Change Coming to Cuba (REPORT/VIDEO)

(HN, August 2, 2011) Cuba's National Assembly has given its backing to President Raul Castro's plan to reform the country's stagnating economy. 

The reforms, ranging from the setting up of small businesses to reducing bureaucracy, had already been agreed by the ruling Communist party.

The measures the assembly was discussing in its twice-yearly session include cutting more than one million state jobs in a move to reduce Cuba's vast bureaucracy and reducing the state's role in areas such as agriculture, retail and construction.

Small private businesses will be encouraged to step in to fill the space, while state subsidies for goods and service will be phased out.

Mr. Castro also insinuated that changes to Cuba's travel and emigration rules could be introduced; saying that the government was  "working to orchestrate the modernisation" of the country's migration policies.

He was also quoted as saying that the government “is making advances with the reform and elaboration of a series of regulations” on migration that have lasted “unnecessarily” for a long time. But the reports by government-run media gave no details on exactly who would benefit.

The next step now is to see when and exactly how these changes will take place in Cuba. 

-HUMNews Staff 

- Video's by Craig Mauro/ First published on Al Jazeera August 1, 2011 under Creative Commons Licensing