Cuba Watch Newsletter - Issue #8

We are proud to put out our Cuba Watch Newsletter on a regular basis to about 750 subscribers. Today we sent out issue #8 with the content featured below. To see this issue full of links out to articles that enhance the information, please see the archived issue. News and Information Sections - Business     Culture    ?

Havana Journal endorses Gingrich for Florida primary

Rob Sequin, publisher HavanaJournal.com and President of Havana Journal Inc. First, a little background on me? I am a registered Republican from Massachusetts. I voted for Romney for Governor and I would have voted for him for Governor had he run for a second term. On Willard Milton ?Mitt? Romney? In my opinion, Mitt has been running for President for MANY years. He ran for Congress against Ted Kennedy in 1994 then organized the 2002 Winter Olympics to get?

More anti-American behavior from Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Title by Rob Sequin, publisher of HavanaJournal.com and article by Erika Bolstad of McClatchy Newspapers A U.S. House committee will investigate travel programs to Cuba offered by the Smithsonian Institution under a Obama administration?

Multiple flights from Cuba carrying sick tourists

CBC News and Globe and Mail comments At least 11 people arriving in Ottawa and Toronto Canada aboard flights from Cuba on January 20 complained of a stomach illness, officials said. It marked the third time in a week passengers arriving from Cuba reported being ill. The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed passengers on at least three flights to Canada from Cuba had reported gastrointestinal illnesses. As well, passengers from a fourth flight ?which arrived in Toronto?

New push to get Alan Gross released from Cuban prison

Rob Sequin | Havana Journal US Senator from Illinois Dick Durbin apparently went to Cuba for a short trip to talk to the Cuban government and others about Cuba?s oil drilling and Alan Gross. According to a statement from the Senator?s office, ?The trip has focused on changes in Cuba?including Cuba?s substantial offshore drilling proposal?as well as discussions on improved relations between the US and the island nation?. I was unable?

Cuba tourist arrivals sets record for 2011, more expected in 2012

The Cuban government controlled Radio Cadena Agramonte is reporting that the predictions of 2.7 million visitors to Cuba in 20111 was achieved ?without any problem? and now the forecast for 2012 is logged to be 2.9 million visitors. Among the predictions for the high season (November-April) an increase of 10 percent is expected. The main markets continue to be Canada ranked first?

OFAC 2012 Financial Industry Symposium

If you are involved in any Cuba related financial transactions, you may want to consider attending the U.S. Treasury Department?s Office of Foreign Assets Control is hosting a special Financial Industry Symposium from 8:00am to 5:00pm on March 20, 2012 in Washington DC. The Financial Symposium will feature presentations by, and discussions with, key OFAC personnel on topics such as: Compliance with U.S. economic and trade sanctions Licensing procedures and guidance?

Pope confirms Cuba trip for March 26-28 this year

EFE Pope Benedict XVI approved the itinerary for the trip he will make on March 26-28 to Cuba, where he will be received by President Raul Castro, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Cuba, or COCC, said Sunday. The pontiff will travel from Mexico to the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, 944 kilometers (585 miles) from Havana, on March 26, arriving in the early afternoon and ?will be officially received by President Raul Castro Ruz, by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Cuba?

Wrap up of 2011 Cuban economy and business in Cuba - Miami Herald

By MIMI WHITEFIELD | The Miami Herald   It has been nearly four years since Cuban leader Rául Castro announced plans for a series of reforms to raise Cubans? living standards and tie personal gain to individual work and initiative. Change came at a glacial rate for the first few years.But in the months since the Communist Party of Cuba held its Congress in April, the pace of economic reforms designed to wean workers from their dependence on state employment and create their?

The Cuban government and the Council of Ministers - what a sad joke

Yaima Puig Meneses | Granma.cu | with commentary in bold by Rob Sequin, publisher of HavanaJournal.com We cannot undertake any project, activity or task, if we have not carefully planned every detail beforehand, including the identification of individuals in charge of carrying out the plans. Success is contingent upon this, indicated President Raúl Castro Ruz during a Council of Ministers expanded meeting held December 16. Planning, planning, planning. I can only imagine the?