Recently the national press media announced that one of the most attractive events of Cubadisco’s 2014 International Fair will be a sensational concert by the Spanish group Chambao, which is led by talented singer María del Mar Rodríguez Carnero, better known as La Mari. The concert, with the special participation of Carlos Varela, will take place on May 16 at the Karl Marx Theater.On the occasion of the concert, Suena cubano talked with Varela, renowned Cuban musician... We are aware that you and La Mari took part in the recent album by Ivan Lins. Was this the first time you sang together or are there other antecedents? Yes, it is true we were invited to participate in that beautiful album by Ivan, but were never together in the studio because that album was recorded in several countries at the time. I recorded my part in Cuba in a studio I have set at home and I believe she did it in Malaga, Spain. Then, it was mixed in Spain and Brazil. Even though La Mari and I have been in touch by mail and have spoken on the phone about this and other projects, this will be the first time...

From April 10 through 12, Varadero Golf Club, the single course with 18 pits and favorable conditions for competition in Cuba, is celebrating the Sixth edition of Cuba Golf Grand Tournament. Investments in projects linked to the construction of golf courses and properties is one of Cuba’s priorities for boosting and promoting this tourist segment, which demands specialization to meet its demands. This market brings about considerable expenses by customers, which generates higher profits than those coming from sun and beach tourism. The Cuban government has realized of the importance of promoting this kind of tourism and has approved several projects with the aim of building more golf courses gradually, which are supposed to happen with British, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Russian capital and associated with property development. Numerous golf courses were shut down after 1959, a period in which Cuba had the largest number of courses in the Caribbean, eight in total and four in Havana. At present, there only remain two: Varadero’s in Matanzas province and Capdevilla’s in Havana. Varadero Golf Club is an 18 pits par 72, designed by architect Les Furber in the incomparable style of Robert Trent John’s. This course gained international prestige during the European...

As Japanese actors, who keep the remains of their ancestors under the stage so that they protect them while they perform, El Ciervo Encantado Theater Company decided to do something similar. They have been given a new theater and they buried there the typing machine of Severo Sarduy, who wrote with that machine the play De donde son los cantantes, a successful and representative piece of the company. This theater group is no longer based at the cornerof the park in 5th Avenue and D; now –aftereleven months’ work— they have moved to Linea and 18th street, where a new theater rises so that these artists continue writing their pieces on stage, through the actors’ bodies. This Wednesday, the current Minister of Culture, Rafael Bernal, handed the theater to the group and its director, Nelda Castillo, who, among other things, noted: “These aren’t just any walls; this is the space where our creation comes to life”. “We don’t make a living from theater. We live for theater”, stated the director of the group. She also added that “this space is a gift and we have to be thankful for it”. The new venue of the company located in Linea and...

Once again the Arms Square in Old Havana became the perfect stage for the opening of the 19thInternational Urban Dance Festival “Old Havana: City in movement”. As usual, the dance company Danza Teatro Retazos was in charge of the opening with the piece “Retornos: gente y ciudad” by choreographer Isabel Bustos. Bustos, 2012 National Dance Award winner, also founder of the company and promoter of the Festival, explained that the piece is about “going over the essence of things, regaining faith in mankind and the future, given that Cuba is always in the quest for human improvement”. From Wednesday through Sunday, museums and squares in Old Havana, like the house of Benito Juarez and Osvaldo Guayasamín’s, the House of Africa, and Las Carolinas, will become the venuesof the event and will host diverse proposals. During the mornings, the participants –coming from Argentina, Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Switzerland and Venezuela – will share views and opinions in order to promote and encourage the developmentof dancers and choreographers, as stated in one of the objectives of the event. The Festival, has been organized by the Danza Teatro Retazos company and the City Historian’s Office, with the support of Havana’s Theater...

