Possible Clues:

• Young lion on a large island
• Ursa Minor seen by astronomer, initially, in tropical country
• Caribbean republic
• Home of Guantanamo Bay
• Island country involved in a 1962 missile crisis
• Long rum-based drink
• Country area scout's gone over
• Fidel's land
• With less than a dollar, returned from Fidel's place
• Area covered by green reporter in red state