Cubans demand end of US blockade against island

With Cuba and the United States announcing to restore diplomatic relations by re-opening embassies in Washington and Havana on July 20, Cubans now demand an eventual lifting of the U.S. blockade against the island which has been going on for over half a century.

The U.S. embargo against Cuba has caused over 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars in losses to the island's economy since it was imposed in 1962 by then U.S. President John F. Kennedy, according to Cuban Foreign Ministry.

"The blockade has affected us in every way here... transport, food, spare parts. How the U.S. has been treating us is criminal," said Humberto Montalvo, an audio technician in his 50s.

Montalvo believes that the island will benefit greatly if the U. S. Congress lifts the sanctions because "it would bring as a consequence another entrance for trade, more tourism in Cuba and it would improve the economy."

Like Montalvo, many Cubans are waiting for an improvement in the economy to establish business with U.S. companies, which is currently prohibited by U.S. law.

"Trade will benefit a large number of the Cuban population as the two countries are very close to each other so goods would be quick to transport," said retired Lazaro Garcia, referring to the 150 kilometers (93 miles) that separates the two neighbors.

Rodolfo Soto, a student, assured Xinhua that the blockade has affected all Cubans because "what costs any other country one cent costs us more and this has logically impeded further national development."

Soto also mentioned the eventual arrival of U.S. mass tourism to the island which is currently prohibited by U.S. laws.

"This will mean an influx in foreign currencies in our country, which will improve things extraordinarily," said Soto.

The Caribbean island could receive 3-3.5 million U.S. tourists every year according to experts, even though Cuba should improve its hotel infrastructure. This is something that is already on the agenda of Cuba's Ministry for Tourism (MINTUR).

Cuba will make investments so that its accommodation capacity could reach over 85,000 hotel rooms in 2020, and 110,000 rooms by 2030. All will be in keeping with international standards, said Jose Daniel Alonso, business director at MINTUR.

"Maybe the infrastructure isn't really that prepared but they ( the Cuban government) are working on this and I am sure they will take measures so that at a certain point we can receive large numbers of tourists," said Alicia Gonzalez, a young dancer.

Havana and Washington announced on Wednesday the decision to restore on July 20 diplomatic ties that had been broken by the White House in January 1961. However, both parties agree that this is only the first step in a long road to completely normalizing relations. The U.S. embargo against the island still remains.