NationStates Jolt Archive

Castro reforms: DVDs, farms for Cubans
Posted on Wed, Apr. 02, 2008.
By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press Writer

Shoppers look at DVD players at a store in Havana, Tuesday, April 1, 2008. Cuban shoppers are snapping up DVD players, motorbikes and electric rice cookers that are going on sale to the general public for the first time.
» More Photos
Raul Castro: Cubans can have cell phones

HAVANA -- Cubans snapped up DVD players, motorbikes and pressure cookers for the first time Tuesday as Raul Castro's new government loosened controls on consumer goods and invited private farmers to plant tobacco, coffee and other crops on unused state land.

Combined with other reforms announced in recent days, the measures suggest real changes are being driven by the new president, who vowed when he took over from his brother Fidel to remove some of the more irksome limitations on the daily lives of Cubans.

Analysts wondered how far the communist government is willing to go.

"Cuban people can't survive on the salaries people are paying them. Average men and women have been screaming that at the top of their lungs for many years," said Felix Masud-Piloto, director of the Center for Latino Research at DePaul University. "Now after many years, the government is listening."

Many of the shoppers filling stores Tuesday lamented the fact that the goods are unaffordable on the government salaries they earn. But that didn't stop them from lining up to see electronic gadgets previously available only to foreigners and companies.

"They should have done this a long time ago," one man said as he left a store with a red and silver electric motorbike that cost $814. The Chinese-made bikes can be charged with an electric cord and had been barred for general sale because officials feared a strain on the power grid.

On Monday, the Tourism Ministry announced that any Cuban with enough money can now stay in luxury hotels and rent cars, doing away with restrictions that made ordinary people feel like second-class citizens. And last week, Cuba said citizens will be able to get cell phones legally in their own names, a luxury long reserved for the lucky few.

The land initiative, however, potentially could put more food on the table of all Cubans and bring in hard currency from exports of tobacco, coffee and other products, providing the cash inflows needed to spur a new consumer economy.

Government television said 51 percent of arable land is underused or fallow, and officials are transferring some of it to individual farmers and associations representing small, private producers. According to official figures, cooperatives already control 35 percent of arable land - and produce 60 percent of the island's agricultural output.

"Everyone who wants to produce tobacco will be given land to produce tobacco, and it will be the same with coffee," said Orlando Lugo, president of Cuba's national farmers association.

The change is a sharp contrast to the early days of Cuba's revolution, when the government forced or encouraged private farmers to turn their land over to the state or form government-controlled collective farms. But without more details, it was difficult to tell the significance of program, which began last year but was announced only this week.

"If this means all land that's not being used, like for private farmers, cooperatives and state farms, is available, that's positive," said Carmelo Mesa-Lago, a Cuba economics expert at the University of Pittsburgh. "Assuming, of course, they have the freedom to sow and sell whatever they want."

Lines formed before the doors opened at the Galerias Paseos shopping center on Havana's famed seaside Malecon boulevard, and shoppers wasted little time once inside. But there was no sign yet of computers and microwaves, highly anticipated items that clerks across Havana insisted would appear soon on store shelves, with desktop computers retailing for around $650.

Cuba's communist system was founded on promoting social and economic equality, but that doesn't mean Cubans can't have DVD players, said Mercedes Orta, who rushed to gawk at the new products.

"Socialism has nothing to do with living comfortably," she said.

Lines outside electronics boutiques and specialty shops are common in Cuba because guards limit how many people can be inside at a time. But waits were longer and aisles more packed than usual at Havana's best-known stores.

"DVDs are over there, down that aisle," an employee in a white short-sleeved shirt repeated over and over as shoppers wandered into La Copa, an electronics and grocery store across from the Copacabana Hotel.

"Very good! DVD players on sale for everybody," exclaimed Clara, an elderly woman peering at a black JVC console. "Of course nobody has the money to buy them." Like many Cubans, Clara chatted freely but wouldn't give her full name to a foreign reporter.

