Cuban Parliament: Raul Castro Tackles Economic Update

President Raul Castro called Cubans to wage a battle against social indiscipline.

The update of the country’s social and economic model requires permanent order, discipline and control, said Raul in his closing speech of the first session of the Cuban Parliament’s eighth legislature.

He said that the first thing is to admit the existence of this problem and to look for the causes and conditions that have favored its appearance.

“We have witnessed the increasing deterioration, for more than 20 years now under the special period, of moral and civic values, such as honesty, decency, honor, and sensitiveness before the problems facing others,” he admitted.

Raul said that a study, carried out with the assistance of the Communist Party and government agencies, revealed 191 manifestations proving the existence of social indiscipline, illegality, contravention and crimes, included in the Penal Code.

Part of the society has begun to see the robbery in state institutions as normal, he said and mentioned a series of illegalities and behaviors that violate the law and social coexistence rules.

The growth of illegal constructions, the black market of goods and services, the theft and sacrifice of cattle, the felling of trees, the stockpiling of scarce products and their sale at higher prices are among the actions to be faced.

Gambling, which is illegal, the violation of prices, bribery and privileges, informatics security violations and harassment of tourists were other actions cited by the Cuban president, who called for actions to fight what he called “marginal behaviors”.  These also include the indiscriminate use of obscene speech which is commonplace in not few citizens disregarding their cultural level or age.

Some see as normal behaviors and actions like throwing garbage on the street, drinking alcoholic beverages in inappropriate places, and driving while drunk, said Raul as he also referred to vandalistic actions and disrespect for neighbors.

The Cuban president stressed the importance of the family and the school in the creation and development of moral values and he described as incompatible the indiscipline that take place in different school levels.

Living in society implies abiding by norms of respect to the others’ rights, and decency. This does not run contrary to the typical joyful character of Cubans, which must be preserved and developed, Raul said.

The nobleness of the Revolution has been abused for having not resorted to the power of law, thus favoring  arguments to convince and political work, which have not always been enough.

The state and government bodies, including the police, the comptroller’s office, the attorney’s office and the courts must contribute to this effort by giving an example of strict faithfulness to law, said the head of state.

Raul Castro called on the workers, farmers, young people, teachers and professors, intellectuals, journalists, religions institutions, authorities and all Cubans to assume the duty of meeting and having others meet what has been legally established.

Common factor in this problem is the lack of control on the part of those who are in charge of having others meet what has been stipulated, the disrespect by state agencies of current institutional order, which undermines their capacity and authority to demand the population to pledge to the norms.

Leaders must abandon inertia and passiveness; stop turning a deaf ear and instead face the problems. We have to assume as ours a notion of order, discipline and awareness, Raul insisted.

Raul Castro said that the Cuban Revolution has enough strength to succeed in this new battle which, he said, will be waged with the support of the people.