CUBA REAL ESTATE OPENS AFTER 50 YEARS

CUBA YES! BUY REAL ESTATE IN CUBA

Cuba Mansion In Havana

Cuba announced  to the world that it will finally allow the buying and selling of real estate. After 50 years of a frozen communist style real estate market anyone can now buy Cuban houses, codos, and real estate.  Cuban property which has been forbidden can now be freely bought and sold for the first time since the Fidel Castro Cuban revolution.

Image via WikipediaCuba's new Real Estate law officially starts Nov. 10 but for now its only for Cuban citizens and permanent foriegn residents. Cuban newspapers headlines screamed the long awatied news on the front page of Thursday's Granma which is Cuba's Communist Party news paper.

RAUL CASTRO SAYS YES TO REAL ESTATE MARKET

Cuba stated that this free Real estate market for all Cubans is the most important reform yet in a series of free-market ideas announced by Cuban President Raul Castro since taking over from his older brother Fidel Castro

Castro's Cuban government has placed a modest 4% tax and the rules allow for only two properties per person. One home in teh city and the other a vacation home on the beach or countryside.

CUBA SHUT FOR 50 YEARS NOW OPEN FOR TOURISM & BUSINESS

CUBA HAVANA TRAVEL GUIDES

CUBA OPEN FOR BUSINESS & AMERICAN TRAVEL
American can finally travel to Cuba after decades of Cuban embargoes thanks to American President Obama's "people-to-people" cultural trips to Cuba for anyone. The Cuba-U.S. travel restrictions that have been in place for 48 years, now Cuba travel trips will showcase culture and direct interactions with Cuban artists and citizens. Soon Americans will be able to go for an inclusive resort beach vacation even though it goes against the spirit of the regulations because it's propping up the Fidel & Raul Castro regime and doesn't benefit the Cuban people. Cuba has lots to offer than the beaches."

Cuba Travel companies and other Travel & vacation agents are awaiting licenses approvals so they can start offering trips to Cuba, Havana, Varadero and the rest of Cuba. Right now you can travel to Cuba for three, seven or eight nights. Departures are from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and even Miami to Havana is only 30 minutes flight. One thing to remember is that Cuba is one of the worlds safest tourist destinations with very little crime. Americans can walk around the streets of Havana without fear of being robbed, raped or murdered. Cuba is Safer than any place in the USA.

The American embargo against Cuba has been in force since 1963. Up to now virtually no American could legally visit Cuba.  That was changed for Cuban Americans with family there along with religious groups or academic researchers could visit. Even people to people cultural trips were allowed briefly from 2000-03 under a Clinton administration program.  The Bush administration shut Cuba travel down completely for the next seven years. President Obama is now opening the doors to Cuba once again.

Now, the American people to Cuban people exemption has reopened.

American Cuba Travel Demand

Lets be clear. Americans have been sneaking in and out of Cuba for years through third countries like Canada and Mexico. But if you're caught, you can be fined. Over 200,000 Americans travel to Cuba illegally every year through Mexico or Canada," says Cuban Travel officials. Most American Tourists don't want to take that kind of risk. So this is an incredible opportunity to go to Cuba even though no one knows how long it will last.

Over 5 Million American tourist will travel to Cuba just based on the huge pent-up demand for the Cuban forbidden fruit and the chance to visit this a mysterious land, so close to American shores. People are excited to travel to Cuba is so close geographically and so culturally familiar so once Americans arrive it's about the intriguing and romantic and fantastic atmosphere. Its about the Cuban people and not all politics about Fidel Castro and communism.

 Cubans are a warm and gentle people. Life exists there with incredible fun, dancing, music a a true love of life. It's like going back in time to the 1950's. So much of Cuba is untouched. You go and feel like it is Cancun in 1977. It hasn't been homogenized."

