young men are forced to rob or kidnap other
illegal migrants and are also introduced into the
drug and extortion business. In many cases, they
are also turned into hired assassins.
Reports show that women, kids, indigenous
people, immigrants and the LGBTI communities
are disproportionately affected by human
trafficking in Latin America.
Severalstudieshavewarnedthatimmigration
and the high unemployment rates in the region
increase the vulnerability of the victims. Human
trafficking is considered the world’s third most
profitable illegal business, after arms trade and
drug trafficking.
UNSecretaryGeneralAntónioGuterresstated
in a release that the recent increase of conflicts,
insecurity and economic uncertainty in some
countries have facilitated human trafficking and
the exploitation of its victims.
Several initiatives have been implemented
worldwide to develop and carry out effective
actions in order to support governmental
authorities, civil society organizations and
the victims of human trafficking, including
immigrants.
International humanitarian assistance
organizations and specialists on the subject
have called for the strongest possible measures
against those who benefit from this business.
The United Nations Development Goals for
2030 propose the eradication of forced labor,
human trafficking and child labor, and the
elimination of violence against women and girls,
including trafficking and other forms of slavery.
HAVANA.- A shortage of hydraulic resources and its insular nature
have caused the Caribbean to be over dependent on fossil fuels and
it is now imperative to both transform its electricity supply matrix
and significantly enhance energy efficiency levels.
In response to questions put by The Havana Reporter, the Latin
American Energy Organization’s (OLADE) executive secretary,
Alfonso Blanco, said that the pace of development of the renewable
energy sector in the Caribbean had failed to keep up with Latin
American countries in general.
Blanco stated that the Caribbean region would have to overcome
obstacles to ensure that the use of renewable sources of energy
became an integral developmental factor.
The executive emphasized that the Latin American States of
Uruguay and Costa Rica rank globally by generating between 96
and 97 percent of their energy from renewable sources in 2017, but
did acknowledge that the move to an enhanced renewable energy
sector entailed commitment and a somewhat visionary perspective.
He called for the implementation of such policies at the regional
level, where clean energy sources presently account for only 25
percent of all production.
Clean energy is becoming increasingly more cost effective and
the consequent opportunities to develop the sector should not
be ignored. Moreover, Caribbean countries, including Cuba, are
well positioned to exploit natural resources that can “increase both
output and levels of production efficiency.”
He cited the “win-win” example of how the use of sugar cane
bagasse to produce energy simultaneously increased the industry’s
overall efficiency indicators.
The official stated confidently that OLADE possessed the
requisite know-how to promote such objetives and focused on
ample opportunities for South-South cooperation in the sector,
saying that countries that have attained the greatest advances in the
field could sponsor and support those taking their very first steps.
This is consistent with two of his organization’s primary
objectives: regional integration and technical support.
Another objective is to ensure that energy planning be
transformed from government action to long-term State policy,
with each nation having an individually tailored development
model.
OLADE also helps states source funding to develop through
investment in infrastructure or by upgrading electricity grids.
Blanco concluded the interview by explaining that OLADE
currently support long-term energy policies in Cuba that strengthen
information technology systems and expressed their willingness
to accompany the island during this important process of
transformation.
Human Trafficking: Latin
America’s Latent Reality
Caribbean To
Enhance Renewable
Energy ExploitationBy RosemarysBERNAL
LATTIN AMERICA &THE CARIBBEAN 9
By TeyunéDIAZ

10. PHOTOS:PL
HAVANA.- Between February 1st
and 11th of this year, Cuba’s largest
literary festival, the International
Book Fair (FIL), celebrated the
cultural heritage of the 41 countries
that participated in the event.
The Fortress of San Carlos
de la Cabaña, the event’s central
venue, hosted an array of Indian,
Spanish and other folk dances that
were complimented by a wushu
performance; a fusion of art and self
defense rooted in traditional Chinese
martial arts.
China -- this year’s honored guest
-- was represented by a group of
over 200 professional delegates, the
largest at the fair.
The Chinese nation also brought
about seven thousand volumes to
this, the 27th International Book
Fair in Havana, an indication of the
richness of their culture.
The host nation, in addition
to offering books by national
publishing houses, also promoted
the sale of albums produced by
Cuban record companies.
Visitors from abroad in particular
were attracted to the Cuban music
pavilionwheretheirpurchasescovered
everything from the traditional to the
most up-to-date popular releases and
almost every genre between.
