I added a new feature to the website this week. It's a FOIA tracker<http://cubamoneyproject.org/?page_id=261>, which you can use to follow the progress of my requests for documents under the Freedom of Information Act.
I sent off my second FOIA<http://cubamoneyproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Eaton-FOIA-2.pdf>this morning. *I requested details about the companies that sought contracts under the USAID's Cuba Democracy and Contingency Planning Program in 2008.* *The contracts were worth up to $30 million over a three-year period. Development Alternatives, Inc., or DAI, received the main contract, the **Miami Herald reported*<http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2009/12/13/80577/questions-surround-cuba-detention.html> * in December 2009. DAI then hired Alan Gross, who has been in custody in Cuba for more than a year. * Read more: http://alongthemalecon.blogspot.com/#ixzz19iY8PYml *- Havana Times.org - http://www.havanatimes.org -* ** *Cuba Surcharge on US Dollar Continues* Posted By *Isbel Diaz* On December 30, 2010 @ 7:08 am In *Isbel Diaz* | *No Comments <http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=35298&print=1#comments_controls>* *Isbel Diaz Torres * ** <http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=35309> [1] CADECA change house. Photo: venceremos.cu The news of the elimination of the surcharge on the US dollar was joyously sent from email account to email account. Nonetheless, exchange rates at Cuban bureaux de change (CADECAs) remained unchanged. After stopping to think a second, I understood. The headlines from the BBC and El Pais that appeared in our email accounts on December 26 had confused us. They should have specified that the change will be applicable only to those dollars coming from the United States through Western Union. This would mean, for example, that if a friend arrived from abroad and gave me $10 USD, when I went to the CADECA I would still receive only $8 CUC, as always. Though such an experience is not as frequent as I would like, it is indeed part of the reality of many Cuban families. When residents in the United States or Mexico come to the island, they often give a few dollars to their relatives and friends. However those dollars wont have the same privileges as the ones benefitting from the recent agreement between Western Union and the Cuban government. They have cut an excellent deal for them. Lets take a closer look. <http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=35313> [2] An excellent deal cut for them. Photo: Isbel Diaz *Western Union will achieve a monopoly on the transfer of remittances to the island. Previously, it was not the favorite vehicle for most Cubans due to the high rates of that transnational corporation. In addition, many of the gifts received here are small amounts.* On the other hand, the Cuban government will be able to better control and manage its finances (which seems a good thing) and it will receive almost all of the American dollars that are transferred to the island. Under the new formula, the islands government will earn 20 percent on all transactions carried out in CADECAs and 10 percent on those realized through Western Union. In no instance does it lose. *Those who will not benefit will be the poor who from time to time receive a few dolaritos as gifts. Also shortchanged will be families that, though they live abroad, wont be able to afford Western Union and therefore will be forced to send assistance through someone coming to the island.* *I should add that those who the media refer to as mules are often family members bringing help to their relatives and not always people simply seeking profit.* *I also wonder what the rate will be for foreigners who exchange currency in the airport when entering the country. Will they be obliged to send their money to themselves through Western Union to avoid the government surcharge? * *Lastly, I am struck by the question of who will manage the data for all of these transactions: the names of the originators and recipients, their home addresses, the amounts sent Ive never received a package from Western Union, but I assume they provide a form explaining the confidentiality of the personal data but will that be enough?* *In short a little less enthusiasm my friends. Let´s wait and see how things unfold. Hopefully in the future (while the absurdity of capitalist logic prevails on this planet) a single USD/CUC exchange rate reflecting the true position of both currencies will be established for all of Cuba.* Article printed from Havana Times.org: *http://www.havanatimes.org* URL to article: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=35298* URLs in this post: [1] Image: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=35309* [2] Image: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=35313* [3] Image: *http://www.linkwithin.com/* *Soaps, Toothpaste Off Cuba Ration Cards* Posted By *the editor* On December 29, 2010 @ 8:22 pm In *Business & Economy,Recent Posts,Updates* | *No Comments<http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=35302&print=1#comments_controls> * *By Circles Robinson* Photo from Manzanillo, Cuba by Caridad HAVANA TIMES, December 29 *Cubans who dont receive remittances from abroad, tips, bonuses or black market dollars were dealt another blow to their family budgets as the government announced that soap, detergent and toothpaste would be removed from the rationed items starting the first of the New Year.* *AP reported on Wednesday afternoon that the latest edition of the Official Gazette of Cuba, where decrees and laws are published, states that personal cleanliness products would go off the list of low-priced products available to the population.* *Other products deleted from the ration cards in recent times were potatoes, peas (often eaten as a bean substitute) salt and cigarettes.* Facing a huge budget deficit, the government is moving to gradually eliminate the ration cards to lessen the burden of subsidized products made available to the entire population. There is talk of some kind of welfare safety net for the poor but that has yet to be detailed. While most Cubans complain that the rationed items only last for a week or two, from many working class families they are significant. This, because their buying power in the regular Cuban pesos they earn for their salaries doesnt allow them to purchase the basic products they need only available in the pricey hard currency dollar stores. The average Cuban earns the equivalent of US $20 a month. Many pensioners receive just over $10. Sugar, rice, bread, eggs, beans and some meats remain on the ration cards to which all Cubans are entitled, including those with higher incomes. In another major cost-cutting measure by the end of March, 2011, more than half a million workers, around 10% of the entire work force, will be laid off by the nation´s major employer: the government. You might also like: - Cuba Gov. Boots Key Minister <http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=29764> - Cuba Rules for Small Business on Sale<http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=31802> - One Step to Ending the Embargo Slant<http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=32660> - Cuban Economist Predicts Tough Years<http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=34444> - Rains Benefit Reservoirs in Cuba <http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=30129> *LinkWithin* <http://www.linkwithin.com/learn?ref=widget> [image: Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...]<http://www.linkwithin.com/> [1] ------------------------------ Article printed from Havana Times.org: *http://www.havanatimes.org* URL to article: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=35302* URLs in this post: [1] Image: *http://www.linkwithin.com/* ** [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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