Untimely, but impossible to postpone

Cuban
Radar                                                                         Read Spanish Version

Untimely,
but impossible to postpone

A
service by the Radio Progreso Alternativa Havana Bureau

An
article in the Cuban weekly Tribuna
de La Habana
written October 4 claimed that the increase in fuel prices decreed on
September during the period of time between the two hurricanes that
devastated the island was untimely, but "impossible to
postpone."

The
decision by the Ministry of Finances and Prices has meant a price
hike on the different types of gasoline of more than 50% and 85% for
diesel.

The
magazine admits that although there are more vehicles in the
government sector than in private hands, the price increase is
applied only to the latter. 

Private
vendors at farmers’ markets blame rising fuel costs for price
increases in late September, but do not explain why produce in their
hands before the price of fuels went up were sold in some cases 100%
more expensive immediately after the hurricanes, forcing a government
intervention to fix prices at pre-hurricane levels.

The
economy will maintain its plan

The
special plans for the Cuban economy in the present year "will be
maintained with no variation for the provinces most affected" by
hurricanes Gustav and Ike, said Minister of Economy José Luis
Rodríguez, on October 6, in an interview with the "Haciendo
Radio" program. 

Rodríguez,
who is also a vice president of the Council of Ministers, said that
"the country is prepared to replace the lack of food products,
as well as to distribute "more food in a regulated manner
(ration cards), for example, eggs and some varieties of meat."

The
eastern Cuban provinces and Pinar del Rio in the west, as well as the
Isle of Youth, were ravaged by the hurricanes, particularly Ike, the
second one.

In
the eastern provinces, the special plan for the economy has important
investments in waterworks in Santiago de Cuba, the second largest
city in the country, and in Guantánamo and Baracoa. 

"Petrohouse"
neighborhoods

Cuban
national news media are reporting the swift pace of construction of
100 houses at La Risueña neighborhood, in the outskirts of the
eastern city of Santiago de Cuba.

The
so called "petrohouses" use oil derivatives as main
components and is a collaboration of the Venezuelan government with
the island. 

A
neighborhood with this system was already built at the Central
Southern city of Cienfuegos. Characteristics include the short time
it takes to construct them and the low cost of the homes. 

GNP
will not grow to 8%

According
to Ariel Terrero, a journalist whose expertise are economic issues on
the "Buenos Días" TV program, the tragic combination
of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, together with the present global
financial crisis, will prevent the country from reaching the planned
8% growth in its Gross National Product.

For
Terrero, who is also an editor of the well known weekly magazine
Bohemia,
the
tourist
and the nickel industry, two key sectors of the Cuban economy, will
suffer from the effects of the global financial crisis.

The
Isle of Youth lights up

The
Isle of Youth, second largest island of the Cuban archipelago, has
restored 95% of its electric power.

The
power grid completely collapsed after the small island was ravaged by
Hurricane Gustav and only eight days later suffered the fury of
Hurricane Ike.

UN representatives
acknowledged the recovery in Cuba

United
Nations representatives praised the recovery of the country after a
visit to areas severely damaged by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

"It
has been impressive to see how these hurricanes hit, but also the
reaction of the Cuban people and authorities," declared Arne
Kastberg, UNICEF Regional Director for Latin American and the
Caribbean, to Granma.

"Since
day one we have been backing the UN team here. We want to be certain
there is a continuous response, reinforcing what the Cuban government
is doing to rebuild the country," Kastberg said.

After
visiting Los Palacios and San Cristóbal municipalities, two of
the most devastated areas due to the hurricanes, the UN
representatives stressed the high level of commitment and
organization in the island. According to them, systems like the Cuban
one should be created in other places where similar natural disasters
occur and have left behind a high number of deaths.

UN
Population Fund’s Regional Director Marcela Suazo said she was
impressed by the way Cuba prepares itself for situations that can not
be avoided, but whose risks can be reduced.