Moreover, visitors to the Fair
also enjoyed the opportunity to
learn about the art of paper folding
(origami), traditional pieces of
clothing (kitsuke), the tea ceremony
(sado), traditional Japanese
handwriting (shodo) and the game
of making string figures using the
fingers and the hands (ayatori), in the
Japanese pavilion.
Afro-Cuban folklore bands
entertained audiences with rhythms
and songs representing the Island’s
colorful cultural diversity.
The San Carlos de la Cabaña
Fortress, Latin America’s largest
Spanish built military complex,
welcomed 120 literary exhibitors
from 22 countries.
Havana’s Remarkable International
Book-Fest
Of the 62 foreign publishers with
a presence at the fair, the Peruvian,
Spanish and Panamanian houses
stood out because of the extent and
quality of their offers.
Academic, artistic and literary
events that formed part of the Book
Fair’s extensive program were also
held in 22 other sub-venues.
The 27th edition of the fair
was dedicated to Dr. Eusebio Leal,
Havana city’s much loved official
historian and renowned researcher
in Latin America.
A special performance titled ‘De
la romanza a la canción’ was given
at the Teatro Martí in his honor and
the Alicia Alonso Grand Theater of
Havana hosted a cultural gala by
Chinese artists of the Shandong
Song and Dance Theater Company.
Leal delivered an important and
much appreciated lecture series
entitled ‘Cuba prendida del alma’
during the Fair and a collection of
testimonies by some 100 Cuban
and foreign personalities about the
historian were also heard.
A series of images that defined
the profound affection and
admiration felt for the historic leader
of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel
Castro, was one of the International
Fair’s most moving moments.
The launch of ‘Hasta siempre
Fidel,’ provided an opportunity to
remember and render tribute to
the man loved in and beyond his
homeland and one of this important
literary event’s founders.
The book includes a number of
poemsbyauthorssuchasUruguayan
Mario Benedetti; Argentinean Juan
Gelman; Chilean Pablo Neruda and
Alfonso Sastre from Spain about the
iconic revolutionary and the avid
and passionate reader.
It also includes a total of 529
images from all over the Island,
captured between the time the
nation commenced to mourn Fidel
following the news of his death on
November 25, 2016 and the iconic
moment that President Raúl Castro
placed the ashes of his brother in
10 CULTURE
a massive granite boulder within
the Santa Ifigenia cemetery, just a
few short meters from the mortal
remains of Cuba’s Apostle, José
Martí.
This year’s Fair also saw the
launch by Eusebio Leal of a volume
that includes a compilation of 86
speeches and statements given by
Cuba’s current president.
Published by Ocean Sur, ‘Raúl
Castro y Nuestra América’is the result
of work undertaken in various stages
by Doctor of Political Sciences, Abel
Enrique González Santamaría, who
studied over 1,400 speeches given
between 1959 and 2017.
The fair’s extensive program
also included colloquiums, tributes,
lectures, readings, launches, award
ceremonies, foreign film and stage
art performances, exhibitions and
concerts.
Havana’s International Book Fair,
the Cuban publishing industry’s
flagship event, is undoubtedly the
nation’s favorite cultural festival.
This year’s Fair has already taken
to Cuba’s highways and bi-ways and
will conclude on May 13th in the
province of Santiago de Cuba.
By MarianaVALDES

11. HAVANA.- The Sierra Maestra
mountain range is the perfect place
for adventurous travelers. The region
is full of lush greenery as well as
traditions that allow people to give
free reign to their imagination or
simply enjoy the everyday life.
A tour of this mountainous region
entails plenty of physical efforts that
are compensated with knowledge
and the beauty of colorful and
unforgettable excursions.
Running across the southeastern
region of the island, Sierra Maestra
is mainly located in Granma and
Santiago de Cuba provinces. Pico
Turquino is the highest point, with
1,974 meters above sea level.
Arborescent ferns abound in the
territory. This green bastion-shaped
mountain range is the country’s
largest, and goes along Cuba’s
southeastern coast from Cruz Cape to
the Guantánamo Bay.
The region is some 250 kilometers
long by 35 kilometers wide. Its
average height ranges from 300 to
1,500 meters above sea level, and also
features the peaks Pico Cuba (1,872m)
and Pico Suecia (1,734).
