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:<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE ANCHOR READING STATEMENT, SAYING:<br/> <br />"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."<br/> <br />They added that certain measures would be in place to prevent the quote.. "theft of talents" practiced by "powerful nations."<br/> <br />On the streets of Havana, reactions to the announcement.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Unidentified Havana Resident saying (Spanish):<br/> <br />"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"<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Unidentified Havana Resident Margarita Nunez saying (Spanish)<br/> <br />"That's good. Hopefully we can now go visit our family members living outside the country."<br/> <br />The move by the government is the first major change to Cuba's migratory policy in a half century.<br/> <br />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.
