Accessibility links

Breaking News

In Cuba, the hare carries the tortoise


Small business initiatives are moving much faster than the slow pace of state legalization.

Raul Castro’s motto for updating the Cuban economic model is, “slowly, but surely.” It’s like turning on the faucet so that the water will only drip out.

At the recent session of the National Assembly, Castro again rejected calls to accelerate the pace, accusing those who ask him of wanting to, “damage the trust and support of the people in building socialism."

At that rate, work permitted by those who are self-employed reached a figure of 201 categories at the end of September, 18 more than the initial 183 published three years ago.

The maddening pace has led some economists to wonder if it wouldn’t be easier and convenient for the country's prosperity to publish lists of what is forbidden and assume that all other private jobs are allowed.

One consequence is that the popular initiative to create offers that meet the myriad needs of Cubans moves faster than the ability of the government’s pace to authorize them.

One of the categories that had been approved was pony rides for children or carts pulled by goats. Now the Cuban Community Communicators Network reports that on the streets of the capital, the renting of ponies has become an individual business.

The price for a 2 block ride is 5 pesos in national currency (CUP).

A note by José Antonio Sieres Ramallo states that the animal’s caretaker and the person responsible for the business, charges a rate of 10 pesos per child for a distance of about six blocks , thereby covering the cost of a license.

But the author points out that children ride the ponies without a saddle- the dream of every child –and this is not included in the licenses approved by the National Tax Administration (ONAT, its acronym in Spanish).

Likewise, the business owner often hires out the cart to carry any merchandise that is not too heavy, for a predetermined cost agreed upon by owner and client. The service addresses a need, and would be a natural occurrence to anyone with a horse and carriage, but that is probably not covered by the license issued for ferrying children.

Recently a resolution was issued to "adjust" some licenses authorized in 2010, such as tailor and dressmaker licenses, which were also used to sell imported clothing. In this case, the government determined that the service was hurting the exchange stores and that activity was stripped from the licenses issued.

There are reasons for optimism. Maybe in three years the category of Child Services may be adjusted and read like this: " operator of pony-drawn carriages for children and the loading of light objects, that can also be used to mount children up to six years and 364 days.”

Do not make waves, this is moving slowly, but surely.
  • 16x9 Image

    Rolando Cartaya

    Rolando Cartaya graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Havana in 1976. He has been a contributor to the cultural page of Juventud Rebelde, the newspaper of Cuban youth and UPI. He has also served as editor in the Spanish language versions of  "Newsweek," "Discover" and "Motor Trend." He has translated more than 20 books for Christian publisher, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Rolando has been with The Martís since 1989, in various capacities including editor, writer, reporter, and writer-director of the show, Sin Censores ni Censura, translated as, "No Censors or Censorship". On the island, he was vice president of the Cuban Committee for Human Rights.
XS
SM
MD
LG