Dear Mongolia,
Here is what I found out:
1. Does Cuba provide Guantamano Bay with Electricity,water, Food or
other essentials?
Obviously, Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is completely independent from
supplies from Cuba and is not provided anything, although this used to
be different.
Electricity is provided by the base's own diesel-electric power plant
(22.8 MW) at Fisherman's Point. There is a project to build four
950-kW wind turbines in addition to the existing plant.
Before 1964, the base was provided water from Cuba through a pipeline
for payment. That year, supply was cut off by the Cuban government.
Since then, desalinization plants provide fresh water to the base.
I did not find any mentions of Cuba currently supplying food or
anything else to the naval base (which would be a rather unrealistic
scenario under the current state of relations between Cuba and the
USA); the base's official website reinforces this impression with the
words:
"For the past 40 years, Guantanamo Bay has been totally
self-sufficient with its own power and water sources."
2. Is there any movement of personnel between Cuba and Guantamano bay
(either US or Cuban)?
As of 2006, there are only two remaining Cuban employees commuting
from outside the base. See the answer to question 3 for details.
US personnel are not allowed to leave the base to enter Cuba proper.
3. Do any Cuban Personnel work at Guantamano Bay? If not was this
always the case since 1959?
Cuban personnel resident outside the base's territory used to work in
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. USMC Captain John Pomfret describes the
development after the Cuban revolution:
"Much of the work on the base has historically been accomplished by civilian labor.
Until 1961, recruitment of non-U.S. citizen labor was done in Cuba,
with the majority of workers commuting to and from the base to
neighboring towns on a daily basis. However, in January 1961 the Cuban
government prohibited any further recruitment from Cuba. In September
there were 2,404 Cuban commuters working on the base. There were also
560 Cuban residents on the base in 1963.
In July 1964 following mass separations of Cuban employees, there were
only 757 commuters on the base and 742 Cuban base residents, mainly
because 182 employees who were affected by the separation chose to
remain permanently on base rather than be separated.
Another mass separation occurred in February 1975, however, this time
the base population did not increase.
In December 1976 there were 145 Cuban commuters still traveling across
the fenceline. On the base there were 370 Cuban residents.
As of September 1982 only 95 Cuban commuters remained. All of these
commuters are reaching retirement age, and the time is approaching
when there will no longer be Cuban commuters."
The current situation is as follows, according to the Wikipedia
article about Guantanamo Bay:
"In 2006, only two elderly Cubans still cross the base's North East
Gate daily to work on the base"
4. What resolution mechanism exists if there is a dispute between
Cuba and the US regarding the Administration of Guantamano bay?
Interestingly, no such mechanism seems to exist at all. The 1934 lease
treaty, which let most lease conditions for Guantanamo Bay from the
1903 treaty remain in effect and which is still in force and unaltered
today, despite the USA and Cuba not maintaining diplomatic relations,
defines the responisbilities in a way that does not leave room for
disputes. The conditions are very clear: The territory of Guantanamo
Bay Naval Base, as defined in 1903 and affirmed in 1934, remains under
nominal Cuban sovereignity, but the USA exercises "complete
jurisdiction and control over and within said areas" as long as the
lease remains in force. This means, Cuba has no whatsoever claims to
participation in or influence on the administration of the area. The
USA has not only the final word, but the only word in all matters
concerning Guantanamo Bay and its administration.
I hope that this answers your questions!
Best regards,
Scriptor
Sources:
Wikisource: United States - Cuban Agreements and Treaty of 1934
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_States_-_Cuban_Agreements_and_Treaty_of_1934
U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay: Official Website
http://www.nsgtmo.navy.mil/
U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay: History
http://www.nsgtmo.navy.mil/htmpgs/gtmohistory.htm
U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay: The History of Guantanamo Bay 1494
-1964 - Volume 1 (1494-1964) Chapter 3, "Naval Reservation Leased"
http://www.nsgtmo.navy.mil/history/gtmohistorymurphyvol1ch3.htm
U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay: The History of Guantanamo Bay, Vol.
II - Volume 2 (1964-1982) Chapter 1: "After the Cuban Missile Crisis,
1968"
http://www.nsgtmo.navy.mil/history/gtmohistoryvol2ch1.htm
U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay: The History of Guantanamo Bay, Vol.
II - Volume 2 (1964-1982) Chapter 5: "Cuban Relations and the Future"
http://www.nsgtmo.navy.mil/history/gtmohistoryvol2ch5.htm
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Wind Power at
Guantanamo Bay (PDF file)
http://www.ceere.org/rerl/publications/published/2004/AWEA%202004%20GTMO-Wind.pdf
Department of Defense: Fiscal Year 2003 Annual Energy Management Report (DOC file)
http://www.acq.osd.mil/ie/irm/Energy/energymgmt_report/fy03/Final-EnergyMgtReport.doc
Wikipedia: Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_Naval_Base |
