This week Cuba’s state media announced that the island will stop being a de facto prison. Starting on January 14th, all Cuban passport-holders will be permitted to travel as they please
Of all the restrictions the Cuban state places on its citizens’ lives, limits on foreign travel probably cause the most resentment. Cubans who want to leave the country have to spend weeks and several hundred precious dollars seeking a “white card”. Permission is frequently refused, and it is often assumed that those who are allowed to leave will not return.
This week state media announced that the island will stop being a de facto prison. Starting on January 14th, all Cuban passport-holders will be permitted to travel as they please. Raúl Castro, the president, has been implementing a cautious, incremental agenda of liberal reform ever since he succeeded his ailing brother Fidel in 2008. This decision is among his boldest steps yet. “This would never have happened under Fidel,” says a diplomat based in Havana.
Read more in the Economist
PresiDunce Bean / October 21, 2012
In Sri Lanka you have to spend several thousands of rupees to travel by boat or trawler to Australia. :)
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Brian de Bois Guilbert / October 21, 2012
Hey PresiDunce
Are you telling me ,that your current occupation as a creative director is not bringing enough for you to engage in anti SL propaganda ??????
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Justice / October 22, 2012
In the seventies,Sirima B government ‘invented’ the Exit Permit.Anyone leaving the island had to get permission to do so – an Exit Permit – citing reasons,from the prime minister’s office,at Flower Road.
In addition,each person had to submit a “prepaid (air) ticket” paid for from outside sri lanka.
Even those who had prepaid tickets to go abroad on official matters – eg.WHO meetings/training curses, had to get Exit Permits.
In 1970,the government totally prohibited travel abroad for any reason for many months.
A lot of official trips were cancelled.
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gamini / October 23, 2012
Justice this was so to the general Public but not to her own Family and Party members. Her cronies like UK Edmund managed to take possession of Mt. Lavinia Hotel ousting Saly, with State Banks extending unlimited credit. Life in Cuba is no different to what we experienced in the ’70s. Many things are restricted and the privileged only have access. There is a black market for foreign currency. I know first hand through Kennumen’s step daughter who is married to a Cuban living there. The society is so free that if one is caught close to Fidel Castro’s residence without valid reason you are dead.
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