International News

HAVANA, (APP/AFP) – Cuba announced Wednesday it was
reshuffling leadership at its economy ministry so its current chief could focus on making reforms.
Economic Minister Marino Murillo, 55, has been in the post since 2014
and implemented some small changes away from the top-down, Soviet-style economy that the country’s had for more than five decades.
Notably, the ranks of state workers have been reduced, as thousands
of Cubans try out jobs on a longer list of legal self-employment opportunities under President Raul Castro.
However, the changes have not had broad impact. Most people still
work for the state, oxen still plow fields and food production is spotty.
Cash-strapped Cuba is unable to get credit from international
markets, and needs to restructure its international debt.
The Council of State said it was putting Vice President Ricardo
Cabrisas, 79, at the Economy Ministry’s helm, so Murillo could “focus on work related to updating the Cuban social and economic model (economic reforms).”
Cuba has been hard hit by the inability of Venezuela, its key
political ally in the region, to provide crucial economic support.
Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy is in crisis due to the low price
of crude and management issues.
The United States and Cuba restored diplomatic ties in July 2015 but
most US economic sanctions on Havana have not been removed by the Republican-run US Congress.