Cuba in Transition II

Starbroek News

Last week in Cuba, in a government-sponsored debate that touched mainly on social issues, but which was really very political, given the nature of the Cuban system, the Culture Minister, Abel Prieto, took the lead in voicing criticism of some of the controls imposed by the Communist regime. In calling for change, Mr Prieto went so far as to state his support for gay marriage, in a country notorious for repression of homosexuals.

Mr Prieto, a long-haired writer turned politician, is no outspoken radical. After all, he is a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party and also a member of Cuba's supreme governing body, the Council of State. But he is clear in his support for the debate being promoted by caretaker leader Raul Castro to elicit new thinking and ideas about Cuba's future.

Another "critic" - perhaps "Raulista" would be a better term - the internationally acclaimed folk singer, Silvio Rodriguez, said that Cubans should be able to travel freely abroad and within their own country, as well as to stay in state-run hotels reserved for tourists.

Mr Rodriguez's revolutionary credentials are also impeccable. Like Mr Prieto, he is no dissident. He is a member of the Congress, has championed the Revolution in song and has repeatedly defended the government against criticisms of human rights violations.

The criticisms made during the public debate are the latest in a continuing series of indications that change is under way in Cuba. But the winds of change are not blowing spontaneously, for there is every indication that the political transition is being orchestrated by Raul Castro, as he seeks to make a break with his big brother's Big Brother approach to governance and pave the way for real change in Cuba.

Cuba watchers will recall that last July, in a marked departure from Fidel's intolerance of criticism, Raul delivered a speech calling for constructive criticism to "improve communism" and announced "structural and conceptual changes" to address the country's economic problems. After the speech, Raul started to release some political prisoners, though there remains some scepticism regarding the new approach, as public protests are still banned and there are still dissidents in jail.

There is no doubt though that, unlike the dogmatic Fidel, Raul is an economic pragmatist, who seeks efficiency, foreign investment and more market oriented production processes, as he promotes a new approach of "systematic deregulation".

In addition, there is relatively more transparency in Cuba, as State newspapers are being allowed, encouraged even, to investigate corruption and inefficiency, including targeting those sectors hitherto regarded as the jewels in the crown of the Cuban system, education and health.

For example, on 5th February, Raul permitted the official daily, Granma, to criticize the Communist Party for corruption among its ranks and mismanagement of the economy.

But this new "transparency" comes with a clear political intent, as it is a sign for many that Raul is preparing to purge the Party of Fidelistas and extend his grip on the Party by replacing them with his own supporters.

The recently elected Congress will choose the new Council of State on 24th February. Most analysts believe that Raul is allowing criticism of his brother's rule so that he can present himself as a relative liberal and a reformer, as he seeks to use "popular" pressure to convince the Party to give him a mandate for change.

This tactic seems to be gaining traction both within and outside Cuba, especially as human rights concerns have been diluted, following so much unprecedented complaining about the economy and day-to-day living.

Most of the change under way may perhaps be glimpsed in the person and character of Rauºl, especially with regard to his penchant for punctuality and in the brevity of his speeches - in marked contrast to Fidel. The notion of an efficient use of time, too long absent under Fidel, is new and highly significant, in that it represents a shift to action over words. This may not however augur well for a new democratic opening, in that democracy is founded on freedom of speech.

Nevertheless, all analysts agree that a process of important change has begun in Cuba. But the process has still only just begun.

Whether it will lead to a full-blown "cultural revolution", as suggested by Mr Prieto, remains to be seen, for the nature of the change is as yet not far reaching, though the potential outcome of the process is massive.