But apart from facts and heights,
Sierra Maestra is one of Cuba’s most
beautiful natural settings.
Natural parks such as Pico
Turquino, Desembarco del Granma,
Santo Domingo-la Sierrita and Marea
del Portillo can also be found in this
region.
Therefore, Sierra Maestra
stands out as a popular ecotourism
destination in Cuba.
So grab a camera and enjoy every
corner, river, mountain, excursion
and all of the spaces of this territory;
it will undoubtedly captivate your
imagination and memory.
Sierra Maestra, Ideal Spot for Hikers
Text & Photos by Roberto.FCAMPOS
PHOTO FEATURE 11

12. BOGOTA.- The desire to reach a stable,
lastingandpermanentpeaceinColombia
still seems to be a dream.
The historical peace deal reached by
the government and the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army
(FARC-EP) has just been fulfilled by 18.5
percent.
TheabovewasannouncedonFebruary
12 by the International Human Rights
Watch Commission, which informed that
the rural reform agreement has barely
been implemented by 5 percent.
Although FARC-EP completely
laid down its weapons and became a
political party – Revolutionary Alternative
Force of the Common (FARC) – it has
taken them a lot of hard work to become
a legal entity.
The return of the former guerrilla
members to the civilian life is riddled
with difficulties, as acknowledged by the
United Nations on several occasions.
Even though FARC has won its right
to participate in politics, the party
suspended its electoral campaign after
repeated threats and physical and
verbal aggressions against the party’s
candidates to Congress, including its
presidential candidate Rodrigo Londoño
(Timochenko).
“We have been forced to temporarily
suspend our electoral campaign in the
territories. We will keep suspension in
place as long as we don’t see a significant
changeinthesaidadversecircumstances,”
FARC highlighted.
According to Pablo Catatumbo,
head of the group, everything has been
conducted with total impunity. He added
that the right to protest cannot be used as
an argument to justify behaviors defined
as criminal by the Colombian legal code.
Moreover,Catatumboannouncedthat
in addition to the temporary suspension
of the campaign, FARC will submit to
the judicial instances all the evidence
available, so that those responsible for
these incidents are punished.
The government reacted to this
announcement and assured that it will
strengthen protection of candidates,
so that FARC can return to the electoral
campaign.
However, FARC also denounced the
continued imprisonment of over 500
members, a proof of the non-fulfillment
of the agreements. In this sense, the
group noted that they “have become the
party with the most political prisoners,
even though this party is the result of the
peace agreements.”
FARC’s National Political Council
stated that the number of members
killed after the signing of the Final
Agreement exceeds 50 persons, and in
the case of the social leaders, this figure
reaches 218.
The almost concealed negotiation
process between the government and
the National Liberation Army (ELN)
– the only guerrilla group that’s still
active in the country – was the coup de
grace to the fragile peace agreement in
Colombia.
Clashes between both parties are
again hitting headlines a year after the
start of the Quito dialogue between the
government and the rebel force, and
after the three-month bilateral truce that
has slowed the intensity of the conflict.
At midnight of January 9, when the
agreed ceasefire expired, the guerrilla
group retook the offensive actions and
the government decided to stop the
negotiations. They accused each other of
not being consistent with the speeches
given on the securing of the peace
agreement.
The war drums have started to roll
again in Colombia in recent days and the
governmentorderedafirmstanceagainst
the ELN members, while the General
Attorney’s Office issued an international
arrest warrant for the main leaders of the
ELN Central Command.
With just six months to go for the
current government to finish its mandate,
and considering the uncertainty of its
successor, almost nobody thought the
securing of a peace agreement would be
reached in Quito.
In the meantime, the escalation of
the armed conflict and the imminent
presidential elections seem to put an
end to the negotiation process in the
Ecuadorian capital – a key step for
achieving permanent peace in Colombia.
Colombia’s
Fragile Peace
By TaniaPEÑA
12 POLITICS

13. HAVANA.- To ensure universal and free
access to services, Cuba will invest some
eight billion pesos -- equivalent to 8bn
USD -- this year in its education system
and more than 10.39 billion in its public
health and social aid sectors.
This expenditure was sanctioned
when the single-chamber People’s Power
National Assembly approved the 2018
State Budget in late December 2017.
The agreed upon education budget
ensures the full registration of an
estimated 1,775,000 students from
preschool to middle school levels.
A total of 8.18 billion pesos have
been assigned to cover 185,000 higher
education students.
