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2012 Che Guevara Brigade Itinerary 

Members: ≈ 80 brigade members

Arrival date: Monday, April 30^th, Holguin Airport, Flight CU 181 at 01:10 hrs

Departure date: Friday, May 18^th, Camagüey Airport, Flight CU 180 at 15:40 hrs

Accommodation: Pernik Hotel in Holguin Province

                               Hotel in Santiago de Cuba Province

                               Hotel in Camagüey Province

Monday , April 30 ^th:

01:10 am  Arrival at “Frank Pais” International Airport in Holguin Province.

-   Transfer to the Pernik Hotel.

-    Lodging

08:00 hrs   Breakfast

09:30 hrs   Departure

10:00 hrs  Welcome ceremony and wreath lying to Calixto Garcia monument

11:30 hrs   Presentation of the program and explanation on the main features of  

                  Holguin province

12:30 hrs   Lunch at the hotel

14:00 hrs   Departure

14:30 hrs   Visit to a Family Guiding House

-     Meeting with Federation of Cuban Women

-     Conference: “Women´s role on the Cuban Revolution”

19:30 hrs   Dinner at the hotel

20:30 hrs   Brigade meeting for May 1^st demonstration

Tuesday, May 1^st:

                   -  Participation at May 1^st demonstration on Holguin province

  - Free time at the city

18:30 hrs   Return to the hotel

19:30 hrs   Dinner at the hotel

20:30 hrs   Presentation of a documentary film on the Cuban Five

Wednesday, May 2^nd:

07:00 hrs   Breakfast 

07:45 hrs   Departure

08:30 hrs  International Solidarity Forum

12:00 hrs   Return to the hotel

12:30 hrs   Lunch at the hotel.

14:00 hrs   Visit to the School of Arts in Holguin

                      - Meeting with students and leaders of the Secondary Student Federation (FEEM)

17:00 hrs  Return to the hotel 

19:00 hrs   Dinner

20:30 hrs   Participation in “Las Romerias” cultural event’s activities

Thursday, May 3^rd:

07:00  hrs   Breakfast

07:45  hrs   Departure

09:00  hrs   Opening Parade of  “Las Romerias” cultural event.

11:45  hrs   Return to the hotel

12:00  hrs   Lunch at the hotel

14:00  hrs   Departure

14:30 hrs    Visit to a Cooperative Farm

-     Meeting with farmers

17:30  hrs   Return to the hotel

19:30  hrs   Dinner at the hotel

21:00  hrs   Presentation of the Cuban Film “Martí, el ojo del canario”

Friday, May 4 ^th:

07:00 hrs   Breakfast 

07:45 hrs   Departure

08:00 hrs  Voluntary working day 

11:45 hrs   Return to the hotel

12:00 hrs   Lunch at the hotel.

14:00 hrs   Conference on the Public Health system in Cuba

                    1st group: Visit to the Ophthalmology Center at the “Lucia Iñiguez Landin” 

                                       General Hospital                                     

         2nd group:  Visit to Ataxic Hospital

17:00 hrs   Return to the hotel

19:30 hrs Dinner at the hotel

20:30 hrs  Presentation of the film “Will the real terrorist please stand up?”

Saturday, May 5 ^th:

07:00 hrs  Breakfast

08:00 hrs  Departure 

10:00 hrs  Visit to Fidel Castro birthplace in Biran

12:00 hrs Lunch at the hotel

14:00 hrs City tour

                  - Visit to the Provincial Museum, “Origenes” Mural and the house where 

                     Calixto Garcia was born

                  - Ascent to La Cruz hill

19:00 hrs  Dinner at the hotel

20:15 hrs  Departure

20:30 hrs  Visit to a Committee for the Defense of the Revolution(CDR)

Sunday, May 6 ^th:

07:00 hrs  Breakfast

08:00 hrs  Departure 

09:30 hrs  Visit to Guardalavaca Beach

                     - Free time

                     - Lunch

17:00 hrs  Return to the hotel

19:30 hrs   Dinner at the hotel

21:00 hrs    Visit to a Cultural Centre

                    - Participation in “Las Romerias” cultural event’s activities

Monday, May 7 ^th:

07:00 hrs   Breakfast 

07:45 hrs   Departure

08:00 hrs  Voluntary working day 

11:45 hrs   Return to the hotel

12:00 hrs   Lunch at the hotel.

14:30  hrs  Conference “Cuban economy and the effects of the US blockade”.

