As the COVID-19 pandemic roared towards us like a runaway train in March 2020, travel restrictions were imposed worldwide. My heart sank not just for myself, my family are based in the United Kingdom, but my heart sank for the people of Cuba - whom I embraced in 2016 when I worked on the photo series featured on this website. My photography told the tale of the Cuban people, struggling after years of Communist oppression and denial by the embargo.
They were so unassuming, yet warm and fun, yet suffering with crumbling homes and poverty. I arrived in Cuba just a few days after 44, President Barack Obama, had just left. Obama had instilled hope in the Cuban people and there was obvious joy wishing for normalized relations with the USA. Many Cuban people have not seen relatives living in the States for many years, so there is personal, familial pain as well as the financial anguish.
Shortly after 45, President Donald Trump, had reversed some of the policies and change that Obama had put into place. Despite this, he made a promise to “Not turn his back on the Cuban people”.
COVID-19 has ravaged the tourist industry worldwide. Nobody wants to set foot on a cruise ship, a floating Petri dish. Nobody wants to fly, unless they truly have to. Our priorities have shifted from planning a fun vacation to being home baking bread and cherishing the relationships we have - on our own turf. We’ve become a nation of homebodies due to potentially deadly virus.
Cuba relied on the tourist industry, not just from the USA as it was always hard to travel to Cuba from here but worldwide. Every country is struggling with it’s own COVID-19 outbreak, and mitigation. Cuba relied on all these countries, for any imported food and the tourists who come and spend their money.
Cuba is hurting - it’s time to end the embargo.
https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article245115390.html
- Sara Louise Petty
Photograph by Sara Louise Petty
Photograph by Sara Louise Petty
Photograph by Sara Louise Petty