HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-03-14, Page 227Li ow $eiatinel, Wednesday,., March 14, 1979
uba has p:
Eelltae,a note:
Olive Kennedy and. Marg Burkhart, both
of R. 1, Lucknow left New. Years Day for
week' long tour of Cuba. They stayed at a
resort. in El Tropica and travelledaround the
island from there. Olive has written a feature
describing their trip and Marg sent along
her pictures.
BY OLIVE KENNEDY
Someone has •said "If you're going on a
holiday, don't expect to find things as you
have them at home, because you have left
your home to find'things that are different".
This we found to be quite true during our,
recent visit to Cuba.
Popular uprisings against oppression had
plagued the Island and hindered progress
for over 1.00 years and it was not until the
overthrow of the military dictatorship that
real reformcould be accomplished.
Cuba is a very interesting Island political-
ly, especially since 1953 when. Castro's
reform governinent gained popularity :and
overthrew Cuba's military dictatorship ..in
January 1959.
Naturally everything dates back from the.
Cuban Revolution and we were .very
fortunate to be there on January 2 when they
were celebrating 20 yearsof progress under
Castro's socialistic government.
On arrival, we soon 'learned that Cuba
runs on "their." time and when you get.uSed
to it, it's relaxing.. and alot more fun. The
Cuban, Style is to be friendly And polite to
tourists.
I am m sure there is a great deal to be said on
the topic of Communism verses. Capitalism.
Each have their advantages and 'disadvant-
ages but. I:,would like to point .out the :vast
strides in progress as we saw it, during''the'
20 • yearsfollowing the Revolution.:. ,
CUBAN SCHOOL SYSTEM
Their school system has greatly improved:.
Prior: to the Revolution the poor were mostly
illiterate: Now school attendance ranges
from pre -kindergarten and is compulsory up.
to. age 15: To date they have 4 universities
but only top students attend.
High school students are bused from their
homes Sunday evenings and are lodged in
boarding schools for the week. These schools
are located.; in the country and are in
connection:. With an' Agricultural College.
Usuallyaround 500 students attend. Their
day is' divided into ` a studyand: a work
•
8.:5.,,d since
"Cu is .runs on their time
and when you get used to it,
it's relaxing and fun.
program. In the forenoon one-half the
students work in the surrounding .fields 'of
sugar cane or. citrus 'orchards while the.
remaining students attend classes. At noon
they change into smart school uniforms for
classes while themorning students work in
the fields. .
They have special classes for the retarded
and evening classes for adult workers.
Moreover, many labourers have organized
themselves into groups, called Micro -Brig-
ades. In this, a labourer familiar with a trade
is able to help his 'fellow workers.
Prior to 1959 doctors practised, only in the
cities and isolated patients, received no
:.1
revolution
treatment.. Since the Revolution, medical
centres are established throughout the
Island and in -mansions in Havana, deserted
by the rich who fled the Revolution. Thus,
free medical and dental care are available
to all and the level of medical care for the
average person is among the highest in the
world.
Since Cuba is slightly smaller than
England and has a population of over
9,000,000 'people, birth control is practised
toavoid over. -crowding. -,i
• AGRICULTURE
Cuba has rich red agricultural land
comparable to Prince Edward Island.
Cuban children were : fascinated by the tourists camera and often came running just to "
have a picture taken. . [Photo by Marg Burkhart]
•
Prior to the Revolution all land was owned
by the landlord. Since 1959, the family farm
is a gift from the government,, yet eighty per
cent of the. land is controlled by the
government and twenty per pent by the
farmer. The farmer must sell one-half his
crop to the government. The average Cuban
therefore, has very few. personal luxuries
since common need -c , me . before personal
gains. .
The.Cubanretires at age 65 on a pension
of 60 ;pasos a month (1 paso = S1.60).
As .you drive ,through the Island you 'see
cattle in big feed lots, mostly Holstein, for
milk, crossed with Brahania, to resist heat.
We visited a ranch with 600 thoroughbred
horses used for breeding stock and as a
mode of transportation. Following the Revo-
lution a blockade was placed on manufactur-
ed goods entering the.country, therefore; the
quality of cars and farm machinery leaves
much to be desired. .
Cuba has , foursugar, mills 'producing
8,000,000 tons. of sugar a year and presently
has several oil wells in operation.
But life isnot all work in Cuba. ' The
Casinos and much of the gay night `life of
pre -revolutionary Havana have gone. Never-
theless, the .variety . and .quality of enter-
tainment today ranges from Cabaret Acts to
the excitement of the Tropicana" night club, a
paradise under the Stars.
NO DISCIMINATION.
Cuba. unlike America is not plagued with
unemployment or race discrimination,.
Though some foods are rationed, nobody
goes hungry and there areno beggars,
All this sounds very enticing: Then what
fear""'lurks in our minds as we recall the •
hijackers anifkidnappers banished to Cuba?
Security is tight and ,crime is.. severely
punished. You . are safer on the'streets: of
Havana than in many of. our Canadiancities
unless you'' are caught in illegal drug
traffiking. In this `. case the Cuban govern=
ment is • currently offering a less ;than
fabulous, mandatory and lengthy vacation
for such activities.
Cuba is not a country of which' to be -afraid.
It is a "mast—interesting and intriguing
country. A country that we as Canadians
should, experience, .
Those intending to travel to Cuba must do
so with an open . mind and be prepared to
accept the fact that in Cuba the -luxuriant
commodities that we are accustomed to,
simply do not exist.
With this in mind, youtoo can enjoy Cuba.
round u your
action warrobe.
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528.2526
This Cuban has climbed more than one c nut .treel Within,
momenta, three coconuti were on the round: 'A word of
aaustion...den't look up when coconuts a coming down.
[Photo by Marg Hair'khartl