Cuban Ambassador says:

Reforms would benefit Cuban people

Suraj A. Bandara

New economic reforms introduced by the Cuban Government to restructure the economic policies are not a move to adopt capitalism at any degree, Cuban Ambassador Nirsia Castro Guevara said addressing a seminar on 'What is happening to Cuba' at Sausiripaya yesterday.

The seminar was organized by the Bolivarian Solidarity organization to educate Sri Lankans over the western hostile criticism of Fidel Castro's comments on recent economic changes made by the Cuban Government.

Pro-capitalistic western countries said that Cuba's recent economic policy changes represent embracing capitalism. The Ambassador refused categorically the notion that Cuba is making a turn to embrace capitalism. "No changes that can affect socialist ideologies in Cuba would be made", she said.

The plan has been worked on and endorsed by the country's powerful trade union federation and there is no doubt that the new policies will be well received by the majority of people. "People are much aware that their leaders would not take unfavourable decisions.

These changes are not imposed by the Government but people also contributed to make them," she said.

"They would benefit the Cuban people in various ways" she said.

It would be wrong to read these economic changes as a prelude to normalizing trade relations with capitalist countries. Revolutionary ideology is still as strong as ever in Cuba. The Cuban system, despite these changes, is still very much a socialist structure, Guevara said.

A great deal of media publicity had been given to the news that Cuba is to reduce state sector employment by half a million and transfer these workers to the non-state sector, including the private sector.

The eventual aim is to transfer about 500,000 workers of Cuba's state ventures to the non-state sector. They will become self-employed or become part of a workers' cooperative.

In Cuba there is an abundance of State employees which demoralize national production. To enhance their contribution to the national economy the additional labour force will be sent to other jobs offering them considerable compensation.

"Workers know what is going to happen to them. The program is to be undertaken in stages. Adverse effects on people's livelihoods are to be mitigated. It is important to understand that the announcement does not mean that all the 500,000 workers mentioned are to become unemployed, she said.

The lands used for the sugar cane production are not productive any more . They are abandoned due to non profitability. Therefore these lands will be acquired by the Government and will be given out in an effort to revitalize the agriculture sector.

Cuba spends more than US $ 1,000 million for food imports annually. Therefore, to be selfsufficient in agriculture this move was taken, she said.

All these changes are not anyhow beyond the socialist framework. All these would be made to make the economy selfsufficient and increase the productivity in the economy.

Since Cuba has a welfare government the state sector expenditures have been going up over the years.

Education and health are totally free in Cuba. After the revolution many doctors flew away and settled down in the USA. But due to the health and education policies adopted today Cuba has the highest literacy rate and an outstanding health service , she said.

The Ambassador lauded the brave speech made by President Mahinda Rajapksa at the UN summit requesting to remove the US blockade against Cuba. Over 33 country leaders pointed out the need to remove sanctions against Cuba at the UN session. "Therefore, Cuba is grateful to the President's support at the UN summit, she added.

These changes does not indicate that Cuban economy has collapsed or become weak. We want to make our government service efficient and increase national productivity. As our leaders who led the revolution said changes should be made when needed.

The constitution that is based on socialism would not allow attempts to deviate socialism, she said.

Speaking at the occasion, Housing Construction and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa said pro-capitalist fronts both local and foreign are rejoicing that Cuba has given up socialist ideology and embraced capitalism. Cuba has maintained a straight forward policies throughout. The US blockade was the biggest challenge Cuba faced in history.

When giant socialist Republics like Soviet Russia were collapsing Cuban revolution succeeded in making Cuba more strong.

The Cuban economy is not weak. It introduces some changes to remain stronger.

Even in China, the Communist party is the most powerful political representation yet, he said.