Come January, Cubans will be able to come and go with greater ease. Havana will no longer require an exit visa for its citizens. The announcement by the government:
SOUNDBITE ANCHOR READING STATEMENT, SAYING:
"The Cuban government, in full function of its sovereignty, has decided to eliminate the procedure of soliciting the Permission to Exit (EDIT) Starting on the 14th of January 2013, a current passport will be the only requirement and a visa for the destination country if required."
They added that certain measures would be in place to prevent the quote.. "theft of talents" practiced by "powerful nations."
On the streets of Havana, reactions to the announcement.
SOUNDBITE: Unidentified Havana Resident saying (Spanish):
"It's a very positive attitude from our government to recover our true citizenry as well as trying to establish an economic policy that is more favorable for the country"
SOUNDBITE: Unidentified Havana Resident Margarita Nunez saying (Spanish)
"That's good. Hopefully we can now go visit our family members living outside the country."
The move by the government is the first major change to Cuba's migratory policy in a half century.
Cuba imposed the the travel restrictions in 1961 to try and stop people from fleeing after the 1959 revolution that put Fidel Castro in power.