Veterans For Peace Delegation to Cuba

Veterans For Peace Delegation to Cuba

May 2nd-9th, 2017

 

Veterans For Peace is dedicated to challenging US military bases around the world.  VFP members continue to speak out against the U.S torture program, specially demanding the closure of Guantanamo Bay Prison. As part of these efforts, VFP will lead a delegation to Cuba from May 2nd-9th, 2017 to attend the Fifth International Seminar on Peace and Abolition of Foreign Military Bases that will be held in Guantanamo, Cuba May 4-6, 2017.

As a part of the conference, we will visit an overlook to see into the US Guantanamo Bay military base where the prison in which torture of prisoners has occurred.

If you are interested in joining the delegation, please e-mail Casey Stinemetz casey@veteransforpeace.org or call the national office at 314-725-6005.  The delegation will have a maximum of 15 delegates. 

 

DEADLINE TO APPLY -- APRIL 2ND

Delegates are responsible for arranging for flights to Cuba to arrive by Tuesday May 2nd.  Delegates are responsible for their own transportation from the Havana airport to Tulipán Hotel in downtown Havana.

The delegation will spend May 2 at the Tulipán Hotel and will depart by bus from Havana for the two day trip to Guantanamo City on May 3 AMISTUR, the Cuban national tourism agency will provide the bus and a tour guide for the trip.  

All delegates must be current members of Veterans For Peace (veteran member or associate member) and must have a current passport to gain entry into Cuba.  The trip will cost $900 USD for a single occupancy room or $800 USD for a double occupancy room which includes the bus trip, hotels, most meals and the conference fee. Delegates must provide a non-refundable $500 deposit once accepted to be part of the delegation to hold a spot.

 

Services included in delegation pricing:

  • Hotel Accommodations: In Havana (2 nights May 2, May 8), Hotel Camagüey (May 3), Hotel Santa Clara Libre (May 7) and Hotel Guantánamo (May 4,5,6)
  • Transportation: Buses for the entire program provided by Amistur
  • Conference registration
  • Other services: Amistur guide, VFP admin costs

 

Not included in delegation pricing:

  • Flight to and from Cuba
  • Cuban visa (up to $50)
  • Transportation from airport to hotel on May 2nd
  • Lunch and dinner not mentioned in the program (see below)
  • Visits to Cuban Institutions that have to be paid in CUC and are not listed in the itinerary
  • Airport exit tax (25.00 CUC (Approximately $28, but paid in Cuban pesos)
  • Calls, tips, drinks, other personal expenses

Direct flights from United States to Cuba:

 

Non-Cuban citizens must have a visa to enter Cuba. Travelers may obtain a Cuban visa (e.g. tourist card, business visa, etc.) through the Cuban Embassy or via third-party vendors prior to travel. If not purchased in advance, travelers will be required to purchase a tourist card (Cuba’s entry visa) for $50 at the gateway departure gate, prior to boarding—most travellers purchase the visa at the gateway departure gate. In addition, passengers will also see a $25 charge in their fare for Cuba-specific medical insurance, which is required for entrance into Cuba. If medical attention is required in Cuba, passengers will need to retain a hard copy and/or an electronic copy of their boarding pass as proof of insurance. It is suggested that passengers also take a picture of their boarding pass with their cell phones in case the boarding pass is misplaced. Additional details regarding the process for purchasing and presenting tourist cards and medical insurance will be provided as the process develops.

Cuban-born travelers have different requirements. Please refer to the “Cuban-Born and/or Cuban Nationals” section on each airline’s information page for flights to Cuba.  

Passengers are required to complete and submit the OFAC certification or specific license form at the gate, if not previously submitted electronically*.

 

*Electronic submission will be available when purchasing a ticket on U.S. airlines, and will be available via online check-in, kiosk and mobile check-in by 2017. Through the automated process, the OFAC certification may be pre-submitted to Delta electronically prior to travel. If a traveler does not fill out and submit the OFAC certification electronically, the passenger will be required to fill out, sign, and submit a form at the gateway departure gate. All travelers must submit an OFAC certification or they will not be permitted to travel.

Delegates should read the visas and OFAC information provided by the airline website on which the delegate chooses to fly.

 

DELEGATION ITINERARY


Tuesday, May 2 
Arrival of Delegates (Transfer from Havana Airport to Hotel on your own)
4:00 PM Accommodations begin at Tulipán Hotel, Havana
Dinner on your own


Wednesday, May 3
7:00 am Breakfast
8:00 am Departure of buses to Camaguey
11:30 am Arrival in Cienfuegos. Panoramic views of the area.
12:00 noon Lunch in transit in Cienfuegos
8:00 pm Accommodations at Hotel Camagüey
Dinner at the hotel

Thursday, May 4 
6:00 am Departure to Guantánamo
10:00 am Arrival, accommodations and accreditation of delegates who will attend the event.
12:30 pm Lunch at Hotel Guantánamo
2:00 pm opening session of the Seminar at the University of Medical Sciences Theater, Guantánamo
4:00 pm Break
4: 15 pm Plenary session begins. 
6:00 pm End of working sessions
7: 00 pm Dinner at Hotel Guantánamo
8:30 pm Visit to a Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) and meeting with residents in the Villa Toa Neighborhood

Friday, May 5 
8:30 am Continuation of work in the Plenary.
10:45 am Break
11:00 am Continuation of work in Plenary.
1:00 pm Lunch at Hotel Guantánamo
3:00 pm Continuation of work in Plena
6:00 pm End of working sessions  
7:00 pm Dinner at Hotel Guantánamo
8:30 pm “Concert for Peace”, at the Plaza 24 de Febrero, in downtown Guantánamo.

Saturday, May 6 
Breakfast
8.30 am Ceremony to Mariana Grajales at the Revolution Square that is named after her. 
9:00 am Plenary Session at the Casa de la Cultura, Rubén López Sabariego, to approve the Final Declaration of the V International Seminar for Peace and the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases. 
10:00 am Presentation of the book “Guantanamo Naval Base. United States versus Cuba” by a group of Cuban authors. 
11.00 am Presentation by “La Colmenita”; the Children Theater Group from Guantánamo.
1.00 pm Lunch at Hotel Guantánamo.
3.00 pm Departure to Caimanera, Cuban territory adjacent to the illegal US base that will be hosted by local authorities in the Hotel Caimanera.
5:30 pm Final reading of the Declaration in front of the people of Caimanera in the local park. 
6:30 pm Return to Guantánamo City.
8:00 pm Dinner at Hotel Guantánamo
9:00 pm “Guantanamera Night” in the center of the city with the people. 

Sunday May 7
6:30am Depart for 1.5 day bus trip to Havana  (breakfast will be in bags)
1:00 pm Lunch in Camagüey
8:00 pm Accommodations at Hotel Santa Clara Libre
Dinner at the Hotel

Monday, May 8 
7:00 am Breakfast
8:00 am Continue bus trip to Havana
1:00 pm Lunch in Havana
4:00 pm Accommodations at Hotel Tulipán
Dinner on your own

Tuesday May 9 
8:00 am Breakfast
12:00 noon Check Out from Hotel (travel to airport on your own)

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