Radio Havana Cuba, December 28, 1999 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Tuesday, December 28, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- ON-GOING PROTESTS DEMAND RETURN OF ELIAN GONZALEZ 2.- URUGUAYANS JOIN DEMAND FOR THE RETURN OF ELIAN 3.- MORE CUBANS WORKING IN TOURISM WITH ACCESS TO DOLLARS 4.- CUBAN BANKING SYSTEM: Y2K READY 5.- DESPITE PROHIBITIONS, U.S. TOURISM TO CUBA INCREASES ON-GOING PROTESTS DEMAND RETURN OF ELIAN GONZALEZ Havana, December 28(RHC)-- The University of Havana and the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Vocational School were the sites of on-going protests demanding the return of Elian Gonzalez. Hundreds of Cubans converged on the University of Havana's Ignacio Agramonte Plaza on Monday evening. Students of all ages and social sectors gathered to listen to poetry, songs and speeches, along with watching three young people create their own cartoon images -- representing the U.S. retention of Elian Gonzalez against the will of this father and all four of his grandparents. The importance of the ceremony was described by one student as symbolic. "We must learn to defend ourselves at all costs," he said. The issue of the boy's kidnapping "is only a part of the continued aggression against us by certain elements in the United States." In fact, many of the youth present had nothing but good things to say about the U.S. people in general, recognizing that the blockade is supported by a dwindling minority and, as one young woman said -- "a craven government in an approaching election year." Wearing Elian Gonzalez T-shirts and waving small Cuban flags to an upbeat Cuban rhythm, these young people had no question about what they are defending. Radio Havana Cuba spoke with one 15-year-old student who said: "I don't know what life is like in the United States for someone my age, but if it is a society that prevents a young boy from living with his father just because his dad lives in Cuba, then I'm not interested in even visiting such a place." Tuesday evening, a popular rally was held at the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Vocational School, where students from area high schools joined their voices to protest Washington's intransigent position -- preventing Elian from returning to his home and his immediate family. URUGUAYANS JOIN DEMAND FOR THE RETURN OF ELIAN GONZALEZ Montevideo, December 28(RHC)-- Some 100 Cubans and Uruguayan friends gathered in the gardens of the Cuban embassy in Montevideo to celebrate the 41st anniversary of the Cuban Revolution and the 40th anniversary of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Cuban ambassador to Uruguay, Miguel Martinez, spoke of the economic recession of most of Latin America and the increase in Cuba's Gross Domestic Product to 6.2%. Martinez also analyzed the most important events that have taken place in Cuba in 1999 and said that "although we are celebrating another anniversary of the Revolution, we are also demanding the return to Cuba of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez, who is being held in Miami." The ambassador said he was hopeful that Elian would soon be sent back to Cuba - to his father, grandparents and school friends. After his speech, Cubans and Uruguayans enjoyed the Cuban rhythms of the Buena Vista Social Club and Los Van Van. MORE CUBANS WORKING IN TOURISM WITH ACCESS TO DOLLARS Havana, December 28(RHC)-- One of the reasons why more Cubans had access to U.S. dollars during 1999 is that the Cuban state has called for more workers to join the Cuban tourist industry. According to the Ministry of Economy and Finances, some 62 percent of Cubans -- 5.7 percent more than last year -- currently show relative monetary stability in a period without the threat of rising prices. The value of the national currency strengthened in 1999, with foreign currency exchange centers maintaining the exchange rate at 20 Cuban pesos for each U.S. dollar. The amount of cash circulating on the island is currently 1.782 billion Cuban pesos, distributed in cash and bank accounts. There are five million personal bank accounts in Cuba. In 1999, the Gross Domestic Product reached 6.2% and there was a salary increase in numerous work sectors. The average salary of a Cuban is now 223 pesos a month with unemployment reduced to six percent. CUBAN BANKING SYSTEM: Y2K READY Havana, December 28(RHC)-- The Cuban Banking System will not suffer from the Y2K effect. According to the Vice President of Cuba's Central Bank in Havana, Jorge Barrera, the financial institution's computers are ready for the date change on Saturday. He added that various tests were carried out simulating the arrival of January 1st and that all computers worked perfectly. Last week, Cuban authorities declared that the country was ready to face the so-called error of the millennium - noting that all Cuban companies and institutions were granted certification. DESPITE PROHIBITIONS, U.S. TOURISM TO CUBA INCREASES New York, December 28(RHC)-- U.S. tourism to Cuba has considerably increased over the past several years, despite legal prohibitions and threats of sanctions. The daily Wall Street Journal explained that Cuba has become a destination of interest for U.S. tourists -- pointing out that U.S. citizens were restricted from traveling to Cuba or having any commercial relations with the island, under threat of being punished with up to ten years in prison or fined over $250,000 dollars. However, unauthorized travel has increased by 20 percent annually over the last 20 years. According to data provided by analyst John Kavulich, some 122,000 U.S. citizens visited Cuba in 1998 -- 22,000 of whom did so illegally. Mexico, Canada and the Bahamas are the transit points most used by Americans to reach the Cuban island. An employee of Cuba Travel, a travel agency in Tijuana, Mexico, said they annually send over 1000 U.S. tourists to Cuba through Cancun. Another travel agency in Toronto, Canada -- Hola Sun Holidays -- said that in 1998, they sent some 215,000 tourists to Cuba, representing a 30 percent increase in comparison with the previous year. Although the agency could not determine how many of them were U.S. citizens, it did say that there had been an increase in requests from the United States in recent years. [c] 1999, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. This prohibition includes the distribution of this material via Usenet News, "bulletin board" services, e-mail lists, print media, radio and television. For the complete RADIO HAVANA CUBA NEWSCAST and other features, please write for our daily broadcast schedule. We welcome your comments and suggestions. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org rhc-eng-11359 1999-Dec-28 19:22:17