Tourists opinions of Cuba vs. DR
I've travelled on my own in Cuba on three occassions and found the Cuban people much like the Dominicans in their Latin hospitality and open friendliness. Like in the rest of L.A. the authorities tend to act thuggish in proportion to their power. And yes, it's relatively clean since there's nothing to throw away, and Cubans have a solid middle class history.
As Fidel wanes crime will rise, and as we saw with the Marielitos in 1980, violent crime will skyrocket when Fidel's mano duro relaxes over the (every society has them) sociopaths and psychopaths. Anarchy may prevail until the Casino Mafia (Russian this time) take over the country again. So whatever crime is there now, just wait for what will come.
Meanwhile, I'd like to know WHAT "anti-communist documentary" as a poster said. It's pseudo-intellectual cachet today to compliment these 'socialist' dictatorships -- nowhere does the media call them out for what they are. Consequently most tourists returning from Cuba try to distinguish themselves as members of the elite by praising Cuba with their own myths: education, medical, safety. And they are myths.