Cuba, communism and the change that’s coming

Wiebe.

My wife and I recently visited Cuba, more specifically the capital city Havana. I had long been curious about this communist island nation and thought there was no better time to visit than now, before it changes for good. It is no secret that since Fidel has stepped down, Raúl has been taking small steps towards capitalism. The free market is starting to take root in Cuba, a trend that is unlikely to be reversed.
With the fall of the Soviet Union came the loss of support for the Cuban economy. The Soviets provided oil to Cuba and imported sugar from Cuba at an inflated price thus propping up the economy. When that support ceased, misery befell most Cubans. They relied on what little rations the government issued and their tiny monthly wage. It became very apparent that change was desperately needed.
As tourists we saw first hand the increasing business sense among Cubans. The state is issuing more business permits, small restaurants and shops are starting to pop up in private homes and people are now allowed to buy and sell their homes. These and other factors are seen as necessary to open up, and thus revive the faltering economy. Of course being allowed to open a business and possessing the start up capital to do it are two different things.
As it stands, only those Cubans with money coming from Cuban-American family members, or those who work in the tourism industry are seeing any positive changes. They are the ones that can scrape together enough to perhaps buy a car and become a taxi driver for tourists. The other 98 per cent of Cubans are slowly being left behind. Monumental social, political and economical changes are never easy on the average citizens of a struggling country.
Cuba is often satirized because of its lopsided economic structure. The government sets wages and those wages range from about $20 to $30 a month whether you are a doctor or a street sweeper. The running jokes often share similar punch lines wherein a man is trying to impress his friends by telling them he drives a taxi but his friends know full well that he’s a brain surgeon.
On weekends many of the registered artists set up their displays and sell their artwork to tourists along the main boulevard in Havana. The work of one artist in particular caught my wife’s eye so we stopped and took a closer look. We struck up a conversation with the artist. His name was Jose Fernandez. He spoke a little about his art and he and my wife shared techniques and trade secrets. We asked him about life in Cuba and we learned that he was trained as an engineer; that he actually invented a money counting machine that ensured security and accuracy. This device was used in most government offices across the country. We were very impressed but he talked about what a relief it was to get out from under the heavy pressure of working directly for the government, six days a week for only $30 a month. He said the stress was too great so he left his job and applied for a license to be an artist instead. He finds it more rewarding and relaxing and he makes far more money. We bought two of his pieces for $25 each and he was overjoyed. He wrapped his arms around us and wrote down his address saying the next time we are in Cuba, we would have a friend to visit. My wife gave him her card and told him that he could see her artwork up on her website. He thought about it for a second and then said it may be possible in a month or two to get onto the Internet to see her work. The whole encounter was incredibly interesting and so telling.
The story of Jose Fernandez represents how Cuba succeeded in some respects yet has failed in so many others. On one hand they made education available for everyone. The more Cubans we met, the more we realized how well educated they were. Schooling in both the sciences and the arts are theirs for the taking. If you show promise as a ballerina or a graphic artist, you are given the opportunity to study at the highest level. If you want to become a doctor or an engineer, the doors are wide open. The failure ultimately comes when you, the skilled and educated population do not see the value of your studies. Well-educated Cubans are not contributing to the growth of their country. They are either finding ways of leaving the country or are simply giving up their careers to join the service industry. It’s both a “brain drain” and what I would call a “brain freeze.” The only way the people of Cuba will survive the transition from communism to capitalism is if they use their most valuable resource and that is a well-educated populace. I suppose it can be a lesson for us all: don’t bury your talents, let them flourish!
Jonathan Wiebe currently sits on Huntsville’s Community Services Committee and works as a carpenter and freelance writer. He also hosts TV Cogeco’s “Focus Huntsville” and is chair of the 55+ Ontario Winter Games Committee.
Email comments to: jwiebe326@gmail.com or follow on twitter: @JonathanWiebe

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