The Ferry At Last!

The Ferry At Last! / Rebeca Monzo
Posted on May 11, 2015

For many years, a ferry in our country served as a practical and
economic means of communication between Havana and Key West (Cayo
Hueso). It was heavily utilized by those people who travel with their
automobiles, to facilitate movement to other places after arrival at the
destination. This was only up to the year 1959, when everything changed
dramatically.

Again, after 56 years, the exchange of travel by ferry with the United
States of America has been reestablished, this time with certain
limitations: people cannot come to our city accompanied by their cars
and at the moment only certain people can utilize this means of
transportation: Cuban citizens resident in the US and those on the
island, and those Americans that qualify for cultural, sports,
scientific, academic and other types of exchange.

Upon learning the news, the Cuban population has proved to be somewhat
disconcerted with these limitations, because they haven't been given any
explanations in this regard. I supposed that this is due, fundamentally,
to the lack of infrastructure in our ports to receive these vessels
transporting automobiles, the necessary legalization of the use of
American and Cuban license plates and driver's licenses and the
deficiency of supplies to deal with the rapid increase in visitors.

As a friend who works in tourism told me, recently a large cruise ship
arrived and the travelers descended to visit the historic center of Old
Havana and, in a flash, the supplies of bottled water and beer were
exhausted. What does the administration think about confronting this
problem, an administration that right now is mired in severe shortages
in the shops, markets and businesses of our capital?

As always, the opening measures seem to surprise the Government that
says it is working on it "without haste but without pausing*." I
imagine that, with the prices and salaries of our country, in spite of
the ferry, many more flimsy and clandestine boats will continue
leaving, loaded with Cubans "without a visa but in a hurry."

*Translator's note: A phrase from a speech by Raul Castro ("sin prisas
pero sin pausas") describing the regime's approach to "updating" the
economy.

Translated by: BW

Source: The Ferry At Last! / Rebeca Monzo | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/the-ferry-at-last-rebeca-monzo/