Now is the time to visit Cuba this year While American tour companies get their Cuba licenses within the next month or so, you'll hear the ads beckoning you come visit Cuba the hidden paradise of the Caribbean.


http://Calls2Cuba.com

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USA PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER SPEECH ON CUBA EMBARGO

Former U.S. President Mr. James Carter Speech to Cuba.

(Havana,  Cuba)—

U.S. President James Carter: First of all, allow me to express my gratitude for the opportunity to return to Cuba.

US President Jimmy Carter Talks About Cuba

When I was President I did all I could to improve diplomatic relations between my country and Cuba. I eliminated all travel restrictions so that the Americans could travel here and Fidel Castro and I worked together to establish interest sections in Washington and Havana, which continue to allow for some kind of communication between our two countries.

I believe we should immediately eliminate the trade embargo that the United States has imposed on the people of Cuba and also allow travel without any kind of restriction from the U.S. to Cuba and vice-versa, so I think it’s important that I’ve come. On this occasion, I wanted to learn from the Cuban government’s principal officials about the coming Party Congress, which will take place mid-April and I have received information from the President of the National Assembly, President Raúl Castro and former President Comandante Fidel Castro and other leaders of the Cuban government about plans for the future.

Cuban officials are very proud of the fact that they have received good comments from the people of Cuba and many suggestions have been incorporated, as I understand, into the text which will be discussed during their Congress.

I hope that in the future this will be added to those documents and that there will be complete freedom so all Cubans can express themselves, gather and travel, according to the international human rights norms which are applied in Cuba.

In addition to meeting with President Raúl Castro for a very extensive conversation and this morning with Fidel Castro, who appears to be in good health and we welcomed each other like old friends, I met this morning with some of the groups which criticize the Cuban government and, I hope that in the future some of their complaints will be addressed by the government.

I met with about 12 prisoners who were freed on orders from

President Raúl Castro and sponsored by the Cardinal. Evidently they want to meet with others who have returned from Spain or other places. I met and talked with President Raúl Castro and I will do so again after this conference.

It is also important to me that the relations between our two countries improve.

I believe that the detention of the Cuban Five makes no sense, there have been doubts expressed in U.S. courts and by human rights organizations around the world. They have now been in prison 12 years and I hope that in the near future they will be freed to return to their homes.

I meet with two of the prisoners’ mothers and three prisoners’ wives and expressed my feelings to them, that I hope that in the future they will be freed, according to U.S. law.

Also this morning, I was able to meet with Alan Gross, a man who I think is not guilty of being a serious threat to the people or government of Cuba. He has been given a long prison sentence and I hope he will be freed soon as well.

So, there are many things that can be done between our two countries to improve relations and come to have normal relations in as many ways as possible.

I will repeat my thanks to President Raúl Castro and other Cuban officials for having allowed me to come and converse with them and I hope, for the future of Cuba, that all Cubans will be completely free and all Americans free to travel where they choose, you know that many of us cannot travel freely to Cuba and these restrictions in our country must be eliminated.

These are my initial comments and now I would be happy to answer two or here questions from the media. If there are no questions, we’re done.

Andrea Rodríguez (AP).—Sir, you mentioned that you had visited Mr. Gross. I would like to know if you have any idea when he might be released, if you, even, might be taking him home, one way or another. What possibility is there that an exchange of this person for the five agents detained in the United States. Have you received any indication from President Raúl Castro leading in this direction? Thank you.

James Carter.—I didn’t come here with the idea of arranging any swap. I think the two cases, that of Gross and that of the Five, are separate, different and shouldn’t be interrelated. I think Alan Gross should be free because he is not guilty of a serious crime and I think the five Cubans should be freed because they have already been in prison for 12 years and the original circumstances around their original trial are considered questionable, even by the judges and the U.S. judicial system. Therefore, I didn’t come with that objective.