Government stores offered all products in convertible pesos - hard currency worth 24 times the regular pesos state employees get paid. The government controls well over 90 percent of the economy and the average state salary is just 408 regular pesos a month, about $19.50.

Still, most Cubans have access to at least some convertible pesos thanks to jobs with foreign firms or in tourism, or cash sent by relatives living in the United States.

Graciela Jaime, a 68-year-old retired clothes factory employee, complained that widespread corruption and greed has created a class of rich Cubans.

"Everyone wants to spend money and that is what's happening," she said. "If everything they earned went to the state like it should, there wouldn't be as much corruption as there is."

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While I welcome reforms. If the reforms are to benefit the Cuban people, my family members in Cuba, then they are good reforms.

If the reforms are ment to keep a dictatorship in power for life, then the reforms are a scam.

If the intent is to have Cuban Americans finance the Cuban dictatorship for life with Cuban American family remittances?

If the intent is to persude Cuban Americans to support full USA Cuban government relations with no real democratic changes in Cuba for the average Cuban people our own family members.

Most of the persons buying these once forbidden products are Cubans receiving Cuban American Family remittances $. Those who work in the tourist industry and receive hard currency $ tips. Of which the Cuban government has been trying to keep more off lately by certain tourist tip laws. And the Cuban government privileged governing elite.

For those on this forum who excuse, support and or deny the Cuban government dictatorship for life of Fidel and Raul incorporated. The real Cuba dosent sound like the socialist paradise island you all have been supporting all these years? Or does it?

Would you all like to live in that socialist island paradise as average Cuban Citizens?

As for the evil USA embargo. The Cuban government not the Cuban people trade with most major nations of the world, Canada and The European Union Nations, China, Venezuela and many others. Cuba recieves about 2 million tourist per year, mostly Canadians and Europeans. Even buys agricultural products from the USA on a COD basis despite the remaining USA sanctions. Cuban Americans are allowed to send $100 per month to thier family members in Cuba, 1,200 a year. Despite a remittances $ limit.

All this trade, tourists, Canadian and European foreign investments and political relations, has also failed to democratize the Cuban government dictatorship for life.

Only time well tell if these Raul reforms will be real democratic reforms or not.

Full USA Cuban government relations should be established only if the reforms are real and democratic. The European Union should have full economic, political and social relations with the Cuban government only if President Rauls reforms are real and democratic. As you all enjoy in your European Union nations and Canada. With all its faults and virtues. That many of you may take for granted.

its always fun to post holiday photo's of Cuba just to watch a forum burst into Internet fire...even if its just a place to take a honeymoon/get married

the reforms are designed to boost the economy and seem to be based on building an agricultural base up (hoping to mimic Brazil's success I guess) so I guess you will have to keep your shirt on

Full USA Cuban government relations should be established only if the reforms are real and democratic. The European Union should have full economic, political and social relations with the Cuban government only if President Rauls reforms are real and democratic. As you all enjoy in your European Union nations and Canada. With all its faults and virtues. That many of you may take for granted.

1) sanctions don't work unless that whole affair with North Korea is my imagination or remember that time when Iraq become democratic and nobody invaded

2) I'm not too concerned with Cuba TBH they can do their own thing for all I care and considering Cuba before I think this is the plan to follow

its always fun to post holiday photo's of Cuba just to watch a forum burst into Internet fire...even if its just a place to take a honeymoon/get married

the reforms are designed to boost the economy and seem to be based on building an agricultural base up (hoping to mimic Brazil's success I guess) so I guess you will have to keep your shirt on



1) sanctions don't work unless that whole affair with North Korea is my imagination or remember that time when Iraq become democratic and nobody invaded

2) I'm not too concerned with Cuba TBH they can do their own thing for all I care and considering Cuba before I think this is the plan to follow

Sanctions have never worked because the western democratic nations who should have supported them have not done so for this $.

