Cuba’s tourism continues to sparkle

My visit to the island of Cuba last week revealed more things about its tourism product than I had seen on earlier trips. If it continues to develop along the same path, Cuba could soon become the envy of so many other nations in that field.

The week-long information-seeking tour, arranged by Caribbean and Latin Travel Consultants Ltd, for travel agents representing Jamaican companies with locations across the island, and media personnel, gave a clear picture of how the industry is evolving, after its earlier years of playing a subdued role and limited contribution to the island’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Against the backdrop of more stringent measures being applied to the Spanish-speaking nation by the United States, which has maintained an over 60-year embargo, called a blockade by natives, the tourism industry continues to show growth, as the now leading contributor to its annual budget, following the fall in production in key areas of sugar and tobacco.

Visitors from parts of Europe – including Russia, Germany, and ‘motherland’ Spain, as well as Canada, China and the United Kingdom – make up in the main for the virtual loss of American tourists, although some still visit there.

The physical structures of some hotels, such as the Nacional in the capital Havana, remain symbols of undiluted history. Newer brands, for example Royalton in Havana, and the over 970-room Melia, in the main tourism belt of Varadero, are always sought after … Melia Varadero enjoys 100 per cent occupancy – packed to the seams despite the industry not yet experiencing its high season.

There are those who believe that should Cuba’s tourism industry grow further, Jamaica’s would be in big trouble. I disagree, as both could benefit from the other based on package deals, what with their close proximity, and contrasts in some hospitality practices.

What is remarkable with the Cuban industry is the creativity and politeness of the people, and their willingness to assist you whenever a challenge would rise. Many in the industry there speak English … from the individual cleaning the floor, to the general manager … which is always a good bird in the hand to have.

The medical tourism industry is also on the uptick, with people from all over the world visiting for all sorts of procedures and to benefit from locally manufactured drugs.

CimaVax-EGF, a drug developed by the Center of Molecular Immunology in Havana, for use in the treatment of lung cancer, remains popular since its release to the market in 2011. 

The drug is also exported to Peru, Paraguay, Belarus, Serbia, Colombia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, while tests are ongoing in some European countries, Japan, and the United States. The cost is affordable, around J$150 per dose, and the results are quite good, doctors have said. That area too, is something that Jamaica’s struggling health sector could look towards, but with a policy head like the one who is in place now – Dr Christopher Tufton – you would expect that he would be more interested in getting something for the bouts of neglect that currently afflict him, than to prioritise a drug that fights against a disease from which many suffer in his homeland.

Lester Coke: He cared for his people

The surname ‘Coke’ has been in the news for decades, many times for the wrong reason. Mention the name, and it is certain to elicit some kind of response, good or bad.

Naturally, the stories are varied, depending on where in the world you are.

I covered the death of Lester Lloyd “Jim Brown” Coke, who was found burnt in his prison cell at the General Penitentiary at the time, now Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, on February 23, 1992 for the Sunday Gleaner then. So, when I met his grandson of the same name, minus the alias, there was an immediate excitement for me as a newsman.

Now, death has struck, as Lester succumbed to injuries he received in a motor vehicle collision with a taximan in Tivoli Gardens last Friday.

He was introduced to me by my friend of over 40 years, Don Creary, and we had a few drinks on that occasion around 2022. He told me of an upcoming sports activity that would start soon in his community in West Kingston – the Tivoli Gardens six-a-side Football League – to be played under lights, which heightened my interest. The league was meant to maintain the peace in Tivoli and its environs, entertain its people, particularly the youth, with quality play, and provide additional income for vendors. As I found out later, Lester cared for his people.

I decided to cover the league, and what fun it was doing so – thrilling community football which started at night, and sometimes going past 2:30 in the morning. It was all safe, nobody pestering you, and you could leave your car windows down or doors open if you wanted to. The community was out in full force every night that I attended; and there were many such nights.

Lester, nephew of Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who is serving time in a United States prison for infractions committed before and up to 2010, was in total control of the management of the league. He was grateful to the sponsors, to myself, and to ‘Babsy’ Grange as the sports minister, but was concerned that the Member of Parliament, Desmond McKenzie, was not involved. I had to remind him that McKenzie not only had a constituency to run, but was a senior Cabinet minister, and so, it might have been difficult for him to attend matches at that time of night. 

It turned out that the league was a howling success, and it was won by an aggregation that included two Kingston College Manning Cup players, including Trayvon “Elijah” Reid who went on to represent Jamaica as his uncle, Roderick Reid did. And guess what? The winning team wore purple. 

Lester and I kept in touch, and when I heard that he was involved in the crash with the car driven by a taxi driver, it was sad. I did not know him to be someone who was involved in any irregular activities. I fully knew him as one who kept regular fund-raising parties and who loved football.

I am happy to have met him and for me to have seen another side of what makes Jamaica ‘Out of Many, One‘.

Wayne Pinnock’s folly

Wayne Pinnock’s revelation that he is switching allegiance from Jamaica to Turkey on the grounds of money was not a surprise. 

The opportunities for laying the financial platform for Jamaican athletes are limited, if those athletes decide to hone their skills in this Caribbean Island. That’s why many of them opt to head overseas for the greater financial gains that exist.

Pinnock is free to do whatever he chooses, as long as he satisfies the criteria for living elsewhere and fall in line with those newly-acquired rules and regulations.

While he is free to do as he chooses in terms of citizenry, he does not have the right to bad-mouth, or lie about the country of his birth, and moan about the things that he ought to have had from his original State.

By uttering the remarks that, essentially, his country did nothing or very little for him and did not thank him for his exploits in the field, the long jumper blundered big time. It had to take the office of the minister with responsibility for sport, to provide evidence of financial and other support, and set things right.

That move forced Pinnock to abort his run-up, and come with a different approach, as he did not mean the Government when he started his tracing match, but the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, which also raised some questions.

There is no need for anyone who has achieved a feat, to be begging for congratulations, written or orally. You went out there to do a job, just do the job and move on. Do not wait on salutations.

The misstep by the 24-year-old former sprint hurdler comes across in poor taste, as he attended an institution, Kingston College, which taught him to be, among other things, humble. His personal situation, like the thousands of boys who were given a platform by the now deceased Bishop Percival W. Gibson, was challenging while he attended high school, what with his mother’s death and his dad, a mason, having to make the sacrifice in leading the struggle to get him on a concrete footing.

Pinnock left the secondary school stage smiling, scholarship and all, and continued to shine in the American collegiate system and at the national level in the long jump. It is regrettable, from a Jamaican perspective, that he has decided to change his address, but that’s his choice, and he ought to be respected for it. However, there is no need for him to take all the unwanted baggage with him. 

Recognition for Lawrence Rowe … finally

The legendary Jamaica and West Indies cricketer, Lawrence George “Yagga” Rowe, will be given due recognition by his home country soon, we are being told.

Finally, someone has acquired the ‘balls’ to recognise the man whose batting brought great joy to the world, despite his transgression of touring South Africa at the height of Apartheid, as captain of a ‘Rebel’ team in the 1982-83 period.

All the Caribbean cricketers who made that ill-advised venture, received lengthy bans, but have since been pardoned. It is now time to move on.

I had urged Sports Minister ‘Babsy’ Grange not to follow those who would want to axe Rowe from our cricket history, but that was ignored when the mural at Sabina Park was being established. His image was not placed on the wall, and it remains missing, although there are others who did not contribute a fraction of what Rowe gave, but still made the wall.

That must change.