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Cuba forges ahead scoffing at WB,IMF

by Ranga Jayasuriya


Prof. Tissa Vitarana

Having concluded a Latin American tour, Science and Technology Minister Tissa Vitarana suggests that Sri Lanka should follow the Latin American countries which are shedding the influence of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Referring to Argentina, where the Government of President Nestor Kirchner restructured the country's debt service payment and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez's pro-poor program to empower the hitherto discriminated majority poor, Minister Vitarana said that after years of economic decay, Latin America is becoming increasingly politically left oriented.

" During 1994-2001, Latin American economies recorded a negative growth of - 0.5 per cent to 1.1 per cent as a result of the flawed policies of Washington consensus," he told an audience at the LSSP headquarters.

"During the same period, Cuba through its socialist policies recorded an average growth of 4.1 per cent".

Prof. Vitarana shot down what he called a US- led conspiracy to demonise Cuba before the world.

"The case the United States makes against Cuba is that it is tyrannicaly ruled by Castro, where the people have been subjugated at gun point.

"During my visit to Cuba I didn't come across these security check points which we see every day in Sri Lanka".

"Nor did my interaction with the Cuban public give me any feeling that they are living under terror", he said.

Prof. Vitarana visited Cuba to attend the International Conference on Economics, where he delivered a lecture on Sri Lanka vs Imperialist Globalisation.

The Minister outlined the achievements of Cuba since the Socialist revolution.

Infant mortality in Cuba is 6.2 to 1000 compared to 11.4 in Sri Lanka. Literacy rate is almost 100 per cent. Life expectancy is 76 years compared to 73 years in Sri Lanka.

There are 12,000 scientists in Cuba of whom 15 per cent hold doctorates.

There are 210 research institutions which employ 30,000 persons.

Inhabitants per doctor is 165 and Cuba's is recognised as having one of the best medical systems in the world.

Minister Vitarana said that while the rest of Scandinavian countries and Western Europe were gradually dismantling the welfare state, Cuba had protected it and, indeed, expanded it.

Sixty eight per cent of the national budget is allocated for Education, Health, Social security and Development of Science and Technology.

Allocation for education from the last budget was 4.1 billion Peso. 2.03 billion Peso is spent on the payments of persons average house rent is only 5-10 per cent of the salary.

According to the recent appreciation of Cuban currency, the Peso is equivalent to the US Dollar. Cuba has 68, 000 doctors and 10,000 dentists. 12,000 cuban doctors and 4,000 teachers now serve in Venezuela.

The electoral system in Cuba is based on the Socialist Constitution of 1976, which was approved by a 95 per cent majority vote.

There are 8.3 million registered voters. Every citizen over 16 years has a right to vote.

The Cuban electoral system evolves from the grass roots. There are 167 Municipal and Village assemblies, each assembly with 100-120 Electoral Divisions. The Electoral Division is a unit of 1,000 voters. Each Electoral Division elects a member for in municipal or village assembly for two and half years.

The Communist party does not place its candidates for provincial level elections. At least three candidates should contest for each Electoral Division and to be elected the winner should obtain 51 per cent of votes. If no one is able to win the 51 per cent mark, the first and second highest go for a second round to win the 51 per cent vote. The next level of the electoral system is the Provincial Assembly. There are 14 Provincial Assemblies.

Fifty per cent of seats of the Provincial Assemblies go to candidates from village and municipal level. The rest is occupied by intellectuals, Professionals and Workers union representatives.

The next level is the National Assembly or the Parliament. Fifty per cent of seats at the National Assembly goes to members of Provincial Assemblies.

The National Assembly names the President. Once appointed by the National Assembly, the President can appoint a Cabinet from members both in and out of Parliament. The Cabinet should be approved by the National Assembly which usually meets only once or twice a year.

One important instrument in the Cuban electoral system is the Right to Recall, whereby the voters have an opportunity to discard any elected representative in the middle of his or her term, if he or she fails to deliver only the promises.

"The Communist Party is the only political party in Cuba. Having defeated capitalism, the Cuban people do not find it necessary to have a multi-party system which usually represents various commercial and business interests," Minister Vitarana said.

"President Chavez, after his historic win at the recall vote said that the future of Venezuela will be like that of socialist Cuba," the Minister recalled commending the growing ties between Cuba and the rest of Latin America.


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