Statement by the Director General of the United States at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Josefina Vidal Ferreiro . We learnt with concern the press release issued on the morning of April 8, in Washington, that said that “Alan Gross, a USAID subcontractor jailed in Cuba for the last four years and four months, began a hunger strike last week “. The Cuban government reiterates its willingness to seek, in conjunction with the U.S. government, a solution to the case of Mr. Gross, acceptable to both parties, that addresses the Cuban humanitarian concerns related to the case of the three Cubans belonging to the group of the Cuban Five that continue unjustly imprisoned in the U.S. for over 15 years . As known, Mr. Gross has received a decent and dignified treatment. Since his arrest, he is being held in a hospital, not because his health situation requires it, but because there we guarantee him specialized attention from highly qualified medical and health care personnel. Alan Gross is in good physical condition and his health is normal and stable. His chronic conditions related to his age are under control, for which he receives medical treatment. He has been...

Dances seduced by architecture and history, cultural exchange, mixture of artistic experiences and diverse languages, will come together in the Cuban capital from Wednesday, April 9, through Sunday 13, on the occasion of the 19th International Urban Dance Festival “Old Havana: a city in movement”. The piece that will open the event, “Retornos: Gente y ciudad”, with choreography by Isabel Bustos, will be premiered at 9 o’clock at the Arms Square in Old Havana. According to Bustos, founder of the company DanzaTeatroRetazos and promoter of the event, the piece is about “going over the essence of things, regaining faith in mankind and the future, given that Cuba is always in the quest for human improvement”. Companies from more than 12 countries from Latin American and Europe, and the US, will take part in the event and will perform in museums and public spaces. “This foreign presence, especially from Latin America, reveals the significance the festival has attained and highlights Eusebio Leal’s dream of making culture in the city for its inhabitants”, explained Bustos, who received the 2012 National Dance Award. The event will also be attended by Cuban artists from 11 provinces, who will join foreigners in the morning conferences...

The Cuban Boxing Federation reported that Yasiel Despaigne will be the Cuba Domadores representative in the 75 kg at the match to be held next Saturday in the city of Salem, United States, closing of the World Series quarterfinals. The note released to the media states that Despaigne, initially enrolled as substitute, will replace Ramón Luis, who by these days was under medical examinations that took him away from training. The statement adds that given the role to be played by Luis in the semifinals, the technical staff decided to preserve him until reaching his optimal form and using now Despaigne, 2012 national champion, who has been always immersed in the overall preparation. Yosbany Veitía (49 kg), Marcos Forestal ( 56), Yasnier Toledo ( 64) and Erislandy Savon (91) were confirmed for the match, where Cuba will only need winning once for the overall win after the 5-0 score achieved in Havana.

Daniel Ramos Fernández, Security Chief of the Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) informed the press today that “ETECSA condemns the illegal use of telecommunications services against its networks and users." According to the officer ETECSA detected the traffic of Spam messages in September 2009 (during the Concert for Peace in Havana) and early 2010. The Company officially notified in 2010 receiving these messages in Cuba to over 200 operators but at that time they had agreements with the courier company and told them the possibility to close the messaging centers with operators who maintain that behavior. Ramos Fernandez also said that currently remain in operation similar to Zunzuneo (illegal platform recently reported by AP with U.S. Government funds) and the social network Piramideo and Martí Noticias, Diario de Cuba and Cubasincensura platforms, among other. "All these events generate an overuse of installed capacity in the cellular network of Cuba that threatens the quality of service. ETECSA has not given database of its users to any operator or foreign entity and we do not know how these operators managed to get it and keep insisting to clarify the facts, “Daniel Ramos said. Meanwhile Carlos del Porto, Senior Specialist of the Ministry of Informatics...

