Page 35 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2016

to go so many times. Going there is like stepping back into 1957. There is phenomenal architecture, but the infrastructure is bad.
The culture is rich, colorful and deeply defines who they are. Some
are worried about losing that. I like the food, which is a lot of fish and chicken, because I don’t eat beef and pork.
Q: Is the Russian influence still there? A: Yes, it’s definitely there. The average Cuban makes only $19 to
$24 a month, but all services are
free, including college. Now they
are starting to allow the buying
and selling of homes, and Cubans
can start businesses. You see a few Cubans selling produce, operating taxi service for tourists — things like that. You see a lot of tourists from Russia and Europe.
Q: How do you describe the Cuban economy?
A: There’s a global economic viewpoint, but they don’t participate in it much. In my economics class I
had to explain value in a way they can understand by relating it to relationships rather than money. There are two economic systems
in Cuba and leaders will try to merge those, which I think will be difficult. However, it has begun with the government laying off a lot of employees.
A lot of things there will never
be privatized, such as teachers, architects, physicians and engineers. Because of this system, taxi drivers make more than doctors.
Q: Are you optimistic about the changes?
A: I am encouraged and concerned about the ongoing economic reform.
I believe the movement is in the right direction, but one has to be cautious about a growing income disparity and potential inflationary pressures as dual currencies become conflated and eventually merge into a single unit. It’s my hope that those with the least opportunity are not forgotten. I have little doubt that Cuban citizens will
continue to exercise the tremendous resilience they’ve shown in the past to overcome forthcoming obstacles.
Q: Some Americans say they want
to travel to Cuba before it becomes ‘Americanized.’ Do you think that will happen?
A: We shouldn’t worry about that. Any changes will come about slowly if at all. Raoul Castro says he will
step down as president in 2018, which could lead to some changes. However, many people there doubt he will actually step down, and if he does, he will hand pick his successor, and that would not lead to rapid change.
Q: Have you ever felt threatened while traveling in Cuba?
A: Yes, a couple of times when I was delayed at the airport. They asked why I was there. When I answered that I was there to lecture at the University of Havana, the guards said, “That can’t be.” I asked them
to call the dean, but I don’t know if they did. I felt they were delaying me while my luggage was being searched.
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March 2016 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 35
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Hotel Nacional, art exhibit in Old Havana, vintage cars are often used as taxis, private food stand in Vedado, Bradley lecturing economic students and a school house in rural Cuba.