Opponents of reform voice concerns in the National Assembly

Opponents of reform voice concerns in the National Assembly
ORLANDO FREIRE SANTANA | La Habana | 12 de Julio de 2016 - 08:34 CEST.

The truth is that the news is really not auspicious for those hoping
that the economic reform measures implemented by President Raúl Castro
would be strengthened, a warranted not only by the announcement that the
island's economy is entering a period of contraction during the second
half of the year, but especially in view of the general tone of the
rhetoric heard at the National Assembly of the Popular Power's Permanent
Commissions.

An emboldening of those opposing reform was observed in certain
arguments advanced during the VII Congress of the Communist Party. The
trend was manifest, for example, when the Party's Guideline was
discussed - also appearing as Point 104 of the Conceptualisation of the
Economic and Social Model of Socialist Development - prohibiting the
concentration of ownership and wealth by non-State individuals or entities.

During the Party forum some voices expressed concern with how much
wealth would be permitted, especially if it is the result of a personal
and lawful efforts. Recently, however, the deputies did not hesitate to
attack any level of non-State wealth. This is a position that, if
adopted, could jeopardize the future of self-employment and the creation
of cooperatives.

At the Commission on Education, Culture, Science, Technology and the
Environment, the poet Alpidio Alonso, after asserting that the
concentration of wealth is a current reality, stated that "we must not
accept this under the model of socialism that we are proposing." (This
statement and those that follow were published in the daily Granma.)

Another deputy, after also opining that the concentration of wealth and
property is already evident, stated that "this issue threatens
socialism, and we have no right to realize that we were wrong ten years
from now."

On the same commission, expressing a similar point of view was the
economist Miguel Limia, who insisted on "the need to prevent private
property from becoming the organising force of society, spawning
polarization and the restoration of capitalism."

On the Service Attention Commission there were several opinions voiced,
especially by deputies from inland areas, who criticised what they
considered "high prices," being justified by the principle of supply and
demand. One deputy from the town of Manzanillo called for a
re-examination of these prices, set by boteros (freelance drivers) who
"take advantage of the shortcomings of State rural transport."

Therein lies the essence of the problem. The key is not to go after
individual drivers, forcing them to offer lower rates, by decree. What
is imperative is that the State establish an efficient transportation
system in that area of ​​eastern Cuba, thereby competing with individual
drivers. In this way prices would become more affordable for ordinary
citizens.

But, of course, the deputy from Manzanillo was unable to recognise such
reasoning.

Another worrisome argument surfaced on the Agrifood Commission, on which
more than one deputy called for the elimination of Supply & Demand
Agricultural Markets, which offer higher prices, but which are
invariably well-stocked. The justification cited was that they are no
longer needed due to the increase in State markets with price ceilings.

Those wielding this argument forget that the famine during the "Special
Period" in the 90s was so devastating, among other things, as a result
of Fidel Castro's elimination of the Free Farmers Markets in 1986. And
now, after Mr. Marino Murillo has just announced the storm that is
descending upon us, it would be almost suicidal to dismantle the only
market that guarantees Cubans' food supply.

Source: Opponents of reform voice concerns in the National Assembly |
Diario de Cuba - http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/1468305270_23771.html