THE EDITOR, Sir:I AM writing this in response to a letter that was submitted in your paper about racism in Cuba. I visited Cuba two summers ago and while I admit that I did not experience any hostility while I was there, I must say that the treatment in the hotels, restaurants and other such establishments were less than professional. I would go as far as say that there was passive racism.
Firstly the hotel staff (which were all light-skinned except for the janitors) were not pleasant or tried to assist in any way. I thought I was being paranoid until I saw similar behaviour being meted out again other "darker" hotel guests.
The situation on the street was basically similar as when I tried to get assistance from some persons (in my best Spanish by the way), they were less than pleasant.
Don't get me wrong, there are many Cubans who were more than helpful and one young man in particular took time out to show me some of the sites. My only explanation for the behaviour at the hotel is that being a Jamaican, I expected a high level of courtesy and professionalism as I am used to this here. Maybe Cuba is not at that level as yet.
I am, etc.,
A DARKER SHADE
jamaican_critic@yahoo.com
Kingston 19