But trade, tourists, Canadian and European foreign investments, diplomatic relations and dialogue have not worked either. Because a dictatorship government for life wishes to be a dictatorship governemnt for life. that is my point. Both policys have failed for the above reasons.

Not sure what you mean by considering Cuba before I think this is the plan to follow? Do you mean you would like to live in the real Cuba as an average Cuban Citizens before these great economic Raul reforms were put into affect? Or after?

Sanctions have never worked because the western democratic nations who should have supported them have not done so for this $.

for this "$" :confused:

sanction where placed on Cuba (which where later lifted by all barring the US), North Korea, Iraq etc. All sanctions manage to do is make things worse by punishing civilians and sealing X nation off from outside influence

But trade, tourists, Canadian and European foreign investments, diplomatic relations and dialogue have not worked either. Because a dictatorship government for life wishes to be a dictatorship governemnt for life. that is my point. Both policys have failed for the above reasons.

and I should be concerned with a dictatorship that sticks to its own borders because?

Not sure what you mean by considering Cuba before I think this is the plan to follow?

I'm saying living under a gangs thumb becoming an Island off Mexico (à la 50's Cuba) is generally a worse thing than communist Cuba

Do you mean you would like to live in the real Cuba as an average Cuban Citizens before these great economic Raul reforms were put into affect? Or after?

er...I guess I'd choose after if I had a gun to my head however I wouldn't want to be a citizen in Cuba or even many of the nations that are somehow the goodies so its a dodgy question to ask:

would you like live in Saudi Arabia? well then why do you hate freedom?

Call to power would not like to live in a nation like Cuba. But seems to want Cubans to live in a nation like Cuba. Under a dictatorship government for life.

Dont excuse, defend or deny the Cuban government dictatorship for life.

After the Soviet Union and its European sattlelite nations empire fell apart. What saved the Cuban government dictatorship were. Canada, EU trade, tourists, diplomatic relations and dialogue.

The Cuban governemts creation of so called $ Dollar $ stores. Where the average Cuban could buy many goods only with hard currency money $ sent by Cuban American family remittances $ of Dollars & Euros. A currency average Cubans do not earn $.

Paid in Pesos and made to buy in hard currency money, now CUC convertible pesos. In a currency they do not earn $. Sent by Cuban Americans.

Get the picture. Cuban Americans helping thier family members by helping the Cuban government dictatorship for life with Cuban American family remittances $ ?

Get the picture. Cuban Americans helping thier family members by helping the Cuban government dictatorship for life with Cuban American family remittances $ ?

Having worked for Western Union, and with immigrants from all corners of the world, believe me when I tell you Cuban Americans don't hold the monopoly on remittances. What exactly is your point?

Having worked for Western Union, and with immigrants from all corners of the world, believe me when I tell you Cuban Americans don't hold the monopoly on remittances. What exactly is your point?

I agree but there is always a but. As I posted in post 5. The Cuban government created so called Dollar $ stores. Were average Cubans could buy many goods only in hard currency money $ sent by Cuban American family remittances $. In a currency they did not earn. Not to help the Cuban people but to help the Cuban government dictatorship.

Think of it as a form of ransom. When Fidel announced a hike in the exchange rate charged to Cuban Americans. He was quoted as saying. " Let them pay more" Something like Let the Cuban American Mafia pay more $.

Mexican Americans send Mexican American family remittancs $ Dollars. Mexican citizens can buy all thier products in pesos in any stores a currency they earn $. The Dollars $ help.

I agree but there is always a but. As I posted in post 5. The Cuban government created so called Dollar $ stores. Were average Cubans could buy many goods only in hard currency money $ sent by Cuban American family remittances $. In a currency they did not earn. Not to help the Cuban people but to help the Cuban government dictatorship.

Think of it as a form of ransom. When Fidel announced a hike in the exchange rate charged to Cuban Americans. He was quoted as saying. " Let them pay more" Something like Let the Cuban American Mafia pay more $.

Mexican Americans send Mexican American family remittancs $ Dollars. Mexican citizens can buy all thier products in pesos in any stores a currency they earn $. The Dollars $ help.

