Comments on: GUEST BLOG: Ian Powell – Cuba and New Zealand: a relationship worthy of strengthening

By: Michael Scott

Michael Scott — Sat, 04 May 2024 00:38:37 +0000

In reply to mikesh.

Yes Mikesh I agree that the US gains nothing from the embargo except to hurt Cubans.
JFK wanted to defeat communism but nobody realistically believes it is a political threat anymore. And the “Special Period” in Cuba after the collapse of the USSR was the ultimate demonstration of the economic failure of the State owning the property and all of the means of production. When Biden was elected we thought that he would follow Obama and remove the sanctions Trump had reimposed. The worst thing is that so many medicines are unavailable because they have American ingredients. Also no Zoom or Microsoft products.

By: mikesh

mikesh — Fri, 03 May 2024 21:58:31 +0000

It’s difficult to see what USA gains from the embargo. Or are American political parties just pandering to the Cuban exiles’ votes in Florida.

By: Mohammed Khan

Mohammed Khan — Thu, 02 May 2024 19:30:44 +0000

wow, it’s almost like those yankee sanctions block any business apart from tourism and other industries conducted on a cash money basis

By: Mohammed Khan

Mohammed Khan — Thu, 02 May 2024 19:30:01 +0000

In reply to Michael Scott.

Hahahah, this is hilarious. You think that greedy companies and countries which are given an ultimatum between trading with Cuba, and the American empire, are going to go with Cuba? OK bro. Hey, why don’t you try and send an electronic payment to a Cuban business for a good or service you purchased from a ‘New Zealand’ (foreign owned) bank? Or even a charitable donation? Ohhhhh… wait.. you can’t, because the american scum would steal the assets of those banks, and order Visa and other payment networks to block them from using their services.

There’s a reason it’s only free countries which are trading with Cuba. And NZ isn’t one of them.

By: Mohammed Khan

Mohammed Khan — Thu, 02 May 2024 19:26:16 +0000

Great point Bob! The CIA does say that, don’t believe your lying eyes.

By: Michael Scott

Michael Scott — Thu, 02 May 2024 02:42:22 +0000

The reason Cuba has no hard currency is because they have been hopeless at developing their economy. Believe it or not doctors are the main earner for the government. Raul nearly opened things up in 2016 after the US Embassy was finally opened.But he was too old and unwell to stand against the hardliners. in the party.
The new president Diaz Canal is a conservative Marxist who wasn’t born in 1959.
It is an article of faith to Cubans that capitalists live off the work of others- creating “man as enemy of man” so its difficult for the party to change.
But the internet has had a profound affect on the young. It is slow, expensive and often unavailable but surprisingly unrestrictive. Kids group around one screen to view the Amazon offerings and those that can afford to can order through an aggregator in the US who then legally sends the goods to Cuba. Cuban customs lets everything through in the past few years – their main concern is illegal drugs.
My hope for Cuba is that they open up to capitalism in the way that Vietnam has.

By: Michael Scott

Michael Scott — Wed, 01 May 2024 23:59:08 +0000

I don’t see the US trade embargo having much affect on Cuba. They can buy from anywhere else. The EU countries, China etc. The problem in Cuba is that neither the government or the people have any hard currency.