Jineteras in Havana
Tropical weather, exciting music, rum at every street corner and attractive and elegant women can make an exotic cocktail with love in the air.
Before the revolution Havana was the playground of the rich and famous, the Mafia was everywhere and corruption, gambling, crime, and prostitution were part of the daily life. The revolution cleaned up all these illegal and evil activities. The criminal organisations and prostitution were banned, and the poor people were promised a better life. Nowadays prostitution in Cuba is legally forbidden and does in fact not exist.
Under the stress of the poor living conditions some young women (and men) are approaching the tourists. They are called jineteras, which can be translated as jockey: they make a ride on the back of the tourists (wallet). The jinetera is in fact a kind of escort girl who offers company in exchange for a meal and a few drinks, a new pair of jeans, a night out to a show etc. Needless to say, a lot of these encounters end with sex.
Most Cubans do not see the jinetera as hard prostitution. Keep in mind that life in Havana can be difficult, or as they say: “no es facil” (it’s not easy). The extra money is more than welcome. The jineteras “work” in the tourist areas, Old Havana and
Havana Centro, especially Saturday and Sunday nights around the Parque Central
(Central Park), Obispo and San Rafaël Streets, on the hunt for tourists with open wallets.
At the same time the police is watching the jineteras, because this practice is not allowed. Any jinetera walking hand in hand with a tourist can expect an identity check. The police will ask her for her “carné de identidad,” a small plastic identity card, and check if she has a record of prostitution. If affirmative she can expect a severe fine (50 CUC) and up to 3 years in jail, or she can be sent to a re-education school and be obligated to learn a trade such as hairdressing.
Since 1999 the police controls have been extended, and the police have received authority to check cars and “casas particulares” (accommodations in private homes). During the police controls, the tourists are not questioned and can go free, only the jinetera will be punished.
While there is no racism in Cuba, Afro-Cuban jineteras and (white) tourists are most common. I recall the story of two Cuban neighbours talking and walking on the street, she a white woman in her forties with a foreign look and he a 20-year-old Afro-Cuban. The police stopped them for an identity check, because they suspected the young Afro-Cuban of being a jinetero, the male equivalent of the female jinetera.
LOVE – part 1
Cubans are nice and attractive people, so it’s not unusual for tourists to fall in love with a Cuban man or woman. Nothing wrong with this, but a word of caution: some young Cubans want to leave the country and may try to escape poverty and better their family’s economic situation by marrying a tourist. Many of these romances are fake and only for the money, and this can be very frustrating.
Our advice: If you fall in love with a Cuban or have a close friendship watch for these signs: honest Cuban men and women are proud and will only accept a few drinks, a meal or an evening out to a show. Pay attention when more money is requested, watch out if she constantly expects new and expensive things - new clothing, a cell phone, money for her “sick” mother or baby…they can be inventive. These are early warning signs that she’s only a jinetera and does it only for the money.
LOVE – part 2
On the brighter side, you found the love of your life, you’re engaged: congratulations!
If you want to invite him/her to your country for a vacation, that’s all very well, but it takes some red tape.
WARNING:
all the information about documents, procedures, and prices are guidelines, and differ from country to country. Check with the Cuban embassy in your homeland for the latest information.
INVITATION
A Cuban citizen who wants to travel abroad needs an official invitation from a person or institution outside Cuba. This letter of invitation is an official document delivered by a Cuban notary. The document mentions the identity of the person who invites the Cuban and the identity of the Cuban citizen who is invited. The “ inviter” declares that he /she will take full responsibility for the Cuban and agrees to pay the total costs of the invitation including travel costs, hotel or housing costs, medical insurance etc.
The letter of invitation is valid for one year starting from the issue date on the document. The cost of this document in Havana is 140 CUC, with special request form available at the Cuban embassies: costs about 200 US dollar – 200 euro.
Additional documents
Depending of the regulations of the country of the inviting person additional documents may be needed such as:
A medical examination certificate
A document stating that the inviting person earns sufficient income to support the invited Cuban.
In order to receive permission to leave the country, the Cuban citizen has to go to the Cuban Migration Services to apply for a travel permit (vigencia de viaje) and a Passport. Before departure the Cuban has to apply for a visa, which will be stuck in the Passport and has a validity period of 30 days. An extension of up to 90 days is possible.
MARRIAGE IN HAVANA (Cuba)
To marry in Havana (Cuba) the following documents are needed:
For the NON Cuban citizen
- a birth certificate
- an official document stating your identity and civil status, mentioning whether you are single, divorced or widow/widower.
In case you are a widow/widower a certificate of your previous marriage and a copy of the death certificate will be needed.
An official (sworn) translator must translate all the documents into Spanish. Both, the original certificates as well as the translations should be certified and officially recognized by the authorities of your country.
All above-mentioned certificates must be certified and stamped by the Consular services of the Cuban embassy in your home country.
For the Cuban citizen
Identity card (carné de identidad)
In case of divorce: certificate of the divorce (certificacion de sentencia de
divorcio)
In case of widow/widowers, certificates of the previous marriage and copy of the death certificate will be required (certificacion de matrimonio y defuncion del conjuge).
When the documents are delivered both partners go in company of two adult witnesses (who are not family members) to a notary who will conduct the ceremony.
Cost of the ceremony 525 CUC: marriage ceremony
140 CUC: invitation
300 CUC: legalisation and protocol