Cubadisco’s International Fair, a space for musical interaction and recognition, is undoubtedly a unique and suggestive opportunity to get to know the Cuban musical market. The call for the event, which will take place from May 16 through 25, is still open for every Cuban looking forward to enjoying live performances by the main characters of the latest Cuban musical productions, and for foreigners fond of interacting with Cuba’s musical richness. The guest of honor for the 18thedition will be Trinidad and Tobago and the event will be dedicated to percussion as musical genre. Cubadisco will pay particular attention to the so called minor percussion instruments, including guiro, claves, bongo, cowbell, maracas, Chinese box, kettledrum, chequeré andcajoncillo, among others. The event will also pay homage to famous historian Fernando Ortiz, “one of the first historians to look deep into the presence of percussion instruments in Cuban music and the undeniable origin and influence of the African culture”. As part of the program of the event, there are presentations of the albums competing for the Cubadisco2014 Award, on May 14; the opening of an exhibit of patrimonial musical instruments at the National Museum of Music on the 16; a Gala for...

In the nearby area of Mariel’s Special Development Zone (ZEDM by its acronym in Spanish), catalogued as one of the biggest investment projects in Cuba, there is an attractive past capable of attracting the attention of spectators and of making specialist fall in love with it. It just began as one of those local stories that come up during conversations and call the attention of the curious. Today, it is a fact, a proven fact: there is a Chinese cemetery in Mariel. The necropolis, which covers an area of 11 per 30 meters, is close to an aboriginal settlement from centuries ago but now it is in between the construction works of the Mariel harbor. “After a long time without visiting this place, we went there at the beginning of the constructions in the development area in order to preserve patrimonial goods. As a result of an evaluation process, we undertook the study of the Chinese cemetery, along with the participants at the Archeology workshop held in this municipality from December 2 through 14, 2013”, explained Edel Mayol Bersach, a historian from Mariel. So far we have located 12 tombs belonging to a graveyard created in the 20th century and...

The Cuban Transport Ministry published in La Gaceta Oficial (the Official Gazette) Resolution 19/2014, which establishes the Regulations for ruling the use, exploitation, operation, administration and maritime dock services of Mariel harbor, through the Port’s Authority, the highest authority in terms of the activities, operations, extraction, construction, maintenance and preservation of the environment in the harbor. The Resolution states that the harbor will offer maritime dock services 24/7 all year round –except in force-majeure or exceptional situations. In addition, the document covers rights and commitments for the rendering of maritime dock services, notification of arrival, dispatch, berth, and stay of ships, pilot, general services, dock maneuvers, storage operations, security plans for its facilities, control on the access of people and vehicles, control over the merchandise or packs that come in and out the dock, and other aspects on organization and control. A section is devoted to the Preservation of the environment, establishing that the Port’s Authority will demand the compliance with the relevant environmental regulations and will control every action addressed to the preservation of the environment, in accordance with the Decree Law as well as the International Agreements Cuba is part of. The implementation of these Regulations is supported...

Young producers face the camera and the reality on the streets in an improvised manner, embracing the search for a different way of speaking, of a different language that looks at Cuba today from fresh perspectives. Thus, making use of the scarce means available, young producers play the lead at the ongoing edition of ICAIC’s Young Sample (ICAIC: Cuban Film Institute by its acronym in Spanish). The Sample began last Tuesday at the Chaplin Movie Theater in Havana city, and it ends today. The most serious and lengthy exhibit of the Cuban audiovisual celebrates its 13th edition. During these years, digital technologies have made shooting and editing more affordable, but there are still obvious difficulties in terms of distribution and exhibition of the pieces, the lack of resources and the complex relation with cultural institutions. During the 90’s foreign coproduction was the best alternative to make movies in the midst of the Special Period, today it is not necessary to be part of the industry to produce a piece and filmmakers are increasingly betting for independent productions. Fernando Pérez, who recently made an incursion in this modality with the film “La pared de las palabras”, commented to OnCuba that not...

For almost a year he went around with his lens, capturing the best poses of a nymphomaniac. Manuel Claro, under the direction of a colleague, was defining the frames of the story about a woman addicted to sex. The director of photography in Melancholia (2012) and Nymphomania (2013), recent films of Lars Von Trier, is still delirious with a next adventure to realize a year after that experience ... Meanwhile, he will teach along Pablo Insunza the workshop organized by the ICAIC's Young Sample and the Embassy of Chile in Cuba, which emerged from a collaboration agreement signed by the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) and the Cinematheque of this Andean country. Although this training space is reserved only for those enrolled, the opportunity to attend a lecture given by Claro reaches all accredited. Why travel to Cuba to deliver a lecture? For me Cuba is a very special place. It is unique. Also because the political position it holds. Maybe I have a slightly romantic idea, no doubt there are many problems; but for me is fascinating and inspiring to be in a place that's just different. I have come twice; the last time I visited...