I had a very good meeting this morning with Alan Gross, obviously he professes his innocence as he did during his trial. There will be an appeal by his lawyers to higher level courts in Cuba. I hope these higher level courts will declare him innocent of the crimes for which he is being punished , and if that isn’t the case, that then, possibly in the future, an executive order will be released conceding him a pardon or releasing him for humanitarian reasons. His daughter is very sick, he has lost other members of his family; he had lost 40 kilos of his own weight, but he appears to be in good spirits and asserts his innocence. I didn’t come with the expectation of taking him home. In fact, Cuban officials made it very clear, before I left my home, that the freedom of Alan Gross would not be granted.

Fernando González (Associated Press Television).—I understand that you did not come on an official or governmental visit but I would like to know if you plan on meeting with the Obama administration and, if you do, what will you say to him.

James Carter.—Well, before leaving I had spoken at some length with the National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Clinton about the situation that exists between our two countries. As I have always done, before any trip abroad, before leaving, I go to the White House and give a complete report about the trip to the President of the United States and the Secretary of State. This will be done within a day or two after my return to the U.S. and I will express the same opinions which I have shared with you in this conference, along with other more confidential issues which I must share in person with American officials.

Journalist.—On the basis of your talks in Washington before this trip and your talks here with President Raúl Castro, what steps do you think should be taken, what should each country do to improve relations?

James Carter.—I should like to see another step taken in current legislation to eliminate the restraints on travel for U.S. citizens; I should like all restrictions removed on the normal transfer of humanitarian funds to Cuba.

I met with a large number of ambassadors located here in Havana and United Nations representatives and they said that in the last two years it has been very difficult for them to depend on normal channels for humanitarian aid to the Cuban people, because the Americans are restricting transfers. European Union leaders, the ambassador of Brazil and others in the group have said the same thing to me. This is something that could be done immediately by the President of the United States in relation to the existing legislation.

I understand from the Foreign Minister of Cuba and also from all the ambassadors that these restrictions on the normal transfer of humanitarian funds into the banking system have been very restricting in the past two years. Since President Obama has been in his position I have shared that information with him.

I hope, in relation to other possibilities, as I have already stated, well, that Mr. Gross is released and that the five Cubans return to Cuba.

In addition to those aspects, I personally would like the Helms-Burton Act to be completely abolished. I believe it was a serious mistake when it was approved and signed by President Clinton.

Any efforts on the part of the United States to improve the lives of the Cuban people with financial aid or by other means is suspicious or illegal according to the Helms-Burton Act, because that Act, as you know, has the express objective of doing away with the Castro regime, of changing the regime. Therefore, this Act – in my opinion – is counterproductive. It didn’t exist when I was president, and I could basically do what I liked with restrictions on travel and the establishment of relations, et cetera.

These are some of the things that are evident to everyone, and Congressional leaders of Cuban origin are acting in a very counterproductive way, trying to blame or punish the Cuban regime, when in real terms they are punishing the Cuban people with their restrictions.

Journalist.—Mr. Carter, you are one of the few people, one of the few political figures who has the respect of both sides, would you accept a mediatory role between the two countries?

James Carter.—It is extremely unlikely, or possible, that both countries should solicit my services; I would be pleased to help, but I believe that that is extremely unlikely.

Journalist.—Mr. President Carter, when you were president you were not in agreement with the activities of violent exiles against Cuba. Do you have an opinion on taking Cuba off the list of terrorist countries?

James Carter.—Yes I believe that Cuba should be taken off the list of countries sponsoring terrorism. As you possibly know – I don’t know if you know – I understand that there has been very close cooperation between Cuban and American intelligence services in confronting the threats of Al Qaeda and other organizations in the Gulf region.

The only American allegations in terms of terrorism against the Cuban government are related to some of the groups in Colombia, the FARC and ETA in Spain.

When I met with the ambassadors of Spain and Colombia yesterday morning, they told me that they had absolutely no objection, that they thought that the capacity of members of ETA and FARC in Colombia to come to Cuba was something very positive for them, because it gave them an opportunity to communicate in a friendly way in Cuba with people who were causing problems in their own countries. And so the American allegations, the affirmation of terrorism, is a premise which is completely unfounded, and that is another aspect that the President of the United States could address; in other words, eliminate the statement that Cuba is sponsoring terrorism, because it is evidently untrue.