I'm sorry, I don't follow your reasoning. I'm no apologist for centrally planned economies (and I'm not really convinced Cuba has been adhering to CP for some time anyway, correct me if I'm wrong), but I don't see how the plight of Cubans is markedly different from the plight of people all over the developing world.

I'm sorry, I don't follow your reasoning. I'm no apologist for centrally planned economies (and I'm not really convinced Cuba has been adhering to CP for some time anyway, correct me if I'm wrong), but I don't see how the plight of Cubans is markedly different from the plight of people all over the developing world.

The Cuban dictatorship government for life of Fidel. Has called Cuban American exiles, Cuban American Miami Mafia Members, Gusanos-Worms, Escoria-Scums over the years. But send Cuban American family remittances $.

So your family members can buy many of thier goods only in hard currency government stores, in a currency they do not earn $.

This is the kind of government most persons of the world have been denying, excusing and supporting all these years and still do.

Does anyone wonder why those crazy Cuban Americans feel, say and do the darnest things they do? With all the support we have gotten from most of the world, of over 160 nations and leaders?

Granted this kind of language is not Dictator for life Raul's language style.

Here is an interesting article many of you here will like. In the tradition of my favorite news channell Fox News, fair balanced and unafraid. Besides I wanted to be the first to post this article. I can agree with alot of what it says.

I still say most of the real pro market economic reforms Raul will make. Will be government controlled, foreigner control and perhaps private governing elite control. Like in the case of Raul's Generals. I will post as soon as I find the interesting article. one of the options in the public poll.

Cuban reforms could strengthen communism -- or not
Posted on Wed, Apr. 02, 2008Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email
By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press

HAVANA -- It's not the stuff of Lenin or Marx, or even of Fidel Castro, but it's hardly free-market capitalism, either. In fact, steps to encourage a Cuban spending spree may help the communist system and its new president survive.

In rapid-fire decrees over the past week, Raul Castro's government has done away with some despised restrictions, lifting bans on electric appliances, microwaves and computers, inviting average citizens to enter long-forbidden resorts and declaring they can even legally have their own cell phones.

More could be on the way. Rumors are rampant the government could ease travel restrictions and tolerate free enterprise that would let more people start their own small businesses. And hopes that it will tweak the dual-currency system that puts foreign products out of reach for most Cubans have sparked a run on the peso.

''We're going to get out and buy more and more,'' said retiree Roberto Avila. ``That's the future in Cuba, and it is a strong future.''

Cuba is still far from a buyers' paradise. Nearly everyone holds government jobs, earning an average of $19.50 a month, though many get dollars from tourism jobs or relatives abroad. It would take the average Cuban five months to earn enough to buy a low-end DVD player that someone could buy in a U.S. store with five hours of minimum-wage work.

By doing away with rules ordinary Cubans hate, Raul Castro may defuse clamor for deeper economic and political change in the single-party communist system.

On the other hand, the small changes could just whet Cubans' appetites for more.

''These measures to allow Cubans to buy DVDs and everything else are just to entertain the people,'' said Maite Moll, a 45-year-old state engineer. ``It's not really important because it resolves nothing.''

Some Cubans worry that even the small measures already taken will create class tensions and increase resentment between those earning state salaries and those with access to dollars, given the new opportunities for conspicuous consumption. Raul Castro is clearly hoping that greater buying power will distract from any friction.

Certainly, the 76-year-old president has bolstered his popularity, addressing for now the doubts that Cuba's government can survive without his charismatic brother Fidel.

''If low-income groups have access to essential goods like food, clothing and construction materials, and can sell and buy homes and use them as collateral, it doesn't matter if you have a significant income gap. People are better,'' said Carmelo Mesa-Lago, a Cuba economics expert at the University of Pittsburgh. ``That's what happened in China and Vietnam.''