As confirmed in the weigh ceremony and press conference for the first leg of the quarter-finals between the Cuba Domadores and the USA Knockouts, everything is ready this Friday at the Coliseum of Havana’s Sports City. Unfortunately for the northern squad and the show, only four bouts take place and not five, since the Puerto Rican Jantony Ortiz, who would have faced local Gerardo Cervantes in the division of 52 kg, was defeated by the weight that decreed his had a kilo in excess. Thanks to this, the Domadores will enter the ring with a 1-0 lead and aspirations of the head coach of the Knockouts, Cuban Mariano Gonzalez, who thought winning the match 3-2, had to change due to this setback and now thinks Cubans will win by that score The rest of his other boxers made the weight and then Venezuelans Luis Martin Arcon (60 kg) and Gabriel Maestre (69), the Brazilian Michel Borges de Souza (81) and Swedish Mohamed Sallah (+91) , will face Lázaro Álvarez , Roniel Iglesias, Emilio Correa and Yoandi Toirac, respectively. Both Iglesias and Alvarez are clear favorites to win the matches for their outstanding international credentials and the quality of their recent...

Behind this new rule the urgent need to inject capital into the Cuban economy in order to generate virtuous cycles of growth is hidden. Specialists and government sources have stressed the imperative to have between 2 and 2.5 billion dollars annually in foreign direct investment (FDI) to achieve an annual growth target of 7 %. However, economists estimate that FDI in Cuba today is only around a few hundred million dollars and that the economy should grow by only 2.2 %. The 1995 legislation allocated FDI on highly selected sectors: light industry, tourism, telecommunications, etc, which functioned as walled sectors, without achieving economic linkages within and outside the country. Moreover, in the political structures prevailed negative mentality towards FDI, it was perceived as a "necessary evil.” The Cuban government, under the new rules, seeks to incorporate FDI as a structural component of the economy. Except branches of education, health and defense, the other areas of the economy are open to foreign investment. Unlike 1995, now foreigners may invest in agriculture, infrastructure, sugar, nickel, renovation of buildings and real estate business. As incentives, the new law cuts in half the income taxes, eliminate the tax on the use of labor and...

The mythical Dominican salsa singer settled in New York and known as “The Canary” visited the Cuban eastern province of Santiago de Cuba from March 28 through 31, 2014, for recording some tracks and shooting two video clips along with the traditional music band Septeto Santiaguero. He is one of the most important guests of the Septet for their new album, which pays homage to the unforgettable duet “Los Compadres”, Giraldo Bravo, the new vocalist of the band, said to OnCuba. Rita la Caimana, Oye mi Tono (duet by Eduardo “Tiburón” Morales with José Alberto “The Canary”), El Run Run and Amor Silvestre (recorded in the latest album of the Septet “Vamos pa´la Fiesta” (2012) nominated to the 2013Latin Grammy Award in the category ofBest Traditional Tropical Album) are some of the anthological songs interpreted by the famous duet of Lorenzo Hierrezuelo and Compay Segundo, this time in the voices of “The Canary” and musicians of the Septet. José Alberto Justiniano Andújar is better known as “The Canary” for his exquisite voice and his ability to improvise and create melodies by simulating the sound of a flute while whistling. He is one of the most successful salsa singers worldwide with...

