Country Trading Profiles Cuba - General information

Political outline

Executive Power: The president is both the head of state and government. He is elected by the National Assembly for a term of five years. The president has executive powers and is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He controls most aspects of Cuban life through the Cuban Communist Party (PCC).
Legislative Power: Legislative powers are vested in the National Assembly whose members are elected by popular Municipal Assemblies . Its 614 members are elected for 5 years in a two-round system with single candidate ballots.
Main political parties: The Cuban Constitution only recognizes one legal party: the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) whose secretary is Fidel Castro Ruiz.
Current political leaders: Until 2006, Fidel Castro was the main political figure in Cuba and was the record holder of the longest stay in power (45 years in power without sharing power or multi-party elections). In July 2006, he handed over the power to his brother Raul, former defence Minister, because of health reasons. He is still currently the dominant political figure : President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers since 24 February 2008; The First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers is Jose Ramon MACHADO Ventura since 24 February 2008.
Next election dates: Presidential: 2013
Legislative: 2013
Municipal: 2013

Health precautions: No mandatory vaccine. It is advisable to avoid eating foods like seafood, meat and fish that is uncooked as well as salads, fruits that one has not peeled personally and to boil or filter water, or drink bottled drinks in order to avoid getting diarrhoea. Insect bites could cause diseases such as dengue fever, a viral illness transmitted by instect bites.
International hospitals: There are international clinics in all the provincial towns.
There is a hospital in Havana which provides a specialised service for foreign tourists: Cira Garcia Hospital, Ave. 41 No. 4101, Miramar, Havana . Tel.: 204-2811/12/13/14
For further information on sanitary conditions: Cuban health network (Red De Salud de Cuba)
For further information on safety conditions: Cuba Linda - Safety Conditions
Contact your Embassy: Embassy of Greece in Cuba
5ta avenida & 78, 7802 Miramar
Havana, CP 11300
Phone: (00537) 2042995, 2042854
Fax : 2041784
gremb@enet.cu

Police	106 (Havana, Pinar el Rio, Isla de la Juventud, Cienfuegos)
Ambulance	55 1185 (Havana) 76 2317 (Pinar del Rio) , 62 3300 (Santiago de Cuba
Fire Emergency Services	105 ( Havana, Pinar del Rio, La Havana. Isla de la Juventud, Cienfuegos, Santiago de CUba)

Time and time difference: It is %T:%M %A in Havana (GMT-5 in winter, GMT-4 in summer)
It is %T:%M %A in Santiago de Cuba (GMT-5 )
Summer time period: Summer time from March to October

Type of climate: The Cuban climate is subtropical and comes from the gentle trade winds of the North East. The temperature variation during the course of the year is slight and there only two noticeable seasons. The "summer" which is humid and lasts from May to October and the "Winter" which is drier and lasts from November to April. The average temperatures range between 70°F (February) and 86°fF(July and August). The rainy season starts in June and ends in October/November: typically the rains are short and violent.

To find an accommodation: Website on where to find accommodation in Cuba
To find an apartment: Online accommodation agency
Online accommodation agency

Travel Agency (Website in Spanish only)
Travel Agency
To find a job

Telephone codes: To make a call from Cuba to Greece: dial 119 (or +) 30
To make a call to in Cuba from Greece: dial 00 (or +) +53
Mobile telephone standards: The country entered into agreements with a number of foreign mobile telephone companies but it is advisable to check before leaving whether your provider is on the list. It is possible to buy a telephone and local sim card once in the country or to rent a telephone for a short period of time.
Internet suffix: .cu