A year has passed since Barack Obama and Raúl Castro announced, in parallel transmissions, the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States.
The announcement of December 17th became news of the year, an event that surprised half the world and dusted off the cobwebs ready for the fresh start of a relationship between two countries that has historically been close.
On January 20th the countdown begins for Barack Obama. What will be the extent of his legacy?
OnCuba sought out the opinions and experiences of some Cubans regarding the events of a year which we are remembering as historic. What do they think awaits us in the coming year?
Aimara Fernández, artist’s agent
The most surprising of it all was the moment of the announcement. I was walking home and when I arrived at the house I found a heap of people in the street, and then my mother-in-law asks me “Have you found out? They’ve restored relations, everything is going to be really good. Cuba and the United States sat down and talked.” We all celebrated, but I think the beginning was a bit naïve’
A change that has directly impacted the family are the direct flights. Before, my husband who works in New York had to go to Mexico first to get to Cuba. Now he can fly directly. It has also helped freelance work, now there are more people interested in building bridges.
In my opinion there has been a certain naivety from the Cubans in thinking that everything was going to change from one moment to the next, I think we have to actively take on the changes, ask ourselves how they are going to affect the individual. In this change what is going to be different for you?
Osaris Santana, vendor at the farmers’ market 19 and B
I talked to the Minister of Agriculture of the United States when he was here at the market 19 and B. He was completely surprised when he saw the wide range of fruits in my stall, like the avocados that are not as big over there as they are here. I explained to him in English about the fruits, like the carambola, which I told him is really healthy for “strong men”. He was also surprised by the cultural level that we have here.
He visited other places, some organic plots, and he was astounded at the organic products which are the future. We really liked that they came because that way we can build more relationships, not only with Americans.
Elvia Rosa Castro, curator and art critic
What has surprised me is the timid way in which the year has gone by, so many expectations were created but the corresponding measures have been underwhelming. For example, in all of the Havana Biennales, a huge number of Americans have come, and they’ve bought more in other years than in this one. Artists have been coming for years, although in a more private way. Now their visits are more public, perhaps thanks to the politics of rapprochement.
A really interesting thing, in my experience, was to see the headline of the Art Basel art fair in Miami, “Cuba” was there in big letters along with the announcement of the Continuous Gallery in Havana. So now you have to ask if it was a publicity strategy from Continuous, or if Art Basel Miami Beach has a real interest in the Havana context. Either way it will still always be interesting that in a newspaper that the super super rich of this world read, the first thing they will find going into that VIP opening will be that. That really impacts.
Enrique Núñuez, owner of La Guarida restaurant
Since the announcement of December 17th we have seen an increase in the number of people that come to La Guarida, but they’re from all over the world, not just Americans. A special moment was when Mick Jagger and Katty Perry were here, and Usher’s wedding. Actress Helen Hunt was recently here too and she liked it, she even had seconds.
Lots of politicians and important diplomats come for negotiations. When the US Secretary of Commerce was in Cuba, I had the opportunity to discuss how we see the changes that have been adopted over the last year. They asked me if the new measures favoured me as a businessman and I answered that I am grateful that we can buy equipment for example, or that we can open a bank account, although there is the limitation that we cannot get a credit card. But these measures do not yet translate into advantages to us because within the country there is no mechanism to import things with, as much machinery as other items.
Osmín Amed Piña, high school student
I was there when Katty Perry visited The Cocinero restaurant in Vedado. I was there in the crowd, it was incredible, special, and I would like for artists to keep coming here. They should build stronger links.
One thing that did surprise me was that in the UN vote the United States voted against dismantling the blockade. That made an impression on me because they say that they want to get rid of it but they vote to keep it in place.
Juanito Delgado, director of the Project Behind the Wall
It has been a year of diplomatic relations, but the dialogue between the two cultures goes back much further, since Chano Pozo, “The Jungle” by Wilfredo Lam displayed in MOMA, literature, and I believe that it can do much more. It depends on people’s comprehension.
The relationships between the people have really impacted me. How international artists come to talk with the people, like a recent event, the Rockefeller foundation conference in Havana about philanthropy. Who would have said something like that could have happened?
In my opinion, Cuba needs to be more aggressive, in the sense that it needs to let people in and break down the walls. I say that we are in the Age of Yes, of looking for dialogue, it is the time to work, the time to study, the time of societal changes were we can look for peace.
