Priest calls for honest dialogue on Cuba's economy

Priest calls for honest dialogue on Cuba's economy

Havana, Cuba, Feb 3, 2010 / 03:05 pm (CNA).- The Catholic newspaper for
the Archdiocese of Havana, "New Word," recently published an opinion
column calling for internal dialogue regarding the current economic
crisis on the island and offering suggestions for improving Cuba's economy.

The column, written by Father Boris Moreno who holds a Master of Science
in Economics, noted that Cuba's economic situation "has become
significantly more complicated" and appears to be "plunging deeper into
decline." Fr. Moreno also suggested that the worst may be yet to come.

The priest and economist charged that the island's economic woes are a
result of the political system that uses a rigid centralized ideology
"to maintain an economic system that believes it essential to avoid
other political options despite its own manifested inefficiency."

Cuba's economy is currently debilitated by its own internal imbalances,
caught up in the worldwide economic recession and is affected by a
decrease in tourist visits.

It is also negatively impacted by a lower yield of nickel, a substance
whose price has already fallen by 80%.

"The calls to work hard and to work efficiently will not succeed in
changing the situation," the article noted. "The socioeconomic
conditions of a country cannot change because of decrees or discourse."

Fr. Moreno proposed a few basic measures for improving the Cuban
economy: promoting independent work and protecting such work by law;
implementing and amplifying pay for positive results; international
investment with better security; and accomplishing a budget with the
principle of subsidiarity.

He also proposed a few measures for "general anesthesia," saying, "I
believe the first and foremost would be for the government to formally
promise to recognize the capacity of every citizen to have an opinion
without fear of repercussion, because it would generate a climate
favorable to debate."

"I would like for this article, under the auspices of the means by which
it was published, to spark a debate on these and other means of helping
the economy," noted Fr. Moreno.

Priest calls for honest dialogue on Cuba's economy :: Catholic News
Agency (CNA) (3 February 2010)
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/priest_calls_for_honest_dialogue_on_cubas_economy/