Cuba beats Jamaica to the Hub ?

[Sir X]

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Brazil-funded port inaugurated in Cuba
27 January 2014 Last updated at 19:00
Cuba's President Raul Castro (R) and Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff shake hands on January 27, 2014.
Large foreign investment projects of this kind are rare in Cuba
Brazil and Cuba have inaugurated the first phase of a deepwater sea port, a rare large foreign investment project on the Caribbean island.

The $957m (£577m) overhaul of the port of Mariel, in the west of the capital, Havana, is being financed by Brazil.

It is in the heart of a special economic development zone to which Cuba hopes to lure foreign investment.

The BBC's Sarah Rainsford on the island says the upgrade of the port is the biggest project there for many years.

She adds it marks a major new point in terms of foreign investment, which had been highly limited in Cuba.

The new container terminal is equipped for larger ships passing through an expanded Panama Canal.

It was inaugurated by the Brazilian and Cuban presidents.

'Prosperous future'

"Brazil is proud to partner with Cuba in this, which is the first container-terminal port in the Caribbean with the capacity to integrate into the inter-oceanic logistical chain,'' Brazil's Dilma Rousseff said in Mariel.

Her counterpart, Raul Castro, added: "This container terminal, and the powerful infrastructure accompanying it, are a concrete example of the optimism and confidence with which we Cubans see a socialist and prosperous future."

This first phase was financed largely by the Brazilian development bank BNDES and built by the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.

The terminal will include a rail and highway support network, and replace Havana as Cuba's most important port.

The sleepy town of Mariel, 45 km (28 miles) west of Havana, is best known as the launch point for a mass exodus in 1980, when about 125,000 Cubans left over six months.

A Cuban government decree establishing the special economic zone there includes significant tax and customs breaks for foreign and local companies.

The Caribbean island hopes it will help to increase exports and create jobs.

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[Jangle]

I had a conversation yesterday with a bredrin of mine about this Hub and Goat Islands location. I had forwarded him the article that you posted here about folly of using Goat Islands for the hub. We came to the conclusion that it is blatantly obvious that The Chinese have their ulterior motives for demanding that location and that the PNP government has already made their agreement with the Chinese but is now going to go through the motion of a public debate. I believe that given China's track record of showing a total disregard for the environment in the chase for economic gains, we should walk away from that investment if they don't accept another location which the studies show is better for a Hub. Jamaicans have been suffering for years without the help of the Chinese. What is a another 50 years of sufferation? Have we explored other financial options other than the Chinese? If they get Goat Islands and build a bridge that connects to the mainland, Jamaicans would probably need visas to drive over that bridge. One way in, one way out.

[Gamma]

this was how china negotiated ....... "turtle or jobs?"

[Sir X]

Boss I agree a 100% besides I believe the Japanese and Indians would gladly fill the Chinese void if Portia took a trip..... Dem nuh Inna Chinese domination.

[Hortical]

True words....a deal has already been made secretly and they are going through the motions. I want to see the environmental studies and impacts on the environment.

[Don1]

It is impossible for Cuba to create a global hub with US sanctions in place.... this will be a regional facility smaller than the existing KCT at least for the foreseeable future

[Muadib]

I posted the sequence of events which CLEARLY demonstrate what this is Goat Island thing is all about..for the ahm less astute.. The Dons and such..