I can take one more question.

Michael Boston (BBC).—You have met with President Raúl Castro and former President Fidel Castro. You have talked about your desire to see freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, the right of Cubans to travel abroad; you have also talked about the economic changes which are to be discussed at the Congress. Have you had any indications of any political change to be discussed?

James Carter.—Not at all.

Well, I would say that both the leaders who you mentioned and the authorities are familiar with my own opinions on the freedom of travel, of assembly and of expression in Cuba – when I was here nine years ago I addressed the Cuban people on television, on radio, and my words were presented in Granma exactly as I said them, expressing these desires and these recommendations to the Cubans – they know my beliefs that there should be changes, and I repeated them in the press conference.

I am not familiar with the details or aspects of the text that is now being discussed for the Party Congress. They have told me that approximately eight million Cubans participated, giving their opinions. The Minister of Foreign Affairs told me that thousands of amendments to the original text were proposed. It is also being said that more than 65% of the paragraphs have been modified on the basis of the proposals; but I am not familiar with the details.

However, the dissident groups said this morning that many of them have abstained from expressing their concerns about personal freedoms, because they do not want to be associated with the proceedings, because they are not in agreement with its integrity.

Other groups with whom I met this morning have expressed their concern that standard international freedom must be promoted. So I am not familiar with what they are intending to do.

Thank you all very much indeed. 

Mr. James Carter
Former U.S. President Of The United States of America,

CALL CUBA

CUBA PESO EQUALS US DOLLAR

Image via WikipediaCUBA DEVALUES DOLLAR
Havana Cuba.
Cuba has devalued Cuba's currency two types of peso by about 8 per cent  to equal the dollar and other foreign monies, hoping the currency devaluation will spur exports and local production as the government seeks to overhaul a moribund economy.
The announcement published in Cuba state newspapers says the hard-currency peso used mostly by tourists and foreign companies on the island will now be worth 62p, down from 67p. Each hard-currency peso is still worth 24 of the standard pesos with which most Cubans are paid in an unusual two-tiered currency system.
The move could be a boon for the island's crucial tourism industry by making trips more affordable and encourage more private investment. It will also increase the peso value of remittances sent from abroad, a key lifeline for many cash-strapped Cubans working for salaries of about £12 a month.
But it will also make foreign goods priced in dollars or other hard currencies more expensive for most Cubans. This, according to officials will encourage more local production, especially in the food sector.
Andrew Macdonald, CEO of Esencia Group, a British company that has been developing tourism and the renewable energy sector in Cuba for the last seven years, said: "this provides another competitive edge for the Cuban economy, making it an even more attractive tourist destination and making their exports better value".
The move coincides with Cuba embarking on a series of economic reforms aimed at opening up the country to more foreign investment and boosting private sector activity that had been strictly limited under communist rule.
A Communist Party congress in April is expected to endorse the wide-ranging reform plan proposed by President Raul Castro.
The reforms seek to have former state workers absorbed by the private sector, for state subsidies to be cut, for urban cooperatives to spring up, the welcoming of foreign capital, and for companies to operate autonomously.
The statement said that the country's economic woes, exacerbated by the effects of three monster hurricanes that struck in 2008 and the global financial crisis, had forced the bank to maintain an exchange rate that "did not correspond to the country's current economic conditions."
The bank said that despite Cuba's economic woes, the government had managed to resume payments to foreign companies that had seen their payments blocked and accounts frozen the year before.
It also said the country had managed to renegotiate its foreign debt, though it gave no details. Cuba does not release statistics on foreign debt.
One of the long-term goals of the Cuban government has been to eliminate the two-tiered currency system.
Cuban embargo needs to be terminated in Cuba within a few years so we could see up to 20 million tourists
a year vacationing in Cuba beaches.However there would not be enough hotel rooms to accomodate the tourist.  This boom in tourism would certainly bring up the standard of living of the people and improve their civil, political and economic conditions. Notwithstanding the past views of the exile community, perhaps, the so called embargo has been quite counterproductive and in fact, the embargo has helped the  support, agony and repression within Cuba of its people for over 50 years. Cuba has five  Uranium mines with radiation contamination and no-one seems to care. Cuba has sold uranium to Iran and North Korea and no-one seems to take notice. Openning Cuba to the world and opening the world to Cuba would surely decontaminate othe atmosphere from non-sense and bring sanity and prosperity to the Cuban People.
Cuba's future looks bright as relations betweeen Cuba and the US  government seem to be heading in the right direction.