Once again, dancing, as a means of artistic expression, joins Cuba and the US, on this occasion, with two choreographies by the Cuban company Malpaso: the first one by its director, Cuban Osnel Delgado and the second one by North American Ronald K. Brown. This one-year old companyis made up of nine dancers trained in the National Dancing and Ballet schools, and nourished from modern, classic and contemporary styles. Osnel Delgado, director ofMalpasoand North American choreographer Ronald K Osnel Delgado explains us: “Malpaso is characterized by the physical work of its dancers and even though we are a very young company, we are defending a language of our own. I wouldn’t dare to say we already have it, we are simply working hard and I hope people like it”. The personality and qualities of these dancers got Ronald Brown’s attention, who is also director and choreographer of Evidence Company, from the US. He commented OnCuba how he joined this project: “I had a proposal to come to Cuba to work in the choreography of a contemporary dance company. I had to choose between 11 companies and Malpaso was fifth. Something was right about their work and their efforts. I think...

The Ecuadorian government has removed the requirement of Invitation letter for entry into its territory to Cubans as tourists for a period of up to 90 days, according to a recent statement from the Foreign Ministry of the country. This new decision rectifies the previous policy of Ecuador, implemented at the time of the changes to Cuban immigration regulations in January 2013. While restrictions were eliminated in Cuba, Ecuador, that since 2008 does not require visa for Cubans, imposed the invitation letter in order to “contribute to the validity of an orderly migration between the two countries and prevent trafficking in persons" as then reported. Only in 2012 21 480 Cubans went to that country, according to official statistics. There are currently residing in that country, in different legal status, about 40,000 Cubans, who are beginning to form a differentiable community and not in all cases has been well received by the locals. The Ecuadorian government based now this decision on the "excellent bilateral relations, in the mutual cooperation in various fields, one of which is immigration, where there have been various understandings for the benefit of the two countries.” “Professionals of Cuban nationality are serving in branches such as...

“If you ever want to get bored to death, just go to Madruga” someone had said to me with a touch of experience and mockery. That was the only reference I had, the only thing someone told me about that place, which we would visit some time after; not exactly looking to bore ourselves to death. We were headed to Madruga and beyond it, to a place known as Cafetal del Padre, about 12 kilometers from the town, in Mayabeque province. If someone had previously described Madruga as a place lacking the attractiveness and dynamics of the cities, this coffee plantation might just be the heart of boredom, a contradicting vortex where nothing happens and nothing transcends in a repetitive cycle. A way of living out of my time. A coffee plantation without coffee, homogeneous green, palpable humidity, black nights, scarce artificial lighting.Ruins of barrack huts of slaves who left their strength and youth in the former plantations to increase the wealth of the O´Farrill family, the owners of the land. (The O’Farrils lived in the house today also in ruins –irony of destiny). Modest houses of common and realpeople, where everyone knows each other; people that work in the...

Amid the celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese visitor to Cuba and the opportunities for economic and trade relations the new foreign investment law approved on Saturday in the island opens, OnCuba spoke with Hiroshi Sato , Japanese Ambassador to Cuba. Since 1959, Japan was one of the main trading partners of Cuba outside the former socialist countries, having its peak in the 1990s, when trade reached 250 million dollars a year. Hiroshi Sato Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Cuba "Until the 1990s Cuba had a good business relationship with Japan but due to the political problems of the time, they were gradually getting worse. At present, political relations are good enough to expect that trade grows significantly, even if the United States maintains an economic blockade. I hope that we can grow a lot in that direction, “the Ambassador said. What are the prospects for Japan with the new Law on Foreign Investment in Cuba? "We are very excited about the approval of the investment law. I think with this, the doors of Cuba are open to a new look outwards. In Japan there are many companies and firms which are talking...

The law passed this Saturday by the National Assembly in plenary, is a strong step for the Cuban economy in the short, medium and long term. To increase GDP at a rate between 5 and 7 percent, as indicated by the most successful international experiences, it is necessary that the rate of accumulation (amount for investing) range between 25 and 30 percent of the nation’s GDP. Preliminary estimates show that for the country to achieve these results a flow of capital between 2 and 2.5 billion dollars annually would be necessary Among the main changes to the Act 77, the new one includes clearer and more attractive tax benefits, expanding the scope of international economic association contracts, the approval regime was modified, and the use of local raw materials is prioritized. Marino Murillo, vice president of the Council of Ministers stressed that it is not just about growth, but about a development model. During the process it was emphasized the transformation of concept regarding the employing entity responsible for providing labor to foreign investors. If this instance was there previously as a source of income, now it will work as a facilitator, so that ensure the protection of workers, and...

