Cuba dismisses transportation, sugar ministers
By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press Writer
HAVANA -- President Raul Castro has fired Cuba's transportation minister
for professional mistakes and replaced the head of the Sugar Ministry
after he admitted incompetence, the latest in a growing series of
leadership shake-ups.
A statement read during the nightly newscast Monday said Jorge Luis
Sierra was removed as transportation minister, a role he got in February
2009. Sierra also forfeited his post as a vice president of the Council
of Ministers, a governing body that serves as Cuba's Cabinet - although
its vice presidents are not considered vice presidents of the country.
Army Gen. Antonio Enrique Luzon replaced Sierra on the council, among
many military leaders to be promoted within the government. Raul Castro
served as defense minister for nearly five decades before taking over as
president - first temporarily, then permanently - after his older
brother, Fidel, underwent intestinal surgery in 2006.
The new Transportation Minister is Cesar Ignacio Arocha.
Sierra lost his jobs due to "errors committed while in the act of
carrying out his duties," the statement said, but no further details was
given. A government spokeswoman said she could not add anything.
Sugar Minister Luis Manuel Avila also was dismissed, but the newscast
said that "he asked for his removal, recognizing the deficiencies in his
work." Orlando Selso was named to the post.
On March 23, Cuba replaced Attorney General Juan Escalona Reguera, who
fought under Fidel and Raul Castro in the rebel army that toppled
dictator Fulgencio Batista on New Year's Day 1959. Health problems were
cited as the reason.
That move came less than two weeks after the government abruptly
dismissed another veteran revolutionary, Rogelio Acevedo, who had
overseen its airlines and airports and as a teenager fought alongside
the Castros and Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
No formal reason was given for Acevedo's removal, but an opinion piece
posted on a state Internet site by a prominent Cuban academic referred
to rumors that Acevedo has been under house arrest for corruption.
Cuban-American exile websites in the U.S. have said a large amount of
cash was found hidden at Acevedo's house and he is suspected of
operating a private airline, among other things. The government has not
commented on the allegations.
Monday's changes also come following the death of Roberto Baudrand, a
top Chilean executive working in Cuba. He was found dead in his Havana
apartment last month after being detained by Cuban authorities
investigating his company, which is owned by a businessman who was a
close friend of Fidel Castro.
Cuba's government said that Baudrand died of a lack of oxygen and that
unidentified drugs and alcohol were found in his blood. It did not say
whether the death was considered a suicide.
Baudrand, 59, was general manager of Alimentos Rio Zaza SA and served as
liaison in Cuba for Max Marambio, the former head bodyguard of Chilean
socialist President Salvador Allende, who was toppled in a 1973 military
coup. The company makes "Tropical Island" brand juices and other food
products sold