Saturday, July 16, 2016

Periodo Especial Forever In Cuba?

Periodo Especial Forever In Cuba?
07/14/2016 12:47 pm 12:47:43
Miriam Leiva

For the first time the Castros do not have a patron. 57 years they
exerted power backed by the economic support of the Soviet Union
(1959-1989) and Venezuela (1999-2016). But celebrations this July 26th
are gloomy. Raul Castro acknowledged economic difficulties, and he
encouraged everyone to trust and have faith in the present and future of
the revolution, during a speech on July 8th. The thread of a Periodo
Especial aggravated is a campaign of the enemy, the elder guerilla
leaders argue. But Cubans have been increasingly aware of the incoming
chaos, as news from Venezuela arrived, the oil price dropped, the
General did not speed up economic measures, store lacked inventory, fuel
was rationed and a blackout started.

Fidel Castro was confident that the soviet bloc would last forever, over
ten years, Cubans confronted the worst crisis ever, called Special
Period in Peace Time. The underpaid imports and overvalued exports,
technical and scientific cooperation, and investments stopped overnight.
The huge assistance had been thrown away in wars abroad and unproductive
mega plans at home. First the Comandante blamed Gorbachev, but as
blackouts and lack of supplies dragged on too long the population was
upset, and he got hold of the American embargo. But lucky him! After
Hugo Chavez intended a coup d'etat in 1992, Fidel guided his soul mate
to save the revolutions and reconquering the world as president elected
in 1999. The small openings in farmers markets, self-employment, State
owned and foreign enterprises that supposedly Raul Castro convinced him
to allow had relieved the economic turmoil, but they were reversed as
soon as Venezuela's oil and dollars were pumped in 2000. Only tourism
survived, handled by the military.

In 2006, Raul Castro inherited the power he had been supporting with his
military and a worn out country. The socio-economic levels existing in
1989 had not been regained; the infrastructure was destroyed, and Hugo
Chavez tried to keep Fidel's body and ideas alive. Raul Castro tried to
gain Cuban's support by lifting absurd bans, such as allowing cell
phones and admission in hotels, and recognized that changes in the
economy had to be brought about, but the measures taken have been too
timid and slow. He sought international acceptance and new financial
support. In 2013, Chavez passed away and Venezuela's comprehensive
support became at stake. The situation was ripe for the United States to
change its approach toward Cuba, thus Obama's people to people policy,
and Raul Castro's eagerness for the embargo to end. Most of the
creditors (mainly European) have forgiven the external debt that the
Cuban government stopped paying in 1986 and foreign investment is promoted.

Raul Castro announced the impossibility of gaining economic growth, lack
of liquidity (money), delays in trade payments allegedly due to drop in
the prices of exports and less oil from Venezuela, during his speech at
the National Assembly of the Popular Power on July 8th.. He determined
that energy consumption and short-term credits would shrink, and
priority wouble be given to investments in productions for export and
substitution of imports, infrastructure and tourism.

The economy has been relying on net income from the export of services,
i.e. medical personnel mainly to Venezuela, and Cuban's remittances to
relatives and friends. From the United States remittances were estimated
up to 3 billion dollars in 2015. Speeding economic changes, lifting
restrictions to self-employment, ending tight State control, simplifying
legislation, and opening civil society to all are urgently needed. The
atmosphere is warming up without possible persuasion about enemy
maneuvers. Raul Castro reaches 10 years in power on July 31th, he is 84
years old and Cuba is on the verge of the precipice.

Source: Periodo Especial Forever In Cuba? -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/miriam-leiva/periodo-especial-forever-_b_10993622.html

No comments:

Post a Comment