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October 27, 2008
An uncertain future for Cuba

After three years of high growth, uncertainty is hovering over the Cuban economy once again, although experts are not yet ready to predict exactly what impact the current global financial turmoil will have on the island. The global crisis coincided with the worst natural disaster to hit this Caribbean island nation in five decades, caused by hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which produced an estimated $5 billion in losses.
Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean with a population of 11.2 million, is limiting how much basic fruits and vegetables people can buy at farmers' markets, irritating some customers but ensuring there's enough -- barely -- to go around, wire services report.
Here is a collection of images from the last month in Cuba. (25 images)


A boy performs a handstand next to fishermen at the Malecon waterfront  in Havana, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008.  AP / Fernando Llano

A fisherman sits at the Malecon waterfront  in Havana, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008.  AP / Fernando Llano


Fish heads used as bait hang from hooks ready to be used by fishermen at the Malecon waterfront  in Havana, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008.  AP / Fernando Llano


A fisherman smokes at the Malecon waterfront  in Havana, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008. AP / Fernando Llano


Hurricane victims are seen outside a temporary government-provided shelter in Havana, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008.  About 450,000 homes were damaged, more than 63,000 of them beyond repair, after hurricanes Gustav and Ike struck the island eight days apart in late August and early September. At least 200,000 Cubans were left newly homeless and the government says "hundreds of thousands more" may have to find temporary housing.  AP / Fernando Llano


A family sits in what remains of their home that was damaged by hurricanes Ike and Gustav in Los Palacios, Cuba, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008.  Ike and Gustav caused US$5 billion damage to Cuba this month.  AP / Javier Galeano


Ismael Gondres exercises at a temporary government-provided shelter in Havana, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008.   AP / Fernando Llano


Residents buy vegetables at a public market in Havana, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008. Cuba is limiting how much basic fruits and vegetables citizens can buy at farmers' markets after two hurricanes wiped out more than 30 percent of the island's crops last month.  AP / Javier Galeano


Workers peel sweet potatoes for a school in Havana, Monday, Sept. 29, 2008. Cuba has frozen prices at farmers markets and is promising to punish vendors who charge more for hard-to-find food as reserves dwindle following two hurricanes.   AP / Javier Galeano


A flower vender carries his merchandise on the back of his bicycle through Old Havana, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008.  AP / Ramon Espinosa


People pray in Nuestra Senora de la Merced Catholic church in Havana, Monday, Sept. 29, 2008.   AP/ Javier Galeano


A man walks in Havana, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008. Visitor arrivals in Cuba is projected to increase by 13 percent this year, Minister of Tourism Manuel Marrero said, despite the destruction of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike which roared through the island eight days apart. AP / Javier Galeano


Children play in the street as an elderly man walks by in Old Havana, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008.  AP / Ramon Espinosa


A student raises his hand to vote in student council elections as a photo of Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro hangs in an elementary school in Havana, Friday, Oct. 17, 2008.  AP / Ramon Espinosa


Cuban boys return home after a karate lesson iin old Havana, Monday, Oct. 20, 2008.  AP / Ramon Espinosa


A boy talks to friends from a windowsill at his house in old Havana, Monday, Oct. 20, 2008.  AP / Ramon Espinosa


A man reads while carrying three boys on a tricycle in old Havana, Monday, Oct. 20, 2008.  AP / Ramon Espinosa


A young model gets her hair done prior to the "Endless Love" youth fashion show by Cuban designers in Havana, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008.  AP / Javier Galeano


Young models wear creations by Cuban designers during the "Endless Love" youth fashion show in Havana, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008.  AP / Javier Galeano


Dance students learning Spanish flamenco wait for the beginning of their lesson in Old Havana, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008.   AP / Ramon Espinosa


A young woman celebrating her 15th birthday posses for a photographer, unseen, on the steps of a fountain in Old Havana, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008.  AP / Javier Galeano


A man holds a girl on his roof top as they look over the edge in Old Havana, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008.  AP / Javier Galeano


A security guard looks on in a street of Old Havana, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. AP / Javier Galeano


A man reads Cuba's newspaper titled in Spanish "Trabajadores," or "Workers" in a street in Havana, Monday, Sept. 29, 2008.  Cuba has frozen prices at farmers markets and is promising to punish vendors who charge more for hard-to-find food as reserves dwindle following two hurricanes.   AP / Javier Galeano


Children play in a doorway as a classic American car is seen parked nearby in Old Havana, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008.  AP / Ramon Espinosa


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