New Cuban President: How Much Will Change?
by Liam Bailey
2008-02-25 19:10:00 ****
Fidel Castro has finally stepped down as Cuban President, handing over power to his brother Raul Castro. The Cuban's at large mostly trust Raul and hope he will bring some relief, possibly with some quick-fire economic reforms. All Cuban's hope the new President will waste no time in standardising Cuban currency.
Cuban's currently have to buy consumer goods with convertible pesos (CUCs) the official hard currency, while their wages (avg. $15 per month) are paid in local pesos, you get 24 pesos for 1 CUC. Raul Castro said in his first speech as president he was studying a "prudent revaluation of the Cuban peso."
Rolando Bellman, a Cuban security guard said: "Raul won't be able to get the economy back on an even keel without dedicating a lot of time to economic improvements for Cubans, how can the state sell most its products and goods in a currency that it doesn't use to pay people? This is a big contradiction to resolve in the future."
The dual currency system is not the only administrative problem Cuba's new President will have to tackle:
Even the most basic goods are scare, wages are poor, and Cuban's aren't allowed to buy and sell their homes and cars. It is a common belief that this has led to rampant corruption and a strong black-market economy. Never the less, the people of Cuba trust Raul Castro because of his efficient management of the Cuban army, and it is expected he will begin introducing some small economic reforms very shortly.
30 year old Communist party youth organisation worker Ramon Gonzales said: "We've been getting worn out for many years, but I trust Raul to solve our problems." State worker Roberto Cassanova had a different take: "This is a tough task for Raul, a lot of problems have built up in the country." He told the Guardian as he bought Banana's -- ranting about corruption. The Guardian took an elderly slant from 76 year old pensioner Armando Gomez who said: "Raul will be the guarantee of the revolution's continuity but he must have the backing of a young and capable force in order to satisfy the needs of the country."
I personally conclude that little will change very much in the way Cuba is run. Internally the country may be run more efficiently, but I wouldn't expect any sweeping changes like an end to communism, or a better relationship with the U.S.
