Info about Cuba
Cuba
Cuba is a republic, situated on an island in the Caribbean. It is comprised of the main island of Cuba, as well as several archipelagos and the Isla de la Juventud. It has the largest population of any island nation in the Caribbean, and is culturally unique due to its many diverse ethnicities and its proximity to the shores of the USA.
Before the arrival of the Europeans and the subsequent Spanish conquest, Cuba was inhabited by the native Taíno and Ciboney people. After their arrival, the Spanish enslaved the population of approximately 100,000 people, and effectively wiped them out within a century of the invasion. The island remained a Spanish property until 1898, when, after a war between the United States and Spain, the island gained independence. After gaining its freedom, Cuba operated as a Democracy, which saw a number of power struggles and political intrigues, before a Socialist revolution led by Fidel Castro took place in 1956. The revolutionaries were soon victorious, and Castro was eventually made president in 1959. This caused a large number of Cubans to flee the country and seek refuge in the United States, where to this day, around 1.2 million people, roughly 10% of Cuba’s population, still remain.
Cuba has often been criticized for the manner in which it handles matters relating to Human rights. The government has been accused of abuses such as torture, unfair trials, arbitrary imprisonment and the repression of free speech. Cuba has been criticized by the Human Rights Watch for silencing all dissent, and denying Cuban citizens basic rights such as the access to a fair and consistent legal system. In Cuba, voicing criticism of the government is punishable by imprisonment, and the country possesses one of the largest prison systems in Latin America. It features 40 maximum security prisons, 30 minimum security prisons, and more than 200 work camps. Human rights activities claim that prisoners, a large number of which are political prisoners, are subject to sub standard living conditions and unhealthy environments. Citizens of Cuba are not permitted to leave the country without obtaining prior official permission.
Because Cuba is a socialist state, it operates under the ideologies of socialism and as such is subject to a planned economy. Almost all means of production are owned and operated by the government, and as a result almost all people are employed by the state. In more recent years, however, there has been a trend moving towards a greater degree of private employment. The prices of most products are set by the Cuban government, who also ration goods to prevent overconsumption. Before the collapse of communism in Russia, Cuba relied heavily on trade with the Soviet Union. After the system in Russia failed, the Cuban market was sent into a severe depression which led to high levels of unemployment and poverty. In order to take advantage of this and bring a democracy to Cuba, the USA tightened existing trade embargos on Cuba, making their plight worse.
However, the government maintained power by allowing the use of limited free market measures in order to restore the economy. By taking these steps, which included allowing self employment in some areas, they were able to increase food supplies and alleviate shortages in the supply of consumer goods and services.
Despite the oppressive nature of the ruling regime, Cuba offers universal health care and a large number of medical personnel. The average life expectancy in Cuba is 78.3 years, which is the 3rd highest in the Americas, ahead of the USA and behind only Canada and Chile.