19:30  hrs  Dinner at the hotel

20:30 hrs  Participation in “Las Romerias” cultural event’s activities

Tuesday, May 8 ^th:

07:00 hrs  Breakfast 

07:45 hrs  Departure

08:00 hrs  Voluntary working day 

11:45 hrs  Return to the hotel

12:00 hrs  Lunch at the hotel

13:30 hrs  Departure

14:30 hrs  Visit to areas affected by the Ike hurricane in Gibara municipality

-     Tour to the Wind Power Park for energy saving    

17:30 hrs  Return to the hotel

19:30 hrs  Dinner at the hotel

22:00 hrs  Departure

23:00 hrs  Closing ceremony of “Las Romerias” cultural event

Wednesday, May 9 ^th:

07:00  hrs  Breakfast

08:30  hrs  Departure for Santiago de Cuba province.

11:00  hrs  Visit to Santa Ifigenia Cemetery

                    - Visit to José Martí Memorial

12:30  hrs  Tour to the “Antonio Maceo” Square

13:00 hrs   Lunch

-     Lodging at a hotel in Santiago de Cuba province

15:00 hrs   Visit to “Granjita Siboney”

19:00 hrs   Dinner at the hotel

20:15 hrs   Departure

20:30 hrs   Visit to the House of the Caribbean

                    - Meeting with artists from Santiago

Thursday, May 10 ^th:

07:00 hrs  Breakfast

08:00 hrs  Departure

09:00 hrs  Visit to the Moncada Garrison

                 - Tour to the July 26^th Museum

11:30 hrs   Tour to the Morro Castle

                  - Lunch

15:00 hrs   Visit to “Vilma Espin” Memorial

16:30 hrs   Tour to the historical center of the city

19:30 hrs  Dinner at the hotel

-     Free time

Friday, May 11 ^th:

07:30 hrs Breakfast

09:00 hrs Departure

09:30 hrs  Visit to new facilities inaugurated for the benefit of the Santiago de Cuba’s

                  people.

11:30 hrs   Lunch at the hotel

13:30 hrs   Return to the Holguin Province

-     Lodging at the Pernik Hotel

-     Visit to the Mayabe viewpoint

19:30 hrs  Dinner at the hotel              

-     Free time

Saturday, May 12 ^th:

07:00 hrs   Breakfast 

07:45 hrs   Departure

08:00 hrs   Voluntary working day 

11:45 hrs   Return to the hotel

12:00 hrs   Lunch at the hotel

14:30 hrs   Meeting with the Association of Combatants

18:00 hrs   Return to the hotel

19:30 hrs   Dinner at the hotel

20:30 hrs   Presentation of the Cuban film “Habanastation”

Sunday, May 13 ^th:

07:00 hrs  Breakfast

08:30 hrs  Departure

09:45 hrs  Visit to “Boca de Sama” town

                    - Meeting with victims of the terrorist acts.

11:30 hrs Departure

12:00 hrs  Lunch at Guardalavaca

                    - Free time at the beach             

17:00 hrs  Return to the hotel

19:30 hrs  Dinner at the hotel

-     Free time

Monday , May 14 ^th:

07:00 hrs   Breakfast 

07:45 hrs   Departure

08:00 hrs   Voluntary working day 

11:45 hrs   Return to the hotel

12:00 hrs   Lunch at the hotel

14:00 hrs  Visit to an industry

-          Meeting with Cuba Trade Union Association (CTC)

      Presentation: “New Cuban Economic Model” 

17:00 hrs  Return to the hotel

19:30 hrs  Dinner at the hotel

Tuesday, May 15 ^th:

07:00 hrs   Breakfast 

07:45 hrs   Departure

08:00 hrs   Voluntary working day 

11:45 hrs   Return to the hotel

12:00 hrs   Lunch at the hotel

14:00 hrs  Visit to the University in Holguin

-     Meeting with members of the University Student Federation and the Young Communist League.

-     Meeting with foreign students

16:00 hrs   Conference “Cuban culture and national identity”

17:30 hrs   Return to the hotel

19:30 hrs   Dinner at the hotel

Wednesday, May 16 ^th:

07:00 hrs   Breakfast 

07:45 hrs   Departure

08:00 hrs   Voluntary working day 

11:45 hrs   Return to the hotel

12:00 hrs   Lunch at the hotel

14:30 hrs  Conference: “Cuban Penal Code”

16:30 hrs   Return to the hotel

20:00 hrs   Farewell activity on Expo-Holguin Centre

Thursday, May 17 ^th:

07:00 hrs  Breakfast 

09:30 hrs   Final Brigade meeting

-     Evaluation of the productive results

-     Future plans

12:30 hrs  Almuerzo

14:00 hrs  Departure for Camagüey province

17:30 hrs  Arrival in Camagüey province

                 - Lodging at the hotel

20:00 hrs  Dinner at the hotel

Friday, May 18 ^th:

07:30 hrs Breakfast

08:30 hrs Departure

09:00 hrs City tour in Camagüey

11:30 hrs  Lunch at the hotel

12:30 hrs  Departure for the airport

                    Return to Canada, flight CU 180 at 15:40 hrs.