http://Calls2Cuba.com

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CUBA'S FUNNY NEW CAREERS

Cuban Mansions for Rent

CRAZY CUBAN OCCUPATIONS

This year the Cuban communist government laid off over 500,000 of its state employees and the population of laid off Cubans are now trying to go into private Cuban businesses.
Almost 200 private sector Cuban businesses are now permitted.

CUBAN FUNNY JOBS

1. * Trained Dog Exhibitor
2. * Engraver of Numbers
3. * Fresh Fruit Peeler
4. * Operator of Children's Fun Wagon Pulled by Pony or Goat
5. * Button Coverer
6. * Spark Plug Cleaner and Tester
7. * Animal Hairdresser
8. * Plastic Covering Maker for IDs
9. * Disposable Lighter Repair and Refill
10. * Dandy (Man dressed in Colonial era garb)
11. * Habaneras (Women who pose for tourists wearing colorful dresses with flowery headdress)
12. * Wheelbarrow Operator
13. * Animal Rental
14. * Palm Tree Trimmer
15. * Producer/Seller of Rubber Accessories (relates to pressure cooker seals and blender O-rings)
16. * Pinata Maker/Seller
17. * Producer/Seller of Food and Beverages With Special Characteristics relating to Chinatown
18. * Seller of Animals for Religious Use
19. * PA System Operator
20. * The Musical Group  "Los Mambises!"

Image via Wikipedia

Fidel Promotes New Jobs For Cubans

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GOLF IN CUBA

Image via WikipediaCUBA GOLF


With an easing of the Castro regime's draconian policies on any activity viewed as bourgeois and an increasing thirst for tourist dollars, the Republic of Cuba is in the process of welcoming back golf.

At one time the most populous - now with 11 million residents - Caribbean island nation boasted a dozen or more golf courses. But when Fidel Castro took power in 1959, all but 27 holes were usurped for uses other than the playing of the Royal & Ancient Game.

But that may be changing, thanks to foreign investment in several golf-related developments. "Golf is becoming a reality in Cuba this year," Andrew MacDonald, chief executive of London-based Esencia Hotels and Resorts, told CNN (for the full report, visit http://www.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/golf/02/21/cuba.golf.revolution.castro/).

"The key moment was a change in Cuban property law last August to make foreign ownership far more attractive. The Cuban government has a vision of establishing 15-16 new golf courses in the next five to seven years."

According to reporter Will Tidey in the CNN report, MacDonald's firm is close to breaking ground on Carbonera Country Club, part of a $300 million project in a resort area called Varadero, which already has the 18-hole Varadero Golf Club (the other Cuban course is the rundown, nine-hole Havana Golf Club).

A Cuban investment group based in Vancouver, B.C., Leisure Canada, has three projects in the works in the Pinar del Rio province on Cuba's west coast, and a London firm called Foster and Partners told CNN it has been hired by a Spanish developer to build a 2,000-unit community with three courses in the same area.

Tourist minister Manuel Marrero confirmed that in 2010 the Council of Ministers approved 16 golf developments, saying that the sport was important to the country's plans to increase tourism.

Canadian golf architect Les Furber oversaw a $20 million expansion - financed by the Cuban government - of Varadero GC in 1998. He told Tidey that that project was made more arduous because of the American embargo which has been in place since 1962.