The new president is said to be an admirer of free-market reforms that allowed those countries to revolutionize their economies while maintaining single-party communist political control, though top officials have said Cuba isn't about to follow a Chinese or Vietnamese path.

The food part of the equation could be profoundly affected by another initiative promoted this week. The government is lending uncultivated state-controlled land to private farmers and cooperatives to plant cash crops such as coffee and tobacco, while paying producers more for basics such as milk, meat and potatoes.

Over time, this could reduce chronic food shortages and change the face of Cuban farming.

It's not new for the government to let private farmers take a crack at putting state land to good use. But this time the government is letting farmers more easily buy equipment and supplies at government stores, removing a key impediment to their success.

The changes implemented barely a month into Raul's presidency are all measures Fidel bitterly opposed for decades, publicly declaring that even the smallest initiatives to increase economic and social freedoms could create a Cuban ''new rich'' and destroy the island's hard-fought social and economic equality.

Raul has pledged to consult his brother on all major decisions, but if the elder Castro doesn't like what's going on, he has kept his views to himself. Recuperating from an undisclosed illness in a secret location, the 81-year-old Fidel has written essays every few days focusing on international issues, making no mention of daily life in Cuba.

The latest changes are a far cry from perestroika or glasnost -- the political opening and economic restructuring of the Gorbachev era in the Soviet Union. But there are movements for greater freedoms among Cuban intellectuals as well.

Raul Castro presided this week over the Congress of the Union of Cuban Writers and Artists, hearing their call for more open debate about ``mechanisms of control and institutional censorship.''

''It seems clear that there is a disconnect between the cultural project of the revolution and the references that broad sectors of the people establish for themselves,'' said the group, an arm of the Communist Party which in the past has been used to enforce ideological discipline.

And that disconnect could lead to unrest if more changes don't quickly benefit the vast majority of Cubans. While people are excited to walk around stores and hotel lobbies, they will soon become frustrated that they can't afford to do more than look, said Juan Antonio Blanco, a Cuban academic based in Ontario, Canada.

''This government is totally myopic and shortsighted if it doesn't understand that it's sitting on dynamite,'' he said. ``They have to do more than the things that will play in the international media.''

------

Associated Press writer Katherine Corcoran in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Here are two interesting articles many of you here will like. In the tradition of my favorite news channell Fox News, fair balanced and unafraid. Besides I wanted to be the first to post these articles. I can agree with most of what it says.

I still say most of the real pro market economic reforms Raul will make. Will be government controlled, foreigner control and perhaps private governing elite control. Like in the case of Raul's Generals. one of the options in the public poll.

Cuban reforms could strengthen communism -- or not
Posted on Wed, Apr. 02, 2008Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email
By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press

HAVANA -- It's not the stuff of Lenin or Marx, or even of Fidel Castro, but it's hardly free-market capitalism, either. In fact, steps to encourage a Cuban spending spree may help the communist system and its new president survive.

In rapid-fire decrees over the past week, Raul Castro's government has done away with some despised restrictions, lifting bans on electric appliances, microwaves and computers, inviting average citizens to enter long-forbidden resorts and declaring they can even legally have their own cell phones.

More could be on the way. Rumors are rampant the government could ease travel restrictions and tolerate free enterprise that would let more people start their own small businesses. And hopes that it will tweak the dual-currency system that puts foreign products out of reach for most Cubans have sparked a run on the peso.

''We're going to get out and buy more and more,'' said retiree Roberto Avila. ``That's the future in Cuba, and it is a strong future.''

Cuba is still far from a buyers' paradise. Nearly everyone holds government jobs, earning an average of $19.50 a month, though many get dollars from tourism jobs or relatives abroad. It would take the average Cuban five months to earn enough to buy a low-end DVD player that someone could buy in a U.S. store with five hours of minimum-wage work.

By doing away with rules ordinary Cubans hate, Raul Castro may defuse clamor for deeper economic and political change in the single-party communist system.

On the other hand, the small changes could just whet Cubans' appetites for more.

