Without Haste and With Many Pauses

Without Haste and With Many Pauses / Somos+, Joanna Columbie

Somos+, Joanna Columbié, 24 May 2016 — The Cuban economic model, one
that is imprecise, vague, and very particular to Cuba, does not manage
to meet the needs of the Cuban people. The nominal wage does not come
close to the actual salary that a Cuban citizen needs to cover their
basic necessities and, in this respect as in many others, the Guidelines
set forth in the previous Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba have
failed to be implemented effectively; according to official figures,
only 21% of the proposals have actually been carried out.

In Cuban president Raúl Castro's own words, this whole process should be
carried out "without haste but without pause," however we should ask
ourselves whether this phrase can ever be realistic for the Cuban
people. Having to wait over 57 years for the promises made by Fidel
Castro in his speech known as "History Will Absolve Me" to be put into
effect puts this current wait into question.

It is not the first time that a similar process has been implemented in
Cuba. Appearing to recognise the mistakes that have been made, necessary
rectifications of mistakes and negative trends have been set out on more
than one occasion, in each case with the apparent objective of
distracting the population, making sure that their attention is diverted
away from the serious economic and social situation that has plagued the
country at various points in history.

And now Raúl is back at the 7th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba
(known as the PCC) with the same discourse. Nothing has changed and in
his speech he repeats this same fateful phrase that has led to many a
frustrated hope for the people of Cuba and many a useless plan.

Part of the population hoped that this 7th Congress would bring change,
change that has to happen sooner or later, but we did not think that it
would come via a party that has lost its reason for being in this
society, if it ever had one. Remaining in the same political confinement
to which we are accustomed will not be a sufficient reason for the
opposition movements in Cuba to walk step by step towards necessary
change, even though the communists finish their congress in the same way
it started: without haste and with many pauses.

Translated by E Hill

Source: Without Haste and With Many Pauses / Somos+, Joanna Columbie –
Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/without-haste-and-with-many-pauses-somos-joanna-coumbie/