Question about Cuba

[bgramlich@xxxxxxxxxx]

I have this aunt who travelled to Cuba two years ago with a school program. So 
she claims to know quite a lot about its government and its politics. The other 
day we were talking and she brought up some things that didn't seem right to 
me. Supposedly the United States has payed rent for the Guantanomo, but Castro 
has never cashed any of the checks. Also she talked about how on their tour 
when they visited a clinic it would be full of people and fully staffed, but 
minutes later when someone in their group had left something behind and they 
returned it was completely empty. She also said that Castro plays off the 
situation as though it is the fault of the embargo and the US, but he is really 
just a greedy guy who wants all the money and power for himself. Can anyone 
verify or refute this information? and point me to a good resource where I can 
learn more about Cuba's current political economy?

Benjamin