Jorge Olivera Castillo

 While crisis is on, there are emerging new projects of rebuilding and development of the economy. The Cuban socialism, as their authorities say, has potential to fill in the gaps, to enjoy the high productivity, that the others can only envy, and to keep the social unity regardless uncomfortable situations that are faced everyday.

The same language is used to colorize the reality. There are discussions in the labor unions and in the party. There are incitements to double the effort to combat the current, future and the past problems.

These discussions are characterized by the lack of dissent. A questioning and precise voice that would indicate the guilty and their associates, will never appear. The successes are magnified, the failures are effaced by popularizing the patriotic slogans, and the people are mesmerized with ideas that they are actors of lofty historical process. In fact they are the elements of the strategy that aims at leaving the problems unsolved.

Today bureaucrats are the same as those of yesterday. They are born, raised and dispersed in the inviolability of the system and in the socio-economic trend. Between their nationalistic jealousy and their pretended revolutionary conscience the seed of opportunism is concealed as well as the will to keep their positions. To do so they learn the Castro’s speeches by heart. With one quotation from the highest chief encourage people to sacrifice.

Lounged in their chairs they play their roles with the characteristic solicitude. They are the spokespersons of directives from the top. They are officers of polishing the call to “tighten a belt.”

It is hard to believe that they do not know that the system cannot be fixed by sewing on patch. They talk senseless but the people listen. Eventually everybody does what he wants to. This formula is repeated to keep everything unchanged.

Recently the 84th Assembly of the Commission of the National Union of Workers took place. This is one and only legal labor union in Cuba. Its leader Salvador Valdes Mesa calls for noticing the gravity of the economic and financial situation.

Discipline, saving and effectiveness were main subjects discussed during the assembly. One does not have to be a wise man to know that this will never fail. The system is that constructed to unable any failure.

Meantime, the world crisis makes it clear enough that the series of reforms are necessary to avoid the collapse.

At the moment the signs of openness are hardly seen. There is some resistance that seems to be inviolable and irremovable. We will see if the leap that is promoted by the owners of the state will lead to rationality or to a precipice.

Translated by AG