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Cuba begins public debate on economic reforms

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11894593

2 December 2010 BBC News

Cuba has launched a public debate on plans to transform its socialist economy by reducing the role of the state and boosting private enterprise.

Ordinary Cubans are being encouraged to discuss the changes so their views can be taken into account at a ruling communist party congress next April.

The government says everyone should have a free say on the future of Cuba.

But it also insists that the "socialist character" of Cuba's political system will not change.

Under the headline "It is the people who decide", the official Communist Party newspaper Granma said everyone in Cuba should take part in the economic debate

It urged people to discuss the changes through Communist Party organisations, trade union meetings and community groups.

"Nobody should remain with an unexpressed opinion, much less be prevented from expressing it," it said.

"At stake is the future of the Cuban nation."

However, Granma also stressed that the "socialist character" of Cuba's political and social system was "irrevocable."

Cuba is entering a period of potential social upheaval.

Half a million workers are due to lose their jobs in the coming months as the government attempts to overhaul the island's struggling state-run economy.

President Raul Castro is also encouraging people to become self-employed or set up small businesses to help take up the slack.

The government has publicly released a 32-page report listing in detail the proposals, and this is intended to form the basis of the discussions.

These debates will not touch on the political shape of Cuba's one-party state nor on replacing the centrally-controlled command economy with a return to capitalism.

Economic problems

The three-month debating period is presented as the opportunity for the public to participate in decisions to be taken at the ruling communist party's sixth congress in April, the first to be held in 14 years.

President Raul Castro called the congress in November, saying it would "concentrate on solving problems in the economy and updating the Cuban economic model."

But many details of the economic changes have already been announced, so it is not clear how much influence the public debate will really have.

In September, President Castro announced plans to lay off around up to a million state employees - about a fifth of the workforce - and encourage them to find work in the private sector.

Half of those posts are to go by the end of March, just weeks before the planned congress.

Restrictions on private enterprise are being eased, with small businesses allowed to employ staff, borrow money, and sell services to government departments.

They will also have to pay tax.

Thousands of Cubans have already been given licences to set up private businesses, and more are registering every week.

Since taking over from his brother Fidel in 2006, Raul Castro has taken steps to reduce the state's almost total control of the economy, which has has been gripped by a severe crisis in recent years.

It has suffered from a fall in the price for its main export, nickel, as well as a decline in tourism.

Growth has also been hampered by the 48-year US trade embargo.

Posted

These changes SEEM to prove previous cmentators on this forum to be incorrect.

The changes seem to be fairly major,and something of a sea change,rather than a fudge,or shuffling the furniture.

In reference to a comment on the "Wikileaks" thread,here is the example of the US meddling in others politics,and it would be a shame to sensure the right to comment on this.

Posted
These changes SEEM to prove previous cmentators on this forum to be incorrect.

The changes seem to be fairly major,and something of a sea change,rather than a fudge,or shuffling the furniture.

In reference to a comment on the "Wikileaks" thread,here is the example of the US meddling in others politics,and it would be a shame to sensure the right to comment on this.

You have to be kidding :huh:

Cubans are rolling in the streets laughing at the thought of now paying taxes (50%) for jobs they are doing tax free on the side.

As was recently said to me, "It wouldn't be so bad if we could import our own goods in some of these so called opportunities....but we have to purchase goods from the state....compete with the state run businesses...and in some cases sell back to the state"

let me break down the article for you..which was a a copy of a Granma (state) News article. With all due respect the days of BBC (or any) indepth reporting are long gone. We saw it in Feb when the BBC was chosen for a week expose on Cuba, costs covered by the Cuban Govt. It looked like a travel show. We met the reporter who was at our place for a party. He had a great week.

Back to the article, let me translate.

Ordinary Cubans are being encouraged to discuss the changes so their views can be taken into account at a ruling communist party congress next April.

We want to identify trouble makers

The government says everyone should have a free say on the future of Cuba.

Right before we arrest them

But it also insists that the "socialist character" of Cuba's political system will not change.

It will still be screwed

Under the headline "It is the people who decide", the official Communist Party newspaper Granma said everyone in Cuba should take part in the economic debate

Yes....we do have an economy

It urged people to discuss the changes through Communist Party organisations, trade union meetings and community groups.

It makes it far easier this way to identify and arrest you

"Nobody should remain with an unexpressed opinion, much less be prevented from expressing it," it said.

We want to get everyone

"At stake is the future of the Cuban nation."

Free from independent thinkers

However, Granma also stressed that the "socialist character" of Cuba's political and social system was "irrevocable."

but please...express yourself anyway. We have always been open and tolerant of differing opinion.

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