[Newsbot]

Title: Canada's embassy in Cuba decrepit, says audit
Category: World
Posted By: Hyack
Date: 2009-11-02 10:43:51
Canadian

[ridenrain]

Well, why did the Liberals let this happen?

[CanuckWayne]

"The overcrowded, crumbling offices have failed to provide basic privacy or security, resulting in at least one assault."

It is quite funny that we as a very wealthy nation can not even keep a simple building (an embassy to be exact) in good enough condition to serve the Canadian (I think they also said the Australians and Israelis too) tourists.

[ridenrain]

$1:

Canada leased the embassy building from the Cuban government in 1962. The white-washed, two-storey structure, about 80 years old...

It's not our building. As a taxpayer, I don't want to spend money fixing up something that I don't own. I also doubt we do enough business there to warrent the changes anyways.. and if we do, then the Cuban government can dix their own buildings.

[Public_Domain]

[xerxes]

It's Cuba. There should be a story when there's a building that isn't decrepit.

[ridenrain]

Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:

Then why the fuck are you shitting on the Liberals? Jesus Christ.

Haha.. Because it pissed you and Derby off.

$1:

The lax security dates from at least 1997 when a previous inspection noted the same problems, which were not fixed for 12 years.

What would Sasha Trudeau say.. All that misplaced dictator love and Canada does nothing.

[commanderkai]

xerxes xerxes:

It's Cuba. There should be a story when there's a building that isn't decrepit.

*Looks at Fidel's Presidential Palace*

That seemingly is it.

[2Cdo]

But Michael Moore told us how wonderful Cuba was!

Just another crumbling communist shithole to be avoided at all costs.

[Benn]

xerxes xerxes:

It's Cuba. There should be a story when there's a building that isn't decrepit.

I'll second that!

$1:

"The risk to staff who must transport and assume responsibility for large amounts of cash is also of concern," says the audit. The bank run "is common knowledge."

The embassy's 80 guards are paid with cash-stuffed envelopes, all of which are given to the head guard to distribute. "This practice not only places the head guard at risk but also places him in a position of power over his colleagues."

The report suggested mission staff simply do not take security seriously.

"The mission faces a range of security threats, yet it has an inactive committee on security. A number of recommendations of a previous security review remain unaddressed."

OMG this bugs me. Its not just Cuba, the lack of people at DFAIT taking security seriously is astounding. God I so wish I could go on about its so sad. Cuba just reflects the culture back at HQ.

[MacDonaill]

ridenrain ridenrain:

$1:

Canada leased the embassy building from the Cuban government in 1962. The white-washed, two-storey structure, about 80 years old...

It's not our building. As a taxpayer, I don't want to spend money fixing up something that I don't own. I also doubt we do enough business there to warrent the changes anyways.. and if we do, then the Cuban government can dix their own buildings.

I actually agree with you. If anything, we should just move to another, nicer building.

[Benn]

MacDonaill MacDonaill:

ridenrain ridenrain:

$1:

Canada leased the embassy building from the Cuban government in 1962. The white-washed, two-storey structure, about 80 years old...

It's not our building. As a taxpayer, I don't want to spend money fixing up something that I don't own. I also doubt we do enough business there to warrent the changes anyways.. and if we do, then the Cuban government can dix their own buildings.

I actually agree with you. If anything, we should just move to another, nicer building.

Easier said than done in some of these countries. Some with governments like Cuba's have to agree with where you go and what you build and if they don't want you building than your SOL. Plus in Cuba nicer and newer buildings are not easy to find.

[ridenrain]

I'm sure it's only a matter of money and they'll be happy to provide men and materials, at inflated prices, for us to do what we want. The thing is, a lot of Canadians vacation there so our investments in Cuba also have a value. Considering we share the embassy with Austrailia and Israel, we have even more barganing value.

I honest doubt we do any real business there anyways. We have virtually no trade and almost no immigration so all that remains are helping out drunk Canadian tourists who get in trouble.

[Benn]

ridenrain ridenrain:

I'm sure it's only a matter of money and they'll be happy to provide men and materials, at inflated prices, for us to do what we want. The thing is, a lot of Canadians vacation there so our investments in Cuba also have a value. Considering we share the embassy with Austrailia and Israel, we have even more barganing value.

I honest doubt we do any real business there anyways. We have virtually no trade and almost no immigration so all that remains are helping out drunk Canadian tourists who get in trouble.

Unfortunately even if this was the case, our Gov just gave DFAIT another massive budget cut since obviously it sees no value in the Global relations, global market place, and trade it trumpets in each throne speech. So no money to bribe them for a new embassy building. Maybe we can borrow from the Israelis lol

[ShepherdsDog]

It's just local flavour/decour...sometimes it isn't good to stand out.