''These measures to allow Cubans to buy DVDs and everything else are just to entertain the people,'' said Maite Moll, a 45-year-old state engineer. ``It's not really important because it resolves nothing.''

Some Cubans worry that even the small measures already taken will create class tensions and increase resentment between those earning state salaries and those with access to dollars, given the new opportunities for conspicuous consumption. Raul Castro is clearly hoping that greater buying power will distract from any friction.

Certainly, the 76-year-old president has bolstered his popularity, addressing for now the doubts that Cuba's government can survive without his charismatic brother Fidel.

''If low-income groups have access to essential goods like food, clothing and construction materials, and can sell and buy homes and use them as collateral, it doesn't matter if you have a significant income gap. People are better,'' said Carmelo Mesa-Lago, a Cuba economics expert at the University of Pittsburgh. ``That's what happened in China and Vietnam.''

The new president is said to be an admirer of free-market reforms that allowed those countries to revolutionize their economies while maintaining single-party communist political control, though top officials have said Cuba isn't about to follow a Chinese or Vietnamese path.

The food part of the equation could be profoundly affected by another initiative promoted this week. The government is lending uncultivated state-controlled land to private farmers and cooperatives to plant cash crops such as coffee and tobacco, while paying producers more for basics such as milk, meat and potatoes.

Over time, this could reduce chronic food shortages and change the face of Cuban farming.

It's not new for the government to let private farmers take a crack at putting state land to good use. But this time the government is letting farmers more easily buy equipment and supplies at government stores, removing a key impediment to their success.

The changes implemented barely a month into Raul's presidency are all measures Fidel bitterly opposed for decades, publicly declaring that even the smallest initiatives to increase economic and social freedoms could create a Cuban ''new rich'' and destroy the island's hard-fought social and economic equality.

Raul has pledged to consult his brother on all major decisions, but if the elder Castro doesn't like what's going on, he has kept his views to himself. Recuperating from an undisclosed illness in a secret location, the 81-year-old Fidel has written essays every few days focusing on international issues, making no mention of daily life in Cuba.

The latest changes are a far cry from perestroika or glasnost -- the political opening and economic restructuring of the Gorbachev era in the Soviet Union. But there are movements for greater freedoms among Cuban intellectuals as well.

Raul Castro presided this week over the Congress of the Union of Cuban Writers and Artists, hearing their call for more open debate about ``mechanisms of control and institutional censorship.''

''It seems clear that there is a disconnect between the cultural project of the revolution and the references that broad sectors of the people establish for themselves,'' said the group, an arm of the Communist Party which in the past has been used to enforce ideological discipline.

And that disconnect could lead to unrest if more changes don't quickly benefit the vast majority of Cubans. While people are excited to walk around stores and hotel lobbies, they will soon become frustrated that they can't afford to do more than look, said Juan Antonio Blanco, a Cuban academic based in Ontario, Canada.

''This government is totally myopic and shortsighted if it doesn't understand that it's sitting on dynamite,'' he said. ``They have to do more than the things that will play in the international media.''


Associated Press writer Katherine Corcoran in Mexico City contributed to this report.

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Raul's Generals : Their are many similar articles on this subject. Could not find the one I read that deals only directly with Raul's Generals control of the economy.

Cuba's military men loyal to Raul Castro on battlefield, economy, politics
The Associated PressPublished: February 23, 2008

HAVANA: They are called "Raulistas" — top military men who manage much of Cuba's economy and populate the upper reaches of power. On Sunday, these men will likely ensure that Raul Castro not only succeeds his brother Fidel as president, but remains in firm control.

Having served in Raul Castro's Defense Ministry for decades, Cuba's active and retired military leaders today oversee key economic endeavors, from farming to the tourism, that bring in hard currency.

Five active generals sit on the Communist Party's powerful 21-member Politburo, including two who run the important interior and sugar ministries.