Some 134,000 South Americans Traveled to Cuba in 2011

Buenos Aires.- Nearly 134,000 South American visitors traveled to Cuba up to December 25, according to statistics from the Cuban Office of Information and Promotion of Tourism for the Southern Cone released on Thursday. 
 
  Argentina was the leading source of tourists, with 74,473 visitors, which represents a growth of 30.19 percent compared to 2010, said the report. 
 
Another leading country is Chile, which sent 23,377 travelers to Cuba, for an annual increase of 34.88 percent. 
 
Uruguay also has been growing above 36 percent, totaling more than 6,800 visitors, while Brazil (13,751) just increased by 0.42 percent. Peru, which sent almost 14,700 tourists, is still below last year’s levels. 
 
During the International Tourism Fair of Latin America, FIT 2011, which closed last November in Buenos Aires, Cuban authorities offered full guarantees for the success of the largest air operation with Argentina, scheduled for January to April 2012. 
 
The director of the Office of Information and Promotion of Tourism of Cuba for the Southern Cone said that in the reference period the number of direct weekly flights between the Buenos Aires and Havana, Varadero, Cayo Largo, Cayo Coco, Santa Clara and Holguin will increase to eight. (PL)

Cuban government provides subsidies to build/repair homes

Havana, Jan 4, Cuban people will be able to receive subsidies from the government as from 15 January to purchase building materials and pay for labor to start, repair or rehabilitate housing, according to a publication of the Official Gazette on Wednesday. 
 
  The measure responds to Guideline 229 approved by the Sixth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, which expressed the decision to provide subsidies. 
 
That measure also responds to the government’s decision to eliminate excessive and unnecessary subsidies and to assist only those that need it. 
 
The initiative will benefit mainly families affected by catastrophes or natural disasters, and also critical social cases, particularly those living in vulnerable conditions and without economic solvency. 
 
People can apply to the housing department of every municipality, and once awarded the grant, the beneficiary is obliged by signing a contract to repair the home in accordance with the agreement, informed the Gazette.

Cuba & China to Develop Economic Agenda for 2012-2016 

Beijing, Dec 27 (Prensa Latina) China and Cuba agreed on Tuesday to work on the development of a bilateral economic agenda in the medium term, a decision that highlights the strategic nature of their relationship, confirmed here with the work of the 24th session of the intergovernmental Commission. 
 
  This agenda promotes the development of the ties between both countries for the period 2012-2016 based on complementarity, said here the vice president of the Council of Ministers, Ricardo Cabrisas, who co-chaired the meeting with the Commerce Minister Chen Deming. 
 
Cabrisas added that they also support the common goal to strengthen, deepen and expand trade and joint investments in sectors prioritized by the respective five-year plans. 
 
Cabrisas stressed the importance of this step in bilateral relations at a time when the international economic situation is difficult and complex, in which “we have witnessed how the so-called cultured and civilized countries repress their indignant citizens in order to save bankers”. 
 
In that regard, he opined that a new division of the world is being implemented, while natural resources are plundered and war becomes a business. 
 
The Cuban Vice President also warned that the recession will be prolonged; protectionism increases and restricts the transfer of high technology, while the issue of agriculture and food security is one of the most worrying problems for humanity.

Vietnam expresses solidarity with the Five Cuban Heroes

Hanoi, Dec 29 (Prensa Latina) Vietnam ratified its unconditional support to Cuba in its claim for the release of the Cuban Five anti-terrorist fighters held in the United States, and the end of the economic harassment by Washington. 
 
  Dao Van Binh, president of the subsidiary of Friendship Associations from Hanoi condemned the economic blockade for more than half a century that tries to asphyxiate Cuba, despite the worldwide rejection. 
 
Binh sent greetings to the 53rd anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution and also his support to the freedom of the Cuban Five anti-terrorist fighters, “held in very hard conditions.”  
 
Vietnam will always go hand in hand with Cuba, in solidarity against the harassment of the hostile forces; Van Binh asserted and also highlighted the transcendental situation living Cuba nowadays. 
 
The official expressed that the Sixth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba “marked an important turning point to improve the quality of life and strengthen the construction of socialism in the friendly country.”  
 
