7DaysinParadise
Cuba => Cuba => Topic started by: Jammyisme on June 11, 2009, 05:07:12 PM
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:binkybaby: Im hearing a lot of skuttlebut about njt bags being blocked from entering Cuba. Its getting unpleasant. Does anyone know whats going on? Theories? :dontknow:
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Are they confiscating them?
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Ya. And they are giving them the 3rd degree at the border. So bad now, we are not giving bags to travellers to Cuba for now. Im going to a meeting tomorrow for more info. If you want I can pm you the email chain I have on this. Its not good. :thumbsdown:
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:sunny: I hope you have more information after the meeting tomorrow Jammy. I wonder if this is just in certain areas? You said the drugs are being blocked--I wonder if they are being taken and sold or if the government thinks they can dispense them to areas not as highly frequented by tourists.
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Ill let you know for sure. And Im forwarding some emails to Heather.
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Back in mid April when we went we, along with another woman off our flight, got hauled into secondary inspection by Aduana. We had a bag full of over the counter medications for kids and adults, the other woman had a bag full of medical supplies including pharmaceuticals and syringes etc. While my DH dealt with Aduana I stood outside with friends of the womans. I'm not sure that it was an NJT bag but her friends said that she had all kinds of official paperwork, along with an inventory of all the stuff that she had brought for a clinic. Aduana was giving her a really hard time. Our Rep., who held the bus for us, asked if we had brought any medicines to donate with us and I told him we had. He informed us that the Cuban government had recently changed the rules and they no longer wanted travellers bringing medical aid into the country which he thought was a pretty stupid thing for the government to do. Even after I explained that all the things we brought were non prescription items he said they would likely refuse to allow it into the country and we would have to inventory everything for pick up on the way home. (Which would cause a lengthy delay and he would be unable to hold the bus for that long :roleyes:)
As it turns out they didn't even question our bag of medications but as we left they were still grilling the other poor woman. It was her and her friends first trip to Cuba, just trying to do something good and that's the treatment they got, which probably lost Cuba any future tourist revenue from them or any of their friends..I mean if you're going to change the rules you really need to let people know..especially someone like NJT!!
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Thru a "very" informed source, I've heard that there is no "New Law".
Apparently, it's only in Vardero that they are having problems with NJT bags.
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Gambit Ill forward you the emails if you want.They are having problems pretty well everywhere now. Just recently in Havana. A huge hassle. After our lunch meeting today with the Ottawa NJT guys, we have decided unofficially to discourage bringing bags to Cuba as NJT bags. If you want you could get a bag of stuff to put in your personal belongings and take your own chances. But for now Cuba is off the list. Sad times. I wonder why? Is it became the USA is getting involved now?
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I sent some emails to you gambitt. Anyone else want some? I dont see njt Toronto in the list. I wonder why? :dontknow:
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Thanks for the info Jammy!!! :icon_thumright:
I have heard of problems with Varadero, but the info that I have suggests that other airports in Cuba are status quo.
I know that Canuks were taking a case today to Holguin, so we'll see how they make out?
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so far its Varadero, Cayo Coco Camaguay Havana that are a no go. I would like to hear about Holguin.
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Jammy, I'd like to see the emails, I'll PM you my email address. The non-profit we work for runs a Health Centre and pharmacy. The Pharmacy always collects a bunch of stuff for us to take down with us. Although we didn't have a problem this year, I'm interested in understanding why there's such a problem all of a sudden and am also wondering whether it will be a bigger hassle next time and whether it's worth the trouble.
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done!
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Thanks! :happy3:
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Sad eh? :binkybaby:
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Totally! :crybaby2: And confusing :dontknow:
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It's very confusing.
As far as anybody knows, there was no official announcement and yet it is happening all over Cuba, not just at one airport.
I wonder if this new decision will also trickle down and affect the Dubois foundation??
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I would love to hear what Rumrunner has to say.
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Heather,
Spoke to John D this weekend, and after his trip in January to talk with MINSAP and EMVEC; they have re-affirmed their ability to send donations to Cuba.
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that's good news at least
thanks :icon_thumright:
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So does this mean we could send our njt stuff for cuba to a container packing?
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http://njt-pqt.org/english/view.asp?x=1
Great site for info :icon_thumright:
for those who may not know :grin:
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Ooops my bad! I assumed everyone knew about NJT :duh: Thanks bd!
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YW Jammy, this section can be view by guest so anyone can see it and may not know :grin:
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Well here is our experience Holguin.
We were exec class ... off the plane 2nd this time over the tarmac to see everyone wearing green surgical masks ... even the ramprats. \there is a new form to fill out about your medical condition and you pass through an area with an infra red camera. I have homeopathic remidies I take with me and have them hand checked..... there were several questions are these for personal use. Yes my first aid kit ,,,
So our 4 bags came out fast as priority and then we waited ... and waited. "shit" I thought not again .... out medical supplies (NJT) were not shouing up. So around I went showed our tags and they had it in the back ........ need to open it up. So intentially I kept Peter away with the rest of out luggage. Took 3 guys and a real eventually assertive attitude to get it through. They litterally looked at every bottle asking about expiory dates and if they had been opened. What they were for ( fortunatly I did know about 70% of the items and uses) I tried to explain they were all good. The initial fellow I could see was upset, not at me but that his bosses were intentially dragging it out and I almost got to the f**k piont but stayed calm. I even asked this lesser fellow if he ever got headaches and offered him a few of the sample tylenols. He said he could not take them ... I responded that this was for the Cuban peopleand he was Cuban ... he declined. I had my volunteer police Identification in the back of my passport and he has seen that and smiled. ....With time it all passed but we sent our buss along and had to make other arrangements. How did I get it out. As the last boss pissed me off more and more taking stuff out and reading stuff he had NO idea what he was reading making different piles of the various boxes I started out polite then just started putting the stuff back in the case, he take more out and I put anothe one of his piles back in.
Dr Rosa has her stuff. But it might be the last NJT case My dear patient husband may tolerate.
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Thanks Canuck. I let them know at NJT here in Ottawa that things are screwed up Holguin also. Thats too bad cause they really need it. Now its going to be only put a few extra stuff in with your regular bags and try and get it in. Nothing official NJT for Cuba here any more. Dam shame. :binkybaby:
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So last night we had our NJT Ottawa meeting. Changes are coming. Very interesting. If you want me to pm you I could :)
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:cubaflag:
Can you post the results of the meeting in here for all of us to see?
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Hi Jammy, could you PM or email me that info.? Thanks
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Sorry to take so long. Heres the scoop
Basically bringing bags to Cuba for us is a difficult situation. Policies and reactions seem to vary from place to place, but Havana seems to be the easiest port-of-entry. Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguin and other tourist destinations can be difficult with Aduana (customs) people. We are working on developing a special relationship with a health dept. official so we can "customize" our approach. One option could be the possiblility of bag pickups at the airports. It is a possible alternative. One thing for sure is that no expired drugs are accepted, as in many other countries. And we are doing very well in Ottawa as far as bags and supplies are concerned. Another bag was sent to Rwanda. *too cool* *clap*. One of our members is developing a site for travel and trip reports (URL to follow). No nasty stuff or you get booted out of it. I like it. :thumbsup:
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NJT in Ottawa wanted me to mention this.. Can you put a "plug" in your piece to explain that NJT means more than "suitcases to Cuba"? I'm not sure of the exact number of NJT-O destination countries, but I'm thinking upwards of 20 (80+ for the whole NJT "movement"), including the Philippines, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, and many countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, including Mexico.
:happy3: