Will this shake up the professional boxing scene? HAVANA (AP) For the first time since the height of the Cold War more than half a century ago, Cuba is giving its people the freedom to leave the country without government permission, scrapping the detested exit visa that kept many from traveling outside the communist nation for even a few days. The announcement Tuesday came as blockbuster news on the island, where citizens were ecstatic at the prospect of being able to leave for a vacation or even forever with only a passport and a visa from the country of their destination. "Wow, how great!" said Mercedes Delgado, a 73-year-old retiree. "Citizens' rights are being restored. ... Let's hope this is a breakthrough to keep returning the rights that they have taken away from us." The decree still allows Cuban authorities the ability to deny travel by many Cubans for reasons of defense and "national security," suggesting that dissidents may continue to face restrictions. So will doctors, scientists, athletes, members of the military and others considered key contributors, as well as those who face criminal charges. An end to the hated exit visa had been promised since last year by President Raul Castro as part of his five-year reform plan. Analysts called it the latest and biggest step in a gradual relaxation of restrictions on things like opening private small businesses, owning cell phones, staying in tourist hotels and buying and selling homes and cars. "It's an important step forward in human rights, the ability to travel outside of your country without the government's permission," said Philip Peters, a longtime Cuba analyst at the Virginia-based Lexington Institute think tank. "It eliminates a horrendous and offensive bureaucratic obstacle to travel." Starting Jan. 14, Cubans will no longer have to apply for the costly "tarjeta blanca," or "white card," ending a restriction in place since 1961, the height of the Cold War. The measure also extends to 24 months the amount of time Cubans can remain abroad, and they can request an extension when that runs out. Currently, Cubans lose residency and their rights to property, social security, free health care and free education after 11 months overseas. Announced in the wee hours in the Communist newspaper Granma and published into law in the official Gazette, word of the change spread like wildfire Tuesday and was the talk of the streets and office buildings. Islanders greeted the news with a mixture of delight and astonishment. "This is huge news. Everybody has been waiting for it for a long time," said Bertina Rodriguez, a 47-year-old office worker. "Because it's a kind of opening, even if I think they're doing it so that people can't say this is a place where they keep people locked up." "I heard from my cousin who phoned from the United States," said Beatriz Suarez, a 35-year-old Havana resident. "She's all worked up about this." Besides the exit visa, the new policy also eliminates the need for a letter of invitation from an institution or person in the destination country. "These measures are truly substantial and profound," deputy immigration chief Col. Lamberto Fraga told a morning news conference. "What we are doing is not just cosmetic." Still, Fraga said some people remain restricted to combat the brain drain that has already led many of the island's young and talented to leave for economic reasons. "These professionals are going to require authorization to leave," Fraga said. Dissident Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez expressed concern that officials might now control travel merely by denying passports. "I have the suitcase ready to travel. ... Let's see if I get a flight for Jan. 14, 2013, to try out the new law," tweeted Sanchez, who said she has been denied an exit visa 20 times over the last five years. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the Obama administration was taking a wait-and-see attitude. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/201...-cuba-exit-visa.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
Interesting stuff. One quote makes me suspicious as to how much impact the decree will have on boxing: 'The decree still allows Cuban authorities the ability to deny travel by many Cubans for reasons of defense and "national security," suggesting that dissidents may continue to face restrictions. So will doctors, scientists, athletes, members of the military and others considered key contributors, as well as those who face criminal charges.' We'll have to wait and see. Regardless, it certainly sounds like a positive development for the people of Cuba.
Still pro boxing is outlawed in communist countries, and with athletes not being allowed to leave not much will change I guess.
Let me explain this; To be allowed to leave the country before, you needed what they called the white card.It means that even if you had a valid and updated passport you coudnt exit Cuba without that white card authorizing your departure. Now they will eliminate the white card, but starting January 14 everyone needs a new passport and if you don't qualify you won't get it. Who are the one with limitations; high profile athletes,doctors,professionals in general.There is no way they are going to allow the massive exodus of baseball players and boxers.
He is half dead already but his brother is the one calling the shots. We need to see the end of that dynasty before seen real changes.
I travel to Cuba frequently,at least twice to three times a year.I have seen the changes including more entrepunuers,more freedom of speech,better housing and living standards,money being spent in Old Havana and highways being built accross the entire Island.Internet now flourishes and are in classrooms now (granted not total access) and now this announcement.There are real changes going on and it should not be dissed by those who have never ever been to Cuba and just read US propoganda.:good
I lived in Cuba for 30 yrs,travel often to visit my parents. The only highway in Cuba - autopista nacional-is full of holes and its not recommended after dark. A doctors salary is around 20 dollars The rebuild of old Havana is to lure tourists.The real old Havana is falling to pieces as well as the rest of the island. I don't follow propaganda from any side. I stand for what I see and what my family and friends live daily. People are not allowed to have Internet in their houses, just selected people can have email access. When I go to Cuba is not to stay in hotels destinated to satisfy the capitalist style. I stay among the ones suffering. By your avatar I can tell your point of view.
By your last response I can tell you have been "Americanized.I have been to schools in Cuba and they do have internet,although not total access,which I pointed out.On this subject,they also receive HBO and CNN,so they do have an international aspect to their daily lives.Why so negative on money being the all deciding factor in a Dr. life?Shall your relatives being taking advantage of this offer to leave the country,as I am interested in their situation,which you claim lives in poverty and would have no problem receiving a passport?What is so wrong with modernizing Old Havana for the tourists as any tourist destination everywhere does the same thing?I don't get your response,sorry.
CNN and HBO? maybe in the hotels where you stay.They have never watched any HBO-CNN in my house.Maybe they will show some clips from CNN-HBO,whatever allows the government.You confuse internet access with email access.To connect to internet have to be highly authorized or pay in dollars at a hotel and if a doctors salary is around 20 dollars who can pay 10 dollars an hour for that service?The control of the information is vital to keep people isolated.TV is absolutly controlled by the government,same as radio and newspapers. Nothing wrong with modernizing old havana, what is wrong is how the rest of havana looks like. i know my country dude,and you can accuse me of being americanized but its just your perception, in reality you dont know who i am.