Fredesman Turro, Cuba’s ambassador to Vietnam highlighted the historical friendship between both countries which had been demonstrated in good and bad times and with the possibility to economically grow even more.

Long Live the Cuban Revolution!

CELAC’s Significance Highlighted in France

Paris, Dec 12 (Prensa Latina) The creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) is an event of great significance that responds to the aspirations and unity of our peoples, Cuban ambassador to France Orlando Requeijo stated.

The also pro tempore president of the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) convened on Monday a lecture on the perspectives and challenges of integration as a result of the constitution of this new organization. 
 
With the creation of CELAC, we realize the dreams of Simon Bolivar to form a single nation from Mexico to the Patagonia, and the ideas of Jose Marti and others who have fought for independence, Requeijo told the press. 
 
Founded in Caracas early this month, the organization comprises 33 states, with a population of more than 580 million inhabitants. 
 
Ambassadors, representatives of Latin American and Caribbean countries, and members of organizations of solidarity with Cuba attended the lecture at the Foreign Press Center

France Willing to Boost Economic Relations with Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 10 (acn) France’s Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Pierre Lellouche, said on Friday in Havana that the French government is willing to boost relations with Cuba in the economic and other sectors. 
 
In a press conference offered at the French embassy in the Cuban capital, Lellouche noted that his country hopes to return to the levels of relations they had ten years ago, when French investment in Cuba accounted 
for 10% of the foreign total. 
 
“Today, that percentage has dropped to 1.5, but this year we have invested 150 million euros in the Island and we hope to reach 250 million in 2012,” he added. 
 
Lellouche announced that in January 2012 a Cuban delegation will travel to Paris in order promote relations and to look for financing for the projects of next year. 
 
“We want to sing accords in the agro-food, transportation, energy, tourism, and culture sectors,” said the French official. 
 
He noted that his government is closely following the ongoing process to update the Cuban economic model and also the development of the private sector in the Caribbean nation. 
 
“We want to boost bilateral relations because there are no political problems between our two nations and we share the same passion for freedom and national independence,” pointed out Lellouche, who is in Havana on a two-day official visit. 
 
During his stay in Cuba, the visitor has met with the president of the Cuban Parliament and with high-ranking officials of the Cuban ministries of Foreign Trade and Investment, Transportation, and Tourism, among others. 

US Double Standard on Terrorism Denounced

Havana, Dec 9 (Prensa Latina) The release of Luis Posada Carriles and the imprisonment of Cuba’s five anti-terrorist fighters show the manipulation of the US legal system with political purposes, said lawyer Jose Pertierra on Friday.

The fact that Antonio Guerrero, Gerardo Hernandez, Fernando Gonzalez, Ramon Labañino, and Rene Gonzalez remain held at US prisons since 1998 for monitoring violent activities against Cuba, shows the US double standard towards terrorism, said the lawyer.

Pertierra, who represents Venezuela in the extradition request for trying Posada Carriles for his crimes, such as the mid-flight blow up of a Cuban airplane, said that the trial held in El Paso, south US, was a farce.

During a Havana-Caracas videoconference, the lawyer said that Posada Carriles must be tried as a terrorist, but his links with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) protects him from those charges.

Jose Luis Mendez, investigator from the Studies Center of Cuba’s Ministry of Interior, said that the CIA file on Posada Carriles reveals the many murders and serious crimes committed by him in the United States and abroad.

U.S. Gov´t Asks to Reject Appeals of the 5 Cuban Heroes

Havana, Dec 12 (Prensa Latina) The U.S. government asked Florida”s South District Court to reject collateral appeals from Ramon Labañino and Fernando Gonzalez, two of the five Cuban antiterrorist fighters unjustly held in that northern country since 1998.
  The petition, made on December 6, states that the arguments made by both men lack legal merits to be considered by the court.

The government said the argument on the government’s payment to Miami journalists before and during the trial against the Five to create an atmosphere of hostility against them and prejudice the jury presented in both appeals does not constitute a violation of due process.

The government´s motion responds to the appeals presented by defense attorneys of Ramon Labañino and Fernando Gonzalez on August 8 and September 12, 2011, respectively, states the note.

Labañino and Gonzalez, along with Antonio Guerrero, Rene Gonzalez and Gerardo Hernandez, are currently serving harsh sentences for informing on the plans of violent actions against Cuba conceived by terrorist groups based in U.S. territory.

Rene Gonzalez was released from prison on October 7 and a Miami judge decision has forced him to serve three years of “supervised release” in the United States after completing his sentence.

Such situation puts his life at risk and is an additional punishment for him and his relatives.

According to the judge, Rene Gonzalez should respect the special condition of not approaching places attended by well-known terrorists.