People's Democracy

Socialist Cuba Looks Ahead

Prakash Karat

THE revolution in Cuba, under the leadership of Fidel Castro, culminated successfully on January 1, 1959.  Fifty four years later, the socialist state of Cuba still exists. This is an extraordinary achievement considering the relentless effort made by the strongest imperialist power – the United States of America – to undermine and topple the revolutionary government.

CUBA OVERCOMES

EXISTENTIAL CRISIS

Cuba faced an existential crisis in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. Its entire economy was tied to that of the Soviet Union and the East European economies. With this vital link severed, Cuba had to face drastic fall in its economic output, trade and energy supplies. This was accompanied by a renewed attack from the United States which tightened the blockade. Yet, Cuba survived this difficult period from 1991 to 1994 which is known as the Special Period. Since then, Cuba has been reorienting and adapting its economic system and productive sectors while making a special effort to safeguard the social gains of the Cuban people and the socialist system. Currently Cuba is engaged in updating its economic system and revitalising its social sector.

I had the opportunity to study and understand how Cuba is faring during a recent visit to the country. A two-member delegation of the CPI(M) comprising Brinda Karat, member of the  Polit Bureau and myself, went to Cuba at the invitation of the Communist Party of Cuba. During the week-long visit, we met leaders of the party, trade unions, mass organisations of the youth and women and the friendship organisations in Havana. We also visited Santa Clara city in Villa Clara province and agricultural cooperatives in Mayabeque province, just south of Havana city.

The main problem facing Cuba is the continuing blockade imposed by the United States on this island nation of eleven million people.  This blockade has now lasted 53 years. It was heightened by the United States in the years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, in the hope that the Cuban revolution could be economically strangled. The Toricelli Act and the Helms-Burton Act of 1992 and 1996, respectively, made normal trade and economic ties with Cuba a punishable offence. The end of the Cold War did not see any relaxation as far as Cuba is concerned. The political, economic and ideological warfare against Cuba got further intensified. With the global war on terrorism declared by Bush, Cuba was listed as a state which sponsors terrorism. Under successive US presidents, efforts have been made for a regime change in Cuba with hundreds of attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro and to implant “democracy” in Cuba. 

All these efforts and hostile manoeuvres were foiled by Cuba. This was possible, as Josè Ramon Balaguer Cabrera, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of Cuba, pointed out to us, not because Cuba is rich and resourceful, nor because it has a strong army compared to the might of the US military. It was possible because of the people of Cuba and the social system that they created, which is socialism. 

ECONOMIC SECTORS

BEING REVITALISED

Cuba is currently engaged in updating its economy and revitalising its productive and social sectors. The sixth congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, held in April 2011, had finalised a set of economic guidelines. These were adopted in the congress after extensive discussions amongst the people. The crux of the guidelines was to reduce employment in the state sector which was bloated and of low productivity. Some 85 per cent of the total workforce was employed in the state sector. Many were getting wages irrespective of their work. What is being restored is the socialist principle of “To each according to his work, to each according to his ability.” In the first phase, half a million employed in the state sector were to be relocated in self-employment, small enterprises and in agriculture for which land was being provided.  In our discussions, we could understand how this transition is taking place. Some sections of the employees have been given land around the cities to cultivate vegetables, fruits and other crops which can help them to meet the demand for food in a country which still substantially imports food. 

Those who are being relieved from the state sector are not being thrown out on the streets. They are being relocated in other jobs, with training provided and options given for self-employment in various sectors.  For instance, a barber, who was a state employee, is now asked to continue his vocation as a self-employed person.  Restaurants and shops are being opened in many places. This will not, however, lead to a return to capitalism, stressed the leaders of the party and the mass organisations. A limited number of workers can be employed in the self-employed enterprises where minimum wages and social security will be ensured. Taxes will have to be paid on the profits made. There will be overall regulation to see that there is no large accumulation of capital. 