While loyal first to Fidel Castro, many of these men have particularly close friendships with the younger brother. And they are likely to help him consolidate power if he is named president on Sunday following the ailing 81-year-old Fidel's resignation last week.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces are one of the island's strongest and most respected institutions, and with the top generals backing him, Raul is unlikely to face problems from the military at large — a sector that in many countries can be the most dangerous for a new government.

Today on IHT.com
Rubbing out its royal past, Nepal will vote on whether to rewrite its ConstitutionA frustrated Zimbabwe awaits official announcement of Mugabe's demise, or a runoffAir France-KLM breaks off talks to buy Alitalia; chairman of Italian airline resignsMoreover, Castro's Cuba, unlike many Latin American countries, has never experienced a military coup or rebellion.

President Bush acknowledged the military's influence months before Fidel's resignation, urging it to embrace change and abstain from using force to keep the communist government in power.

"You may have once believed in the revolution. Now you can see its failure," Bush said in an October speech.

Critical to Raul's success will be "the extent to which Raul and the generals are able to uphold loyalty to the chain of command," former CIA analyst Brian Latell wrote in "After Fidel," his recent book about the Castro brothers. "The odds of that will be much in their favor, in the beginning at least."

Dissident Vladimiro Roca, a fighter pilot before he broke with the government, believes Raul Castro has the military leaders' support. But even more than that, "they are interested in maintaining their status," Roca told The Associated Press in 2006 after Fidel Castro first ceded provisional power his brother.

That status is significant.

Gen. Abelardo Colome Ibarra, 68, oversees the island's vast domestic security and intelligence apparatus as interior minister. Gen. Ulises Rosales del Toro, 65, controls the Sugar Ministry. Other generals and colonels have run fishing, transportation and Habanos S.A., which works with a European firm to market Cuban cigars abroad.

Ramiro Valdes, 75, one of only three men honored with the title of Commander of the Revolution, for years operated a key company importing computers and other electronics, until Raul named him communications minister shortly after Fidel fell ill.

The armed forces also manage a chain of hundreds of small consumer goods stores and a tourism company that runs more than 30 hotels, with subsidiaries that provide domestic tourist travel by air and land.

Generals who once served as battlefield commanders have become leaders of a new military entrepreneurial class, with personal stakes in Cuba's future.

"Second- and third-tier officials have every incentive to stand together, if only as the best strategy for preserving their equities," Latell wrote.

The military's economic enterprises are run by the Defense Ministry's Business Administration Group, overseen by Raul Castro's second-in-command and confidant, Gen. Julio Casas Regueiro, 72.

By all accounts, Raul Castro is a highly organized manager with a pragmatic business sense that could lead him to allow openings in Cuba's economy. He hinted as much in a speech last year, saying some "structural changes" were needed. He did not elaborate.

He is known as a warm and jocular man who dotes almost as much on his troops as he does on his family, but also has proven to be extremely tough. In 1959, in the first months after the revolution, he and Ernesto "Che" Guevara oversaw the executions of officials from the deposed government of dictator Fulgencio Batista.

Raul Castro was also among those on the ruling Council of State who upheld the death penalty for highly decorated Gen. Arnaldo Ochoa — reportedly once one of his closest friends — and three officers convicted of drug trafficking.

Ochoa and most of the top generals led Cuban troops on the battlefields of Angola and Ethiopia in the 1970s and 1980s. But when the Soviet Union collapsed and Cuba lost its primary benefactor and arms supplier, drastic changes became necessary.

Fidel Castro announced that Cuba would no longer fight in foreign wars. Troop strength, which had peaked at an estimated 300,000 in the early 1960s, fell dramatically, to some 37,000 active troops and 700,000 reservists, according to "Jane's World Armies."

As the military's importance waned abroad, Raul Castro ensured his troops remained relevant by giving them important new roles in homeland defense and the economy.

Alternatively you could just post a link to the articles, y'know...

I could almost say it's La Habana Cuba, but LHC was a bit less obscure with his points than this one. Grammar errors are pretty much spot on though. Maybe a 2nd generation Cuban immigrant?