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Expanded Council of Ministers Meeting
Yaima Puig Menendes
“THOROUGH discussion, that’s democracy,” said
President Raúl Castro Ruz, July 20, during an
expanded meeting of the Council of Ministers,
referring to the 2011 process of analysis and debate
to which the Economic and Social Policy Development
Guidelines were subjected, prior to being approved
at the Communist Party of Cuba’s 6th Congress.
 “Having
a program like this, thorough discussion with the
entire population, who had the opportunity to
propose modifications they deemed pertinent, which
were taken into consideration, even when the
proposal was made by a single person, is a guarantor
for our Revolution,” the President emphasized.
“This process, perfected based on experiences we
might have, must become the foundation of the next
Communist Party Congress. Working comprehensively is
the key to success, as is fulfilling our
responsibility to ensure that agreements approved at
the Party event are not simply filed away, since
they undoubtedly reflect the will of the people,” he
said.
These reflections were made after the President of
the Implementation and Development Permanent
Commission, Marino Murillo Jorge, explained how
implementation of the Economic and Social Policy
Development Guidelines has progressed during the
first part of the year.
Murillo, also a Vice President of the Council of
Ministers, emphasized that during this period, the
Commission had been following the development of
measures approved at the end of 2011 and early 2012,
as well as working on the study and introduction of
policies directed at implementing the Guidelines of
greatest relevance for the updating of the country’s
economic model.
Also
developed and approved was a Strategic Plan for
2012-2015, which includes 55 work objectives for the
Commission, linked to 313 Policy Development
Guidelines approved by the 6th Party Congress.
Another aspect of the Commission’s work has been the
definition of preliminary ideas to conceptualize the
country’s Economic-Social Development Model, which
will include all the necessary mechanisms for
achieving efficiency in the economy while preserving
the principle that the people’s socialist ownership
of the fundamental means of production will
predominate.
Additionally, work is being done on the foundation
for the country’s long-term Social-Economic
Development Program, which should provide solutions
not only to current economic problems, but also
those which could emerge over the coming years.
Council of Ministers Vice President and Minister of
Economy and Planning, Adel Yzquierdo Rodríguez,
reported that the economy had performed favorably
during the first half of 2012.
Yzquierdo highlighted, as positive indicators, an
increase in the generation of electricity, growth in
the production of goods and expanding employment,
despite restructuring within the state sector,
since, just had been expected, the number of
self-employed has increased, given the policy of
state withdrawal from direct involvement in
non-essential activities.
Describing economic performance so far this year, he
referred to the recently completed sugar harvest
which saw an increase in production, as compared to
2011, although the planned-for volume was not
reached.
He
likewise explained that delays in the delivery of
raw materials, as well as poor planning and
organization of maintenance in light industry, were
the fundamental problems which contributed to the
shortfall in production of personal hygiene items.
He
reported that despite a 7% increase in investment in
this sector, problems are still evident in
coordination between entities, poor planning, as
well as a failure to acquire external financing in a
timely fashion, in a few cases.
Yzquierdo Rodríguez said that another element which
contributed to the failure to fulfill the plan is
related to the use of contracts, which are still not
being consistently used as a working tool in
relations among enterprises.
He
also emphasized the need to reduce consumption of
electricity in the residential sector, which
increased by 4%, and reiterated that, although the
state sector has limited its consumption to levels
established in the plan, the potential exists for
greater energy-saving measures.
The
Minister highlighted the need to increase domestic
production of food, biological growth stimulants,
bio-fertilizers and natural pesticides, which would
allow for a reduction in the funding currently
earmarked for these products.
Lina
Pedraza Rodríguez, Minister of Finance and Prices,
reported that the execution of the state budget
during the first part of the year was progressing
favorably.
After the reports on these issues, the Council of
Ministers voted to have the information presented to
the National Assembly of People’s Power.
Later, Council of State Secretary Homero Acosta
Alvarez explained the new Decree-Law No.299, which
grants the Institute of Physical Planning (IPF)
authority to guide efforts to confront illegalities
related to land use and urban planning regulations.
The decision reflects the will of the nation to
resolve problems which have accumulated over the
years and grants the IPF authority to carry out
state inspections.
Samuel Rodiles Planas, president of the IPF,
described the current situation in regards to
building code violations and reported on several
actions and measures taken around the country to
confront illegality, while acknowledging that given
the lack of a comprehensive approach, much needed
results have not been attained.
Raúl
commented that if so many violations persist, it is
because they are allowed to occur, since the
majority take place in plain view. Thus, recovering
order, discipline and high expectations at all
levels is critical, he emphasized, “We have
reiterated this on several occasions and anyone who
is not able to demand [compliance] or take on
problems, do their job well, should resign, since we
cannot allow the current problems to continue.”
The
President emphasized that the implementation of
Decree-Law No.299 will allow the IPF to reassert the
leading role it is expected to play in this area,
but that provincial and municipal governments must
also assume their responsibilities.
Finally a report was made concerning the progress of
the national operation underway to confront illegal
slaughter and theft of cattle, initiated in August,
2011, by the Ministry of the Interior, the Attorney
General’s Office, as well as other institutions and
organizations in this sector. These operations are
based on the Guidelines approved at the 6th Party
Congress calling for the reestablishment of order
and discipline in the sector, along with the
development of the country’s livestock program.
It
was reported that, although the effort has
contributed to reducing illegal activity to date,
prevention and enforcement measures taken by the
Ministry of the Interior and the Attorney General’s
Office must be expanded. Administrative bodies must
fulfill their obligation to improve enforcement of
regulations and supervision, to protect their stock.
In
this context, Raúl reiterated the government’s
commitment to put an end to these criminal acts
which affect the property of the Cuban people and
our economy. “We will do the same with corrupt
workers and leaders who take advantage of their
positions and authority to profit at the expense of
the state,” he concluded.
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