2008-06-02.
Belinda Salas Tapanes President FLAMUR in Cuba
Since the early nineties in which the dual currency was introduced in Cuba , Cubans have been relegated to live as second class citizens in their own country, marginalizing places to visit just for domestic tourism.
The centers offer services in local currency and are not options for those modest days in which we may attend a place and have a moment of leisure with our family.
Currently, the new government of Raúl Castro, has portrayed an image of change on the island and hassaid to have lifted certain restrictions such as access of Cubans to the hotels and establishments which until now were only intended for tourists.
Nothing could be further from the truth when the Cuban walk it. Citizens continue to dream of the day you can afford a hotel, because wages in national currency are far higher prices to cover the call that requires hard currency (CUC).
A recent incident in Rancho Luna restaurant, located on L Street, 17% and 15 in Havana's Vedado municipality, called the attention of those present when, a couple complained of the poor service offered here.
The marriage in question had said that after ordering lunch and waiting one hour and 45 minutes they had to finally leave the place without consuming anything. "The worst case is you get bad service just because it's national currency," said the young couple.
Cubans have lived without dreams or hope. Take part in the social issues that affect us, such as dual hard currency and economic apartheid that we are subjected, is the future that we wish for ourselves and nobody to take decisions for an entire people, when there will have to be every one of us making decisions for ourselves.
The changes that are needed by the Cuban are radical, both in the economic, social and political spheres. It is not time to ease the wrong doings, it's time to eradicate them.