This is what brought Cuba to its breaking point. For decades, Venezuela had been Havana’s biggest oil supplier. Then overnight its president Nicolas Maduro was out of power. The dictator and terrors Maduro. is finally gone in Venezuela. People are free. Under US pressure, Caracas pulled the plug on its closest ally, which already had *** troubled economy. We would love to see the regime change. We would like to. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to make *** change, but we would love to see *** change. Once the Trump administration threatened tariffs on countries that send oil to the communist-run government, no one dared to come to its rescue. The impact on this island nation of 10 million people has been devastating. Blackouts stretching past 20 hours *** day became the new normal in many areas. And while at first there were endless lines at gas stations. They eventually cleared because there’s no longer any gas. Food prices spiked and shortages soon followed. Everywhere you look there are piles of trash, breeding grounds for diseases and despair. That’s less than $1. Add to that tourism grinding to *** halt and you have *** perfect storm. Cubans are no strangers to economic hardship. Following Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution, they have endured America’s embargo and their own government’s disastrous economic missteps. But in my 14 years as *** foreign correspondent in this country, I’ve never seen Cubans suffering to such *** degree. The And that is something I’m hearing again and again from residents, with some unleashing their anger into the streets. Now US officials say they are seeking *** federal indictment against 94 year old former leader Raul Castro, still believed to wield great power. His handpicked successor says Cuba is preparing to defend against any US attack. It’s the closest that Washington and Havana have come to outright confrontation since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Donald Trump has said he may put *** US aircraft carrier right here off Cuba’s coast and tell the island’s leadership to leave power, that the mere sight of America’s military might would be enough to take Cuba without firing *** shot. Cuba’s officials though have said that any US military action would lead to *** loss of both Cuban and US lives. Over the years Cubans have told me they just want *** normal life, to live in *** country where things work and where they have the opportunity to prosper and live in peace, at least for the moment that simple dream seems farther away than ever. Patrick Oppmann, CNN Havana.
One of the main online platforms that Cubans living in the United States use to send money, food, and clothing to their relatives on the island is ceasing operations as the Trump administration increases pressure on the Cuban government.Envioscuba.com announced it has stopped taking orders as round after round of U.S. sanctions aim to choke off international support for businesses in Cuba. The latest target Cuba’s state-owned oil and gas company, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and GAESA, a business conglomerate run by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba that owns a wide range of businesses, from car rentals and retail stores to transportation companies.Increasingly, it’s the most vulnerable who are being punished as Cubans endure shortages of food and medicine, nearly constant blackouts and stifling heat. Many have received help from family and friends in the U.S., who send money and packages from Miami containing appliances, food, and clothing, or purchase products online for delivery in Cuba.Envioscuba.com said it no longer accepting new orders, but all those previously approved and in process will be delivered.”Due to reasons beyond our control, our platform can no longer provide services,” the website said, without elaborating. It is not clear exactly when new orders stopped being received.The AP was unable to contact the company. Its website does not list a phone number to call or an email address to send a message.Platforms like envioscuba.com were operating directly with Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. said Emilio Morales, president at Havana Consulting Group, a Miami-based consulting firm specializing in market strategies for doing business in Cuba.Most such portals, including envioscuba.com, do not ship products from the United States to Cuba, but rather sell and deliver products stored in GAESA warehouses on the island, Morales said. “The trend is for all of this to disappear, because GAESA is behind it all,” said Morales, who expects other similar portals to shut down as well to avoid being sanctioned for doing business with the Cuban government.The administration’s sanctions threaten to freeze U.S. assets of foreign companies and even prohibit travel by their investors, employees and shareholders — virtually eliminating their activity in the U.S. financial system.Spanish hotel chain Meliá recently announced it will cease operations at 15 of the 34 hotels it manages on the island, joining a growing list of companies with a long-standing presence in Cuba that are withdrawing or limiting their operations on the island.
One of the main online platforms that Cubans living in the United States use to send money, food, and clothing to their relatives on the island is ceasing operations as the Trump administration increases pressure on the Cuban government.
Envioscuba.com announced it has stopped taking orders as round after round of U.S. sanctions aim to choke off international support for businesses in Cuba. The latest target Cuba’s state-owned oil and gas company, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and GAESA, a business conglomerate run by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba that owns a wide range of businesses, from car rentals and retail stores to transportation companies.
Increasingly, it’s the most vulnerable who are being punished as Cubans endure shortages of food and medicine, nearly constant blackouts and stifling heat. Many have received help from family and friends in the U.S., who send money and packages from Miami containing appliances, food, and clothing, or purchase products online for delivery in Cuba.
Envioscuba.com said it no longer accepting new orders, but all those previously approved and in process will be delivered.
“Due to reasons beyond our control, our platform can no longer provide services,” the website said, without elaborating. It is not clear exactly when new orders stopped being received.
The AP was unable to contact the company. Its website does not list a phone number to call or an email address to send a message.
Platforms like envioscuba.com were operating directly with Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. said Emilio Morales, president at Havana Consulting Group, a Miami-based consulting firm specializing in market strategies for doing business in Cuba.
Most such portals, including envioscuba.com, do not ship products from the United States to Cuba, but rather sell and deliver products stored in GAESA warehouses on the island, Morales said. “The trend is for all of this to disappear, because GAESA is behind it all,” said Morales, who expects other similar portals to shut down as well to avoid being sanctioned for doing business with the Cuban government.
The administration’s sanctions threaten to freeze U.S. assets of foreign companies and even prohibit travel by their investors, employees and shareholders — virtually eliminating their activity in the U.S. financial system.
Spanish hotel chain Meliá recently announced it will cease operations at 15 of the 34 hotels it manages on the island, joining a growing list of companies with a long-standing presence in Cuba that are withdrawing or limiting their operations on the island.
