Cuban gov't shuts down dozens of illegal factories and shops

Cuban gov't shuts down dozens of illegal factories and shops
Released : Monday, July 07, 2008 12:11 PM

Havana, Jul 7 (EFE).- Dozens of illegal plastics and furniture
factories, workshops and house-warehouses were dismantled in police
raids in the Cuban capital, the weekly Tribuna de La Habana reported.

As a result of the operation begun just over a month ago, authorities
have punished 16 people by assigning them to "correctional work without
confinement," imposed almost 60,000 fines on 37 others and confiscated
plastic and aluminum plates, kitchen utensils, toys, computer equipment,
engines, tobacco and other products.

"What was found is a consequence of the siphoning off of resources from
economic entities, the lack of administrative control and the lack of
auditing by the organizations charged with detecting and preventing
illegal products from being made at state enterprises," the weekly said.

It added that the quantity of products and materials that were
confiscated shows "one of the aspects of corruption" because many of
those items, such as machinery, "only could have come from the
productive entities."

In Cuba, private industrial activity is restricted almost entirely to
cooperatives and to some 150,000 people officially designated as
self-employed.

The operation targeting unauthorized factories and stores comes as Raul
Castro's government calls for increasing productivity and eliminates
salary caps to encourage people to work harder and more efficiently.

The government has decided to provide incentives to farmers, handing
over land to cooperatives and individuals, and distributing agricultural
equipment.

Official media outlets - there are no independent ones - have denounced
the shortcomings of some state enterprises in recent months, as well as
the theft and lack of discipline among workers that reduce output.

Since Raul Castro officially replaced his older brother Fidel as head of
state in February, authorities have stepped up efforts to combat the
theft of electricity and other illegal activities. EFE

rmo/mc

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