Four hundred years ago a slanted-eye man arrived in Cuba, from a distant place, vague between the reality of large rivers and mountains and the fiction of its legends. It was the samurai Hasekura Tsunenaga, first Japanese who visited the island, through which the bonds of friendship between the two countries began. To mark the occasion, the National Museum of Fine Arts and the Japanese Embassy in Havana, conceived an exhibition of 29 Japanese prints , which was inaugurated on Friday at the Universal Arts building, where it will remain until April 27. The curator of the exhibition, Teresa Toranzo The curator, Teresa Toranzo, said it was difficult to choose between one hundred thirty five woodblock prints in the ukiyo- e style from the collection of the National Museum of Asian Art, " but through this exhibition , the public will appreciate the particular representation of the samurai , his typical dress and meaning in culture and politics. " He explained that the ukiyo -e or “pictures of the floating world " , is a group of prints produced in Japan between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries , which focused on the daily life of the city, particularly activities and...

On April 18 Elain Morales will launch his disc My Paradise at the Covarrubias Hall of the National Theater of Cuba. In the disc is “The Queen" a song the artist wrote to honor the legendary Cuban artist Celia Cruz. After a rehearsal in the National Theatre’s Café Cantante we spoke to him for nearly 25 minutes. Long ago almost nobody talked about your career and your music was not played often. Where were you? I was always in Cuba. There was a time when I had to meet international commitments of work and so I was apparently absent. But Cuba has always been present. I care a lot about work from here. I am an artist trained in the streets of this country. Major musical influences... Cuban music is in the first order and a little Brazilian and flamenco music. Also American music. I am a tireless seeker of music. 98 percent of my life is music. Do you consider yourself a professional who is extremely a perfectionist? No. Things themselves have their own identity. I try that things maintain their identity but I do not like to be extremist. We have to respect the public. They come to...

This Saturday should mark a “before and after" for foreign capital in Cuba. Since mid- 2012 a new foreign investment policy was announced, and the process created more expectations than certainties until a few months ago. Then finally it was learned that in March the law would be discussed by the National Assembly of the People’s Power in extraordinary session and then voted upon. When some clauses of the Draft are already known, it is to be expected the Parliament in plenary session will not make significant changes, as they it was previously discussed in all provinces, with the participation of 565 of the total of 612 deputies. During this process the text of the draft was the subject of corrections and contributions, José Luis Toledo, chairman of the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs of the Assembly, told reporters. One of the main changes of this policy has to do with the concept of foreign investment as a "supplement” to the country's economic activity, as understood so far. While this idea is not discarded, foreign capital is recognized as a fundamental in certain sectors. After almost 20 years of applying Law 77, it is remarkable the tendency to favor...

The tenth edition of the International Construction fair (Fecons) will take place in the middle of an interesting scenario for the Cuban economy. The fact is this Fair and its sector is linked to the new Law on Foreign Investment. As it has been the practice in previous years, already available spaces are taken. This is the most sought for specialized exhibition event on the island and enjoys great prestige in Latin America and Europe. Entrepreneurs, builders, planners, investors and producers of domestic materials and from 22 nations of America, Europe and China have confirmed their attendance to the biennial meeting, where new products and technologies will be exhibited, for a sphere that defines de GDP of any country. Fecons will run from April 8th through the 12th at the PABEXPO showground, belonging to the Havana’s Conventions Center and its organizers aim again at promoting the exchange of specialists and generate the signature of contracts and other document related to business management. The important thing is that Cuba will have again possibilities to access techniques and state-of-art equipments in the field of construction. Repeatedly, the organizers of the fair have recognized that its annual editions from 1998-2003 were the way...