This one might get me in trouble here. Behaviour in Havana.

[Ryan]

First thing. Sorry for the click-baity title.
I arrived in Havana on Monday. I’m here for three more weeks. Work to do.
Of course I timed this trip to coincide with the Habanos Festival. I organised a coffee launch with cigars blended for it and a charity auction. Habanos cancelled. I didn’t.
Things are more complicated than usual here but people are finding a way. Life goes on. There is an optimism here for positive change soon.
Anyway, I have been coming here for nearly twenty years , two or three times a year. I know a lot of people in the cigar industry here. Farmers, factory staff, store managers, workers etc.
I also know a lot of people in cigar distribution and retail, globally, largely from coming here. So I’m
aware of both sides of the industry.
Since Monday, I’ve heard at least 10 stories from Cubans in the industry and connected to it who were asked by Festival goers to make arrangements for them. From sourcing cigars, to restaurant reservations, fuel, drivers etc.
These guys have spent time and money making these arrangements for people in the cigar-trade coming for the festival.
Then the festival was cancelled.
Not one has heard since from the people who asked them to help them. Not one. No pay, not even covering out of pocket expenses. Not huge amounts but a lot for a Cuban person.
I probably shouldn’t be writing this. It’s 2 am here and I have a three hour drive to Viñales at 7 am but my blood’s boiling.
I’m sure there are exceptions but I haven’t heard of a positive example yet.
Things are bad enough. Black market petrol went from $6 per litre to $8 per litre today.
The cigar trade used to be gentlemanly. I’m old enough to remember the likes of Desmond Sautter. What happened? Cigars have gone to £100 pounds each, retailers still make 30% to 40% margin but would leave a Cuban “friend” out of pocket for six months salary worth of expenses. The profit from 2 to 3 cigars for the retailer.
There was a time I would have helped these guys with money. But, for one, I can’t afford it, there are too many of them. And two, if I give them the money, they’ll forget the experience.
It took me 52 years to learn the most important lesson in business. I’m 56 now. “When someone shows you who they are, believe them.”
I want to save these guys some time.
Thoughts? Am I over-reacting? I am also a bit tired.

[liles]

I guess the problem with cigars transitioning from a premium product to ultra-luxury is that the people who associate with those ulta-lux items generally only care for what you can do for them. If you can't do anything for them, why would they interact with you? The festival is cancelled, those people are now redundant.

[Ryan]

The irony is, I’ve heard so many of these people give the “Business is about relationships..” speech to their clients.
im just about done.

i know many of these people involved. Most. They have my email, phone number, WhatsApp , social media messages. They knew I was going to be coming regardless of Habanos. Two minutes of a “Andy, I owe $XXX to YYY. Can you get the cash to them and I’ll Revolut/Paypal/wire the money to you.”
I’d have had that done by last Tuesday. No problem.

[ha_banos]

People really show you who they are and who you are to them only at certain times. I don't think your rant is out of line. I would absolutely expect that they would be jumping to help a friend. It seems times have changed, the people have changed (new people I expect.)

Also serves some people right for cosying up for the wrong reasons. This is what a lot of people will be seeing the other side too I guess.

Trouble is only one side is depending and affected in reality Know the devil you dance with.

[Cigar_Addict]

I think it's quite natural to become defensive (rightly so) for people that you've spent so much time with & understand the culture. It's not nice to see them suffer,.. and not that people are intentionally exploiting them, but ignorance can play a part unless highlighted by people like your good self. I really do hope that things change for the better for them, it seems the world is missing out on what should be a truly beautiful country, filled with kind, hard working people

[BullittBoy]

I think your post is very honest and just.

Over the past few years despite falling in love Cuban cigars, the music and culture in general.. the ‘poverty tourism’ that appears to follow those fortunate to visit the Habanos Festival is simply quite sickening. The people of Cuba generally do not benefit from the cigar industry compared to the cost of the product worldwide and rely on money from tourism to live - and without extravagance.

These people have in good faith organised activities and items for visitors and should be compensated - it is only fair and I am sure those with tickets booked will have already claimed on travel insurance etc. for their lost funds.

[SonicStag]

You could always drop these people an email / text to make them aware of the plight they’ve left people in, but that’s just my bull in a china shop approach I take as I hate to see people suffering at the hands of rich. It’s seen to often in society now.