by Keith Richmond
Raul Castro has proposed a new agricultural plan for Cuba which would allow small farmers to take on more land in a bid to boost production on the Caribbean island.
In a speech at Holguín on Sunday, he urged people to take advantage of a government programme designed to turn unused land to productive use.
President Castro said increasing agricultural production was the country’s top priority – and a matter of national security – but also showed irritation at the slowness with which people are embracing his economic reforms.
“The land is there,” he said, pounding the podium. “But here are the Cubans.” He moved his arms apart to show the distance between them. “Let us see if we get to work or not, if we produce or not, if we keep our word.”
He was speaking on Revolution Day, an important date on the Cuban calendar which commemorates the attack on the Moncada army barracks at Santiago on July 26 1953. The attack failed – and both Fidel and Raul Castro went to jail – but it galvanised opposition to the Batista regime and culminated, six years later, in the successful revolution which overthrew the right-wing dictator.
Facing an enormous banner – featuring a picture of Fidel and Raul thrusting their arms towards the sky above the slogan “The vigorous and victorious revolution keeps marching forward” – Raul Castro said that while the United States’ 47-year-old trade embargo had hurt Cuba, it was time to stop blaming all the island’s problems on the embargo.
“It is not a question of yelling ‘Fatherland or Death! Down with imperialism!’ The blockade hurts us but the land is there waiting for our efforts.”
