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MARIO J. TORRES
Social Classes, Tourism and Recreation
(1) SOCIAL CLASSES
The fact that the dollar was instituted as a currency in Cuba allowed
families in Miami to send money to their relatives on the island, since the
peso-equals-dollar rate is now twenty/thirty to one, and even at the
beginning it was one hundred and thirty equal to one. It must be pointed out
that in Cuba workers are NOT paid with dollars but with Cuban pesos but
unfairly first need products are sold to them in dollars.
So, families with relatives in the United States or elsewhere were
benefitted by this law, whereas for the ones with nobody abroad it meant
nothing or what is more, a worsening of their situation. So a difference
between these two classes began to be seen.
Besides, there have been people with illegal businesses who have succeeded
in spite of the permanent repression of the government, and they have been
able to make money.
Another section of the population with good political conditions for the
government have been recruited to work for tourism or with foreigners or in
joint ventures or factories with foreign investment shared by the state;
such workers get a small cut in dollars, and they get some other benefits
like food and clothes.
Finally, the leaders of the Revolution who have high positions in the
government - Army officers, party leaders, union leaders, and state
officials - are entitled to benefits the rest of the population does not
enjoy; and, of course, they live better than the rest.
These four groups of people now make up a new upper class that has a
relatively better standard of living than that of the common population.
They usually have a good house, a car and above all, they can afford the
dollar market by buying first-need products in the special dollar shops and
also in the black market ; something the rest of the population cannot do.
Besides they can sell dollars for Cuban pesos in order to afford the
domestic market as well. The funniest thing here, which is sort of black
humor, is that most of these people claim to be revolutionaries, and they
are the first in parades, CDR meetings, and celebrations and they repress
other poorer people.
They can dress better and eat better because they have dollars, but they
haven't realized that the dollar is the "currency of the enemy of the
North," as Castro once said, so these people have a strong double-moral
behavior, living on the alimony of their United States relatives and
speaking ill about the United States system full of hypocrisy. On the other
hand, some other poorer people with no resources tend to have more dignity,
and they are the ones who are put aside socially for not being with the
system, and for not having a good source of income like that of dollars.
(2) TOURISM
This "industry" has been one factor that has kept Castro in the power.
He made use of Cuban beaches and tropical weather to promote a cheap kind of
tourism so as to collect foreign currency and then put a wedge on his
falling economy.
He invested a lot on luxury hotels, good food, and nice cars to attract
Canadian, Italian, German, and Spanish tourists to the island.
This new trend has brought about better jobs for certain groups of people
with good "political" attitudes or chosen ones, basically UJC or PCC members
who were paid a percent in dollars and got tips and also gifts from the
tourists as well as contacts, friendship, and relationships for the future.
Lots of Cubans have intended to work in these places to improve their
economy: hotels, tour-personnel-forming schools, joint-venture factories, or
as tour guides. However, not everybody can qualify for these jobs because a
thorough political investigation is carried out with the CDR, with the
previous jobs, and with the unions; and if any negative opinion is given,
there is no hope for that person to get the job, no matter how professional
or prepared he may be and a very close watch in their relations and behavior
with foreigners is kept on those selected. This branch of the country's life
is full of informers and members of the state security.
Beaches, hotels, and transportation are totally devoted to tourists with no
access or right for Cuban citizens, but if the Cuban lives in the United
States and comes to Cuba on a visit, he is welcome to spend his dollars at a
beach hotel whereas Cubans in the island have to pack up in a truck to go to
a faraway, dirty, and deserted beach with no conditions, or to rivers,
lakes, or massive public swimming pools; thus losing the right to enjoy the
beauties of their country which are denied to them.
Another consequence of tourism has been the appearance of a new type of
prostitute: the rider. This rider locates the tourist - basically elderly
male foreigners who go to the island looking for easy and cheap sex with
pretty young women - chases him, and contacts him. She will usually spend,
with the foreigner, the rest of his stay over in the country.
The rider will get clothes and money from him, whereas he will have a steady
woman and all the sex he was looking for during all his days of stay.
When the tourist leaves, arrangements are made for a future visit and
contacts remain. Some of these tourists basically Italian and German - have
even married riders and have taken them to their countries.
With the product of her business, which they colloquially call BREAD, the
rider can help her family as if she were abroad. She can also live and dress
much better than other women, and she will soon set forth to conquer a new
tourist, carrying out long-hunting journeys in front of any tourist
installation of her city. Some of these riders have unfortunately come down
with AIDS due to their promiscuous behavior.
The words foreigner and tourist mean the top for any Cuban. Anyone might be
eager to have a foreigner at home, be a friend of one, or be invited abroad
by one. That is why some people -- even male -- intend to chase tourists, to
propose businesses to them, to rent them rooms, to sell them food, or to
become their friends.
Very sadly, words like TOURIST or FOREIGNER have a "top" meaning for any
Cuban.
Once a child was asked what he would like to be when he grew up, and he
answered, "A foreigner or (a tourist)." Children and, at times, adults ask
tourists for money and tourists' relatives dispute the right to receive
gifts or money.
Due to the intense poverty and misery, robbery and violence have started to
appear, and people who have relatives abroad and who look prosperous usually
protect their doors and windows with huge iron rod frames.
In this way they can avoid being robbed, since everybody knows they have
money, a VCR, a big color TV, good clothes, etc. Although, at times, thieves
have broken into a house, and the only thing they have stolen is food.
(3) RECREATION
Recreation practically does not exist because Cubans are only devoted to
problem-solving dilemmas. They have no time to enjoy their spare time.
Drinking alcohol is one of the only possible things that can be done, but
sometimes there is no money to buy it, or the rum available is too bad to
drink. To get beer or good rum, the person needs to have dollars.
Another form of recreation is going to the beach, but most of the beaches
are closed to Cubans, and they are used only for tourists
Finally, the only entertainment left would be television, but since
blackouts last for hours, and sometimes days, nobody can count on television
either.
"A big contradiction of the system is the conversion of the so-called social
equality in the island into an apartheid, giving all rights to foreigners
and tourists and depriving nationals to enjoy the benefits and beauty of
their own country".
"Liberty is the right of every man to be honest, to think and to speak
without hypocrisy".
Jose Marti
MARIO J TORRES
FEBRUARY 2004
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