Agricultural cooperatives for joint production and credit and services cooperatives are being encouraged to boost agricultural production. Earlier Cuba had undertaken the difficult task of shifting away from mono crop production. Sugarcane was the main crop produced and sugar was the main industrial output. This got strengthened when the Soviet Union and the COMECON countries bought sugar at preferential prices. With the disappearance of the COMECON market and the falling international prices of sugar, Cuba decided in 2002 to diversify its agricultural production and reduce its dependence on sugar. Since then the acreage of sugarcane has been reduced by half and half the sugar mills in the country have been closed.

But what happened to those sugar workers whose mills were closed? We found out that all these workers were retrained and relocated in other jobs. Many of them went to college and got degrees and took up other skilled occupations. Similarly, at present, those being shifted out from the state sector are being relocated. Till this is done, they are on full pay for six months. They are also getting the social security available for all.

CRIMINAL US BLOCKADE

FAILS TO STIFLE CUBA

Cuba has developed an advanced bio-technology sector. Cuba produces an entire range of vaccines and drugs which are of the highest quality by international standards. Cuba also produces nickel, a metal which has various industrial uses. But the US blockade prevents the full export and trade in these items. Cuba cannot buy any equipment from third countries, if they have more than 10 per cent of US components. Similarly, the United States prohibits import of any goods which has more than 10 per cent of nickel from Cuba. Further, the United States imposes heavy fines on banks which conduct US dollar transactions with Cuba. 

Despite the economic difficulties faced due to the blockade, however, Cuba has maintained its excellent educational and health systems. Cuba had eradicated illiteracy in one year in 1961 through a massive literacy campaign. Since then an educational system has been developed and provides free education for all Cuban children from the primary to secondary schooling and in universities. Cuba has also created a comprehensive healthcare system with a network of primary health centres at the first level, hospitals at the second level and specialised institutes at the third level. Cuba has 6.7 physicians per thousand people whereas the United States has 2.4 physicians per thousand population. Cuban doctors and nurses are or were deployed in several other countries to provide healthcare.  This medical internationalism of Cuba has produced remarkable results in countries like Venezuela, Haiti and the African countries.

The rationing system provides food at highly subsidised rates for all citizens. Rice, meat, eggs, vegetables and other essential food items are delivered through a network of shops through a universal public distribution system. All this has led to a society where there is no hunger, destitution or beggary. Everyone has access to education and health care. Cuba must be one of the least unequal societies in the world. It is this social system which the people are passionately attached to and which has been defended by them against all odds. 

Cuba’s resistance to imperialist hegemony and its stubborn defiance of capitalist neo-liberalism has been a matter of inspiration for the peoples of Latin America. Cuba, which looked isolated in the world in the early nineties, is today no longer so.   With the advent of Chavez as the president of Venezuela in 1998, a new chapter opened. Venezuela provided oil which Cuba desperately needed. Cuban doctors and literacy experts helped Chavez to unleash the revolutionary process for the benefit of the Venezuelan people. The Cuba-Venezuela alliance became the nucleus for the broad Left advance in Latin America. Today Cuba is very much a part of the Latin American and Caribbean integration process through the ALBA, UNASUR and CELAC.  Instead of Cuba getting isolated, the Latin American integration process is isolating the United States itself. Not a single Latin American country supports the US blockade of Cuba. 

SOCIALIST CUBA

NEEDS TO BE DEFENDED

Cuba continues to mobilise its people to be vigilant against the machinations of the United States and the reactionary circles among the Cuban emigres living there. The entire people are part of the campaign for the release of the Cuban Five. These five brave Cubans have been imprisoned in jail in the United States for the last 14 years on cooked up charges of espionage and terrorism. 

Cuba has entered a new phase in its revolutionary history. Since 2006, Fidel Castro has withdrawn from State and party responsibilities. Under Raul Castro, measures are being taken to revamp the government and party structures. A new generation of leadership is coming to the helm of affairs. We met leaders of the party and mass organisations at various levels, who are imbued with a high level of political and ideological consciousness and the ability to discharge various responsibilities. 

Cuba and its socialist system have to be defended. It remains an inspiration for the progressive and democratic forces in the world.  The delegation of the CPI(M) conveyed its solidarity and support for socialist Cuba and its valiant people through this visit.