The state budget will finance
more than 200 million health related
consultations, hospitalized patient
expenses, comprehensive dental care
for all and the ongoing development of
specialized services and facilities.
Lina Pedraza, Cuba’s Minister of
Finance and Prices (MFP), emphasized
other investments including the Island’s
mother and child program and other
institutions that include policlinics and
hospitals nationwide.
Cuba´s four-percent infant mortality
ratefor2017wasdescribedbytheDeputy
Finance and Prices Minister Meisi Bolaños
as “a very satisfactory achievement by
a health sector supported by sound
economic planning and the state budget.”
She noted that projected social-aid
spending to protect some 13,200 elderly
participants in the ‘Grandparents Club’
scheme or in old people’s homes is also
significant.
“Such priorities exemplify social
justice and the protection of basic human
rights; an unattainable reality in many
countries worldwide -- and in our region
in particular --today”, Bolaños remarked.
Cuba’s Budget goes beyond providing
its citizens with primary services and the
subsidization of basic foodstuffs, it also
supports low income families with the
Financing Cuba’s Renowned Social Model
By MariaJuliaMAYORAL
ECONOMY 13
PHOTOS:PL
cost of building materials needed to
repair or improve their homes.
The Minister of Finance & Prices
announced that the government has
plans to spend more than 800 million
pesos in this area during the current fiscal
year.
However, Pedraza noted the necessity
“to speed up monetary fund approval
and assignment processes and to expand
the building material industry.”
Over six billion pesos will go towards
social security spending this year – a five
percent rise from 2017- to ensure more
than 1,700,000 pensions and other short-
term payments, including maternity
subsidies.
Even though the income to finance
projected expenditure is forecast to
reach 57.20 billion pesos -- a 4.3 percent
year-to-year increase -- there is a fiscal
budgetary deficit in the cards that could
amount to some 11.72 billion pesos.
Pedraza cautioned that because more
than 80 percent of projected revenues
will come from Cuba’s domestic business
sector,animperativeexiststocombinethe
generation of more goods and services
with the beneficial financial resources
of the budget, in order to support the
country’s sustainable economic and social
development.

14. HAVANA.- During the launch
of a global initiative to promote
gender equality, United Nations
organizations revealed that the
difference in salaries paid to
women and men in the Latin
American and Caribbean region is
around 15 percent.
A recent International
Labor Organization (ILO) report
indicates that the gap in monthly
salaries in the region had fallen
from 20 to 15 percent between
2005 and 2015.
The study specified that the
trend held throughout three sub-
regions, with Central America and
Mexico experiencing the most
significant decrease of six percent,
followed by the Southern Cone
with 5.8 and the Andean countries
reporting a 4.5 percent fall.
The ILO report explains that
this narrowing of the gap is the
result of changes in the nature of
jobs undertaken by women and
pay rises that were higher overall
than those afforded to men
during the same period.
However, José Manuel Salazar,
the ILO’s regional director,
cautioned that the salary gap is a
recurrent problem in spite of the
“best efforts over the years.”
He noted the six percent fall
to 15 percent between 2005 and
2015 “is not a guarantee that no
one had fallen behind” on the
path to full equality.
At the end of January 2018,
the ILO, UN Women and the
Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development
(OECD) launched the Equal Pay
International Coalition (EPIC)
project in Panama to increase
support for the struggle for pay
equality in this part of the world.
The September 2017
worldwide launch aspires to
encourage a broad base of
groups from different countries
to advocate for the elimination of
gender based salary gap, which
remains an almost universal
problem in the 21st century.
The Panamanian president,
Juan Carlos Varela, stated that
the Coalition will be responsible
for policy cohesion and the
promotion and implementation
of concrete measures to include
more women in the labor force.
He explained that through a
range of mechanisms that include
legal instruments, “measures
that assure women and men
receive the same salary must be
guaranteed.”
The EPIC will support the
attainment of the Sustainable
Development Goals, particularly
those aimed at ensuring the same
pay for the same job by 2030.
Deputy Foreign Affairs
Minister Isabel de Saint Malo
pointed out that Panama is proud
to have been the first country in
the region to join the Coalition
and the second worldwide to host
a meeting in support of the UN
campaign.
