Former Ambassador to Uruguay Frank Baxter and his wife Dollie Ambasador Kathy Baxter made a trip to Cuba with associates from the Institute of Americas, an “independent, inter-American organization that promotes cooperation between the public and private sectors to improve the economic, political, and social well-being of people in the Americas”. Â They took along with them 15 dollies and 15 teddy bears.
I asked Kathy for her reflections on her visit to Cuba:
“It’s a wonderful example of how socialism (communism) doesn’t work.  The infrastructure is crumbling, though every now and then we saw a house in great shape – those folks must have relatives in Miami.  75% of the food is imported – what is grown there is poor quality.  You absolutely cannot drink the water.  Our cell phones could only be used as cameras, as there is widespread communication difficulties except for at the hotels and the “private” restaurants (the government is trying out some privatization – creating a class with more money..perhaps the beginning of a big change?).  Unspeakable bathrooms!  The Cuban people are warm and friendly.  Our Cuban guide told us that in order to give anyone anything (remember, everyone must be equal!) a sample has to be given to several different officials, and it takes days even weeks for approval, and there may not be much left to give at the end!  When we had a talk from the second-in-command from the U.S. Interest Section (in lieu of an Embassy) I took the opportunity to ask her if there were places Frank and I could distribute the dollies and teddy bears we had brought over. She said they were giving a party in Havana for poor children suffering from cancer, so I gave her 16 of the dollies. ”  Then our U.S. contact in Cuba told us his Cuban girlfriend had an interest in a home for 15 children of prisoners, ages 1-6. He made the official arrangements for us to give the dollies to these children.  Unfortunately they were off at school when we visited.  The adults gave us a tour – we saw the little beds where the children would find our dollies and teddy bears tucked under the covers later that evening!”
