Cuba's economic czar promises to rebuild storm-ravaged homes in Baracoa

Cuba's economic czar promises to rebuild storm-ravaged homes in Baracoa
Ray Sanchez | Direct from Havana
7:43 AM EDT, March 25, 2008
Havana, Cuba

The man behind the Cuban economy toured the eastern coastal city of
Baracoa yesterday, promising funds to rebuild dozens of homes destroyed
by 16-foot waves.

Carlos Lage, who was passed up for the country's No. 2 political job
last month, said the state would help rebuild the 47 homes destroyed
last week by an onslaught of giant waves, the state press reported
Tuesday. In addition, nearly 200 damaged homes would be repaired.

Giant swells from a boreal storm battered Baracoa, located 560 miles
east of Cuba's capital, last Wednesday and Thursday, destroying parts of
the seaside promenade and resulting in the evacuation of about 1,000
people. No deaths were reported.

The storm, which originated in the Atlantic north of Cuba, destroyed a
day care center, a farmers market, a park and some local government
offices. About 1,000 families were left without electricity during the
20-hour storm.

Lage, who did not say how much would be spent on the recovery effrort,
said Baracoa's picturesque seaside malecon would be repaired and
strengthened against future storms.

Lage, joined by local officials, toured the damaged buildings and met
with families who lost their homes.

Local authorities said it was the worst natural disaster to strike the
area in 50 years.

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