Cuban-American Relations: A Brief History

“Tragedy of the Commons” in Cuba

An estimated 10% of Cuba’s population is believed to have left the country for the United States, with many making a dangerous crossing in the open sea using makeshift rafts to escape Fidel Castro’s regime. Average monthly salaries sit at an abysmal $25 a month. Far lower than the $7,643 GDP per capita for Central America, and even…

Chile Seeks Justice for Criminals Hiding in Cuba

On April 1st, 1991, Jaime Guzmán was shot at the exit of Catholic University where he was a professor. Guzmán was responsible for founding the Independent Democratic Union Party (UDI) in Chile, and he provided a voice of stability during the dictatorship of Pinochet, including a large role in drafting the Chilean constitution. He would…

Cancer Forces Chavez Back to Cuba

Venezuela’s president, Hugo Chavez, has been forced to Cuba for medical attention for the third time due to concerns of a cancer recurrence. Rafael Correa, president of Ecuador, has confirmed that Chavez was under going an operation for the cancer. Early in his administration, Chavez initiated an agreement with Cuba in which Venezuela agreed to…

Cuba to Begin Taxing Profits

If one were to attempt a word association exercise starting with “Cuba,” it is very unlikely that “profits” would often follow, yet the island nation is counting on that unexpected connection to raise tax revenues. In short, Cuba needs more revenues to fund its socialist programs. To tax profits, of course, it is first necessary…

Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas

Initiated in 2004 as a pet project of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, the Alianza Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América started as a pact between the impoverished nation of Cuba, and Venezuela. The pact started as a simple partnership between communist Cuba, and fascist Venezuela. Under the initial agreement, Venezuela basically exchanged about 96,000…