The Cuba Corps’ Network of Trust has been conceived as a methodology for establishing links and to bridge the gap between the Cuban-American exile community and Cubans in the island both seeking a role in building a civil society through peaceful and democratic means.
This two-way communication program is intended to help bring down the veil of mistrust and disinformation resulting from the relentless campaign by the Castro regime to divide the Cuban communities in the island and abroad, as well as to represent the United States and other democracies as the “enemy,” in order to further governmental control through tactics of fear and intimidation. A second objective of the Network of Trust is to identify trustworthy “contacts” on the island that would be in a position to help during the transition phase, as appropriate.
There are at present 32 towns in this netwok. They are:
PINAR DEL RIO
Pinar del Rio
San Juan y Martinez
LA HABANA
Ciudad Habana
Municipio Boyeros
Centro Habana
San Miguel del Padrón
10 de Octubre
Vedado
Guanabacoa
Santiago de las Vegas
MATANZAS
Matanzas
Jagüey Grande
Pedro Betancourt
San Miguel de los Baños
VILLA CLARA
Placetas
Santa Clara
Sagua La Grande
Ranchuelo
Quemado de Güines
CIENFUEGOS
Cienfuegos
Cumanayagua
SANCTI SPIRITUS
Sancti Spiritus
Las Tozas
CAMAGUEY
Santa Cruz del Sur
HOLGUIN
Velasco
Holguin
Cacocún
Banes
Antilla
GRANMA
Manzanillo
SANTIAGO DE CUBA
Palma Soriano
Palmarito de Cauto
The Cuba Corps works with independent Cuban NGOs as “strategic partners” to work together in an effort to enhance and expand their capabilities in democracy building. They are all part of the Network of Trust.
Humanitarian Information Matrix
All the projects of The Cuba Corps are carried out throughout contacts in the same 32 towns, where the same people, NGOs, civic groups, religious groups, etc. receive books, vitamins and other medicines, and CDs. Telephone calls as a simple, warm greeting from the United States are made periodically to all NGO contacts in the key towns. This is the beginning of breaking the information wall imposed by the Cuban government, as well as bridging the information and communication gap between the US and Cuba of more than half-a-century. This “Network of Trust” is being built step by step by Cuba Corps volunteers.
A limited humanitarian needs assessment is being made by The Cuba Corps, with the help of those in Cuba and some organizations in Miami. Triangulation of the information, with recent arrivals in Miami and information from Cuba is proceeding at a slow pace, having completed at the time of this writing the full spectrum of information [infrastructure, health, education, etc.] for a few of the towns in the network. The completed matrix is expected to be of logistical assistance to The Cuba Corps, other NGOs and democratic governments willing to help in providing pointed and immediate humanitarian aid after the dictatorship.
Again, for the key towns, the following are some of the information points being filled:
Information Points:
Census/Population—age groups.
Schools—levels. Specialty schools. Universities.
Hospitals/Clinics/Medical installations. Doctors/ Nurses
Water/Aqueducts/ Sewers
Electrical facilities
Telecommunications
Industries
Housing
Roads and bridges
Tourism centers
Agricultural
Historical & Architectural monuments/buildings/sites.
Other (ports, roads, etc.)