"Because of the U.S. embargo on products and services it was challenging to get many of the things we needed, and the economic time meant it took eight years to build the golf course due to the lack of diesel fuel, tires and batteries etc," Furber said.

Despite such difficulties, Furber is one member of the international golf community who believes Cuba has a bright future as a tourist destination, particularly for North Americans. "Cuba is 90 miles from Miami and has a great climate, coastal frontage for development and needs golf to support the tourism demands," he told Tidey.

"Cuba recognizes now that it does not have any financial support from foreign countries and needs tourism in a big way to help pay for its imports and lines of credit for most things it does not produce or manufacture," Furber added.

Though there are skeptics - Havana GC's pro Johan Vega told Tidey: "When the new ones open show them to me . . . then I will know it is true" - outsiders such as MacDonald express more confidence.

"Golf just wasn't a priority in Cuba before and now it is," MacDonald said. "We hope that in years to come emerging young players will have the chance to develop and compete on an international level. Cuba is known for its baseball players, and when you think about it the golf swing is not a million miles away from that used in baseball."

Also a factor in the spurt in Cuba's golf development is the introduction of golf as an Olympic sport for the 2016 games in Brazil. "It is important that support is given to many people in Cuba to play, practice and participate in golf," Spanish touring pro Alvaro Quiros said after a 2010 appearance at Varadero GC.

"Golf will be an Olympic event in 2016. Cuba should seriously look at and prepare for golf as they have done with other sports - baseball, boxing, track and field," added the long-hitting four-time winner on the European Tour.

While the embargo has severely limited travel by Americans to Cuba, 10 million U.S. citizens are allowed to visit the country because of their Cuban lineage.

But MacDonald sees that restriction changing, albeit gradually. "I see that coming in softly over the next few years," he told Tidey. 
 More Golf in Cuba


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CUBA OPENS FOR BUSINESS AFTER 50 YEARS

Cubans Celebrate New Rules for Business in Cuba

 CUBANS OPEN BUSINESSES
CUBA- Cuban government has announced they are opening Cuba's closed communist economy to a new breed of Cuban private enterprise. Cuban entreprenours have been transforming their homes, apartmetns, cars and everything else they have into a new business opportunity
even in old run-down sections of Old Havana.All they want is to open thier own business and be their own masters.  It's not going to get rich, just to make only a little more than $12-a-month job at a state-run Cuban government institution.

Tens of thousands of Cubanos are chasing their entrepreneurial ambitions in Cuba's year of economic change, hopeful that a sweeping fiscal overhaul announced last year by President Raul Castro is for real. The Cuban leader said the country would lay off half a million state workers by March 31, while granting licenses for a broad, if slightly random, array of businesses. Cuba's new entrepreneurs face towering challenges in getting their enterprises off the ground, including high taxes, a lack of raw materials, an uncertain customer base, labyrinthine bureaucratic rules and limited access to startup capital. Yet, their success or failure will go a long way in determining the future of Cuba's revolution.

The Cuban state now employs 85% of the island's workers and controls 90 percent of the economy in one of the world's last bastions of Soviet-style communism. If the free-market experiment works, the cash-strapped government could shed millions of dollars from its payroll while boosting much-needed tax revenues and creating a new business and consumer class. It could also legalize part of a booming black market that provides everything from sausages to satellite television.

Image via WikipediaIf this Free market experiment fails, however, this suffering country will have turned hundreds of thousands of people out of their government jobs and into an uncertain future.  All of this in the same year that Raul Castro turns 80, and his older brother Fidel is widely expected to step down from his final official post as head of the Communist Party. So far over 80,000 Cubans have received new licenses, joining about 150,000 private sector workers left over from the island's last dabble with capitalism. Government economists say they hope a quarter of a million new entrepreneurs will eventually sign up.

