• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 12 / 16 / 2010

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The BBC’s Cuba correspondent reported about a neighborhood meeting in Havana, called to discuss the outlines of economic reform in the run-up to the 6th Communist Party Congress in April.

The get-together at Nuevo Vedado was one of hundreds, if not thousands, of meetings the Communist Party is promoting to prepare the at-large population for major economic reforms. The Party produced a 291-point “guideline” with discussion points to be used during the meetings.

According to BBC correspondent Fernando Ravsberg, the foreign ministry granted him access to this particular meeting, about which he could report without any restrictions.

Following is our translation of some of Ravsberg’s observations, which have been published by the BBC in Spanish only.

“In the assembly to which we were invited in the neighborhood of Nuevo Vedado, only one attempt of confrontation occurred, touching on the topic of professional sports. It was immediately silenced by one of the officials sent by the central government.

Beyond that, some orthodox Marxist opposition arose, defending the state-led economic model and questioning the opening to self-employment, small private business and even agricultural co-ops. Despite these objections, the 12 chapters were approved unanimously, without a single vote against or abstention. In the end, a government member congratulated the moderating panel for the success achieved in the meeting.”

“The event was marked by the silence of the great majority of the participants during the first five chapters — economic management, macroeconomy, foreign trade, science and technology — no one said anything. Among the later arguers, one defended the current economic model and alerted about a resurgence of capitalism, saying that for Marxists there was no small business because ‘when they have one cafeteria, they will want one bar, and then many bars.’ He questioned agricultural cooperatives, demanding that state farms should be kept. He was calmed by one of the moderators who said that the ’socialist state enterprise’ will persist. Throughout the event, the concept of ’state’ was handled as synonymous with ’socialist.’

The first confrontation came up in relation to sports, where several proponents argued that athletes should be allowed to play for professional teams abroad while continuing to play for the national team, similar to the rest of the world.

Immediately, one of the moderators, Maira Elena Tase, responded that the sports ministry had already determined to not allow access to professionalism because it meant turning athletes into a merchandise.

One of the attenders returned to the microphone to respond, with sarcasm, that if he had known that the issue was already determined, he would not have opined.”

“There was some debate concerning the topic of housing, with the proposal that it was necessary to end ‘the stupid prohibitions by the state’ regarding the purchase and sale of everybody’s homes, and it was proposed that the properties of emigrants should be respected. Another participant asked that the government sell automobiles and motorcycles to individuals, that the import should be allowed to those who can bring automobiles from abroad, and that the prohibition of the sale of vehicles between individuals should be lifted.”

Ravsberg’s summary: More than 100 persons present, 291 points to debate, and only a dozen discussants. A worse-than-poor citizen participation when considering that what is being debated is the future design of the nation, something that affects everyone. The president, Raúl Castro, has insisted that citizens express their opinions with sincerity.

Discussing reform in Nuevo Vedado. Photo: BBC

Source:www.cubastandard.com/2010/12/15/bbc-correspondent-describes-neighborhood-reform-meeting/