El Presidente Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 For the first time since I started my cigar business in 1998 I can feel the end of the embargo is very near. My travel sources in Havana tell me there is a never ending stream of US federal and state governmental visits these days with repeat hotel bookings (Saratoga) for some working committee groups every 30 days for the next six months. It is heating up people For the benefit of our good friends in Havana it can't come soon enough. I pray for a speedy conclusion to a poorly targetted policy. How good would it be if the US can exact as part of the terms of lifting the embargo some real freedoms for all Cubans and release the Phoenix of opportunity which has been bound in chains for 50 years.
riazp Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 Mr. Prez, is this your subtle way of saying to us to stock up on cubans before the demand sky rockets and quality will decrease?
mkz Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 Im not gonna hold my breath on this one, but one can always hope for the sake of the cuban people.
Cohiba Stevie Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 I think this sounds very promising and for the people of cuba i sincerely hope this comes to fruition. On a selfish note though, when the embargo is lifted i hope overall quality isnt affected with increased demand, same could be said for prices. But all in all, this will be fantastic for cuba.
CaptainQuintero Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 It's about time, the whole policy is 'sins of the Father' gone wild. I think Cuba and it's people should be congratulated on actually surviving dispite the embargo and now they can gain some real freedoms (hopefully). I hope on the other hand that they manage to keep their identity and not go the route as other Western countries with starbucks, wallmarts and mcdonalds filling every street.
El Presidente Posted May 30, 2011 Author Posted May 30, 2011 Mr. Prez, is this your subtle way of saying to us to stock up on cubans before the demand sky rockets and quality will decrease? Mate, I couldn't give a rats arse about cigars at this time What I would love is for our friends in Havana to have the opportunity to do what they really want to do with their lives.
El Presidente Posted May 30, 2011 Author Posted May 30, 2011 It's about time, the whole policy is 'sins of the Father' gone wild. I think Cuba and it's people should be congratulated on actually surviving dispite the embargo and now they can gain some real freedoms (hopefully). The Cuban Govt is to blame for the repression. We shouldn't forget that. Freedom will only come with Cuban Govt change. The lifting of the embargo will provide the opportunity to fully exploit the freedom. They need to go hand in hand.
StumpyJoe Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 Wow! I would thought it not possible until Fidel had passed away...but this is encouraging news. And the only reason I view it now as a possibility is given the source of El Presidente! Let us hope and pray the Cuban people can soon breathe the fresh air of freedom.
mykeuva Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 The Cuban Govt is to blame for the repression. We shouldn't forget that. Freedom will only come with Cuban Govt change. The lifting of the embargo will provide the opportunity to fully exploit the freedom. They need to go hand in hand.
OZCUBAN Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 I hope on the other hand that they manage to keep their identity and not go the route as other Western countries with starbucks, wallmarts and mcdonalds filling every street. To true my friend lets just hope that despite the opening up, and foreign investment that is sure to follow, lets just pray that the cuban culture can come out of this intact and they get to hang on to their unique identity Cheers OZ
mykeuva Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 I hope on the other hand that they manage to keep their identity and not go the route as other Western countries with starbucks, wallmarts and mcdonalds filling every street. Unless, of course, the people of Cuba, like in other places, want those Starbucks, Walmarts, and Mcdonalds. Then I hope they get as many as they want.
mkz Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 Unless, of course, the people of Cuba, like in other places, want those Starbucks, Walmarts, and Mcdonalds.Then I hope they get as many as they want. Well stated!
Puros Y Vino Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 I hope this works out for them. Poor souls have been getting it from both sides. As for cigars, Pres and the gang will find us HQ and PSP's for many years to come.
tmac77 Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 A caveat that I may add would be that this will not be an easy transition for those less fortunates in Cuba. It will have to be a well thought out process or those hard worling class people of Cuba will be just as bad off as before with alot of others getting rich from an influx of investment money out of the US
benjaminbbush Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 The Cuban Govt is to blame for the repression. We shouldn't forget that. Freedom will only come with Cuban Govt change. The lifting of the embargo will provide the opportunity to fully exploit the freedom. They need to go hand in hand. I find your reasoning to be outstanding IMHO. The lifting of the embargo without some increased freedoms for the people will mean very little. I agree with the Sins of our Fathers argument; however, if freedoms do not flow down to the people, then lifting the embargo would be less than meaningful and might empower an oppresive goverment. I too am hopeful that the embargo can be lifted in exchange for freedoms and openness benefitting the people of Cuba. While I do not like the current US president, I would certainly give him kudos if this is acheived during his presidency. As for price of cigars, that is not a major concern. Cuba would benefit more from the tourism monies spent by US citizens for finally being permitted to taste the forbidden fruit.
sblevit Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 No way anything will happen until after the next Presidential election in Nov 2012, and then only if Obummer wins.
jjp4 Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 No way anything will happen until after the next Presidential election in Nov 2012, and then only if Obummer wins. Agreed. It's frustrating that so few people in Florida can have such a tremendous impact on foreign policy, and in turn, a negative impact on the lives of Cubans.
Ginseng Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 No way anything will happen until after the next Presidential election in Nov 2012, and then only if Obummer wins. That's what I originally thought as well. But it's plausible that the Obama administration will want to find foreign policy wins if the domestic economy continues to recover as sluggishly as it has been. The efforts in the Middle East are unlikely to bear fruit and the Eurozone continues to face its own issues. And as for Latin America, the Mexican drug war isn't clearing up any time soon and outside of Mexico and the nut in Venezuela, the American populace probably can't name more than 3 countries in total. Cuban ex-pats and exiles in Southern Florida...with illegal immigration, from the Latin states specifically, being the hot button issue it is, does that bloc wield anywhere near the power it did 10 or even 5 years ago? If the doors open, and that's a big if, I'll be one of the first to travel legitimately. Not for the cigars, but to see the beauty of the land, experience the hospitality of the people, and to explore the surreal Barrio Chino, where my relatives first touched down in this hemisphere about 60 years ago. Wilkey
MPS Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 Many younger Cuban Americans don't see things like their parents do. They want freedom for Cubans and see the old way as a failure.
MadMax Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 Mate, I couldn't give a rats arse about cigars at this time What I would love is for our friends in Havana to have the opportunity to do what they really want to do with their lives. Well said Rob! Hopefully when this is over the U.S. Government will give them a line of credit so the Cuban people can get has much food from us as they want instead of the Cuban Government having to pay cash on delivery for a small amounts of fruit & vegetables.
drubcurtis Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 No way anything will happen until after the next Presidential election in Nov 2012, and then only if Obummer wins. I disagree, if it's going to happen it will be before 2012...he needs the votes!
BobKincaid Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 Encouraging news, El Pres. I think it's safe to say there will be a ready, willing and able workforce availabile for capitalization, monetization and profitization. The fact that the Cuban people have high literacy and better-than-average healthcare (for the region) suggests they'll be well-suited to economic expansion. It will make locating there much more attractive. This is predicated, of course, upon a certain degree of governmental openness that may be manifesting in the recent spate of reforms we're seeing under Raoul. The things he's been doing are reminiscent of Gorbachev.
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