Almost all the new businesses are small, operating out of homes or on street corners. But the stakes for Cuba couldn't be higher, with the economy weighed down by crippling disorganization, a broken infrastructure, endemic corruption and an enormous labor force that has become accustomed to getting paid very little — and doing very little in return.  Among the thousands who have taken the leap into private enterprise are Maria Regla Saldivar, a 52-year-old black belt in Taekwondo who plans to open a gymnasium in the ruins of a destroyed laundromat, and Javier Acosta, who has started an upscale restaurant catering to tourists. There is Danilo Perez, a 21-year-old accountant who has gotten a license to buy and sell bootleg DVDs in Havana's hardscrabble El Cerro neighborhood, and Anisia Cardenas, a seamstress with a license to make clothes.

Many others are giving manicures, painting homes, fixing cars and driving taxis — services on the list of 178 officially-sanctioned private activities. Some of the other opportunities are more obscure, such as fresh fruit peeling. And some are so specific they refer to just two people, like No. 159, which makes it legal to be part of the Amor Dance Duo. Even the Cuban government  warned that many of the businesses will fail within a year. And many Cubans say privately that they will wait and see if ventures such as Hidalgo's prosper before jumping into the fray themselves.

But for now, optimism and excitement are the mantra for cuba's new entrepreneurs. 
 CUBA CUBA SUPERSTORE

To CALL CUBA today

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CUBA INVENTS CANCER VACINE

Cuban Natural Medicines

Cuba Discovers Lung Cancer Vaccine

HAVANA CUBA- Cuba announced today that Cuban scientists are the first in the world to have developed a new Cancer vaccine to improve the lives of  patients with terminal lung cancer.  Although previous claims have been made before by several cancer research scientists in dealing with this type of Cancer claims that later proved unreliable.

Cuba has invited a U.N. mission to Cuba for Latin American physicians. The Cancer doctors were asked to evaluate Cuba's production of interferon, an anti-viral substance, and its applications. Cuba doctors demonstrated excellent technical level attained by Cuban scientists and the progress they had made in producing interferon.

Fidel Castro has showed considerable enthusiasm for Cuba's advances in public health projects. Cuban advances on a lung-cancer vaccine have been developing since the late 1980s, following visits by doctors from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to Havana, the Cuban government had chosen biotechnology as a priority area for development.

Lung cancer is the most common fatal cancer in both women and men throughout the world. It is estimated that lung cancer causes the deaths of more than 1 million people a year worldwide. According to statistics provided by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, approximately one of every 14 men and women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer at some point in their lives.

Until now, treatment of lung cancer involved surgical removal of the cancer, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as well as a combination of these procedures. The decision on which treatment to choose depends on the location and extent of the tumor as well as the overall health status of the patient.

Cuba's biotechnology industry plans to launch the vaccine, developed by Cuban scientists, in the international market in the near future.

CANCER IN CUBA

Dr. Gisela Gonzalez, head of the team that researched and developed the vaccine, cautions that it is not a miracle drug, although it provides relief in treating terminally ill patients, with fewer side effects than conventional treatments.

The vaccine, called CimaVax-EGF, consists of a protein, the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), linked to another protein that stimulates the patient's immune system to develop the desired immune response against EGFImage via Wikipedia

Normally, when EGF binds to a receptor on the cell membrane, it triggers the cell-proliferation mechanism, which increases in the case of tumors. Following administration of the vaccine, patients produce antibodies that recognize and specifically bind to EGF, stopping it from binding to a receptor and beginning cell proliferation. The consequence is a decrease in tumor growth, the extent of which varies according to the patient's individual response.

According to Dr. Gonzalez, this is the first vaccine against cancer to be registered anywhere in the world. CimaVax-EGF has already been patented in Cuba, Peru, Canada, Japan, South Africa and the United States, and there are plans to patent it in other countries. In addition, the vaccine has undergone several clinical trials in Cuba, Canada and the United Kingdom, and plans are under way to try it also in China and the U.S.

The vaccine is promising. If larger trials confirm the initial findings, an important milestone against lung cancer will be achieved.

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