The Latin America and
Caribbean director of UN
Women, Luiza Carvalho, stressed
the importance of the alliance
between diverse sectors,
international organizations,
governments and the public
and private sectors, describing
it “as essential to the closure of
the salary gap, which will in turn
have a direct impact on regional
development.”
OECD Director for Latin
AmericaRobertoMartínezYllescas
said “working in partnership with
EPIC is an integral part of our
mission,” and he urged “all the
relevant actors, including trade
unions, employers’ organizations
and civil society movements” to
come on board.
TheILOhasexplainedthatEPIC
is trying to strategically engage
and work with governmental
entities responsible for labor,
employment and gender equality,
aswellasnationalstatisticsoffices.
It also endeavors to cooperate
Salary Gap Still An Obstacle
To Gender Equality
By JuliaGONZALEZ
14 ECONOMY
with national and international organizations,
employers and workers bodies, regional groups,
UN organizations and others.
Oneobjectiveoftheinternationalcommunity
approved sustainable development agenda is
the provision of full, productive and dignified
employment for all women and men, including
the young and disabled, by 2030.
It is committed to ensuring“the same pay for
the same job,”which, should it be realized, would
eliminate a historical and shameful injustice
against women.

15. 1 9 9 3
2 0 1 4
HAVANA.- The Cuban athletes will
fight against all the odds from July 19
to August 3, 2018. The Central American
and Caribbean Games will be held in
Barranquilla, Colombia, marking the start
of the journey to the 2019 Pan-American
Games in Lima and the 2020 Olympic
Games in Tokyo.
The results of the Toronto 2015 Pan-
American Games are still lashing the
Caribbean nation. On Canadian soil,
and against most predictions, Cuba was
beaten on the medal table not only by
the United States – the usual winner of
the event – but also by Canada and Brazil,
who achieved their best results in these
continental games thanks to hard work
and stable economic support.
In the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the
Cuban delegation channeled their efforts
and reached most of their objectives.This
allowed the country to focus on some
of the elements it has to improve upon
to achieve their goals in the upcoming
games.
In Barranquilla, Cuba will have to face
the resistance of the host country, who
have been steadily improving over the
years and will also enjoy the home team
advantage.
Cuba will also face Mexico, Venezuela,
and the Dominican Republic, who are
expected to bring strong competition to
the games.
In order to have a happy ending, both
emotionally and athletically, Cuba will
have to do its best in all the disciplines its
athletes participate in. Of course, this will
all depend on the fighting and track and
field teams, the latter of which has had
declining successes in recent years.
Colombia’s intention to become
the winner of the games is obvious,
but we must remember the fact that
Cuban sports has suffered from financial
difficulties recently, undermining the
athlete´s possibilities of international
training and development.
However, theCubansportsmovement
feels optimistic, in part because of their
performance in the Veracruz 2014 Central
American and Caribbean Games, where
Cuba pulled a last minute upset and
displaced the host country, Mexico.
The games reached a climax when
Cuba was able to win medals in their
traditional strengths, dashing the
Mexican hopes of victory. Thus, Cuba
topped the leader board and came home
victorious, continuing their winning
streak that dates back to the Central
American and Caribbean games of 1970.
Will Cubans Return
Home Victorious Again?
By DanielMARTÍNEZ
CENTRAL AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN GAMES
SPORTS 15
C E N T R A L A M E R I C A N & C A R I B B E A N G A M E S ,
P O N C E , P U E R T O R I C O
C E N T R A L A M E R I C A N & C A R I B B E A N G A M E S ,
V E R A C R U Z , M E X I C O
C O U N T RY
C O U N T RY
1- C U B A
2 - M E X I C O
3 - V E N E Z U E L A
4 - P U E R T O R I C O
5 - C O L O M B I A
6 - D O M I N I C A N A
7- C O S TA R I C A
8 - G U AT E M A L A
9 - T R I N I D A D &
T O B A G O
10 - M E X I C O
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6 6
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6
5
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1- C U B A
2 - M E X I C O
3 - C O L O M B I A
4 - V E N E Z U E L A
5 - D O M I N I C A N A R .
6 - P U E R T O R I C O
7- G U AT E M A L A
8 - B A H A M A S
9 - E L S A LVA D O R
10 - T R I N I D A D &
T O B A G O
G O L D
G O L D
S I LV E R
S I LV E R
B R O N Z E
B R O N Z E
T O TA L
T O TA L
Central American & Caribbean Games
JUL 19 - AUG 3

16. 16