Page 27 - MIN JUS 4 APRIL 2016

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WORLD NEWSMonday 4 April 2016

After Obama visit, Cubans await change, but wonder how soon

Boris Lazo, left, and Yandy Aquila, wait outside an automobile body shop in Havana, Cuba. Both who watched his speech Alfonso said of change in
were doubtful Obama’s visit and the U.S.-Cuba normalization would do much to improve their with hopeful anticipation. Cuba. “And that time will
daily lives. Neither has family in the U.S. or any other form of economic support. “Business benefits Many have begun to look age me.”
those who have businesses,” Aquila said. “But us?” at their futures in a slightly Analysts say this month’s
different light, anticipating Communist Party congress
(AP Photo/Christine Armario) that friendly ties with their will be a telling indicator
powerful neighbor 90 miles of how quickly the govern-
C. ARMARIO able future: Driving tourists 46, a married father of two. (145 kilometers) to the ment will respond to meet
Associated Press around Cuba. “Before it was a sliver of north and the growth of an people’s elevated expec-
HAVANA (AP) — In the After President Barack light in the distance. Now emerging private sector tations. In public state-
garage of his home in a Obama’s visit to the city the light is a little closer.” will bring greater econom- ments following Obama’s
rough-and-tumble Havana last week, he’s more opti- How long Obama’s trip ic prosperity. visit, Cuban leaders have
neighborhood, Rolando mistic than ever that his vi- and detente between Ha- But rising expectations also been cool to the idea of
Alfonso is fixing up a 1960 sion might become reality. vana and Washington will carry a risk: If concrete major or quick changes,
Oldsmobile he hopes will “The horizon of prosperity is take to bear fruit is on the results aren’t seen soon, and expressed skepticism
be a ticket to a more profit- much closer,” said Alfonso, minds of millions of Cubans Cubans are likely to con- about U.S. motivations for
tinue fleeing the island just normalizing relations.
as they have been doing On Monday, retired Presi-
in much greater numbers dent Fidel Castro published
since the two countries an essay in official media
moved to restore diplo- warning Obama to stay
matic relations. out of Cuban politics and
Even as Alfonso puts a new saying “we don’t need
coat of paint on his Olds, the empire to give us any
he’s also keeping one eye gifts.” Even admirers of the
on a possible life in Miami, revolutionary leader said
where his father has a job the article felt tone-deaf.
lined up for him at an an- “Fidel is like a father to me,”
tique auto repair shop and said Lourdes Perez, 46, a
hopes to help him immi- former nurse who now runs
grate under a family reuni- a private small business
fication program as soon selling coffee and fried
as he becomes a U.S. citi- snacks. “But it’s a new era.
zen. We can’t live in the past.”
“This is going to take time,” In interviews with The Asso-
ciated Press, many Cubans
Haiti protest demands justice for 3 slain deaf women said they want to see their
government make dra-
DAVID McFADDEN and their families. en are being held for ques- known by members of the matic changes — primarily
Associated Press “These murders are an act tioning. Joel said that one family who attacked the in opening the economy.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) of absolute barbarism and of the female suspects told deaf women. “They only Alfonso, for one, would like
— Hundreds of protesters we must have justice,” investigators that her hus- came to this house late at small-business owners to
marched in Haiti’s capital Jean said. The three wom- band killed the deaf wom- night and asked for shelter be able to import materials
over the weekend to de- en were killed as they were en because he feared they because one of the victims directly instead of having
mand justice following the trying to return home by were “lougawou,” a Hai- knew them,” she said. to purchase them from the
brutal killings of three deaf foot late at night because tian Creole word for vicious Phillips, an attorney with the state.
women who were tortured, a bridge had collapsed, supernatural creatures who Institute for Justice and De- Under current President
stoned and left in a gully by preventing public transport fly at night. But Nicole Phil- mocracy in Haiti, is hopeful Raul Castro’s economic re-
attackers. from Haiti’s capital. They lips, a lawyer representing that the case can shine a forms, which have allowed
Mickelson Jean, leader of a all worked as street ven- the victims’ families, be- spotlight on the vulner- certain small businesses to
Haitian association for the dors and went into Port-au- lieves that story is “a false ability of disabled Haitians operate for the first time in
deaf, was one of roughly Prince that day to stock up defense to try and justify a and the obstacles to jus- years, Alfonso got a license
300 people who marched on supplies. Jentullon Joel, heinous crime.” Mob vio- tice they face. “It’s a case to open an auto body re-
in Port-au-Prince to call at- the police commissioner in lence is common in Haiti that’s emblematic of vio- pair shop. But he said he
tention to the recent slay- Cabaret near where the kill- and experts say there is a lence that occurs against could rarely find the sup-
ings. The women lived in the ings took place two weeks widespread acceptance deaf people, particularly plies he needed in gov-
coastal village of Leveque ago, said arrest warrants of the killing of perceived women who can’t scream ernment-run stores. Some
where scores of homes are have since been issued for evil-doers. Phillips alleged if they are attacked,” she months he got no business
reserved for deaf people two men, and three wom- that one of the victims was said. at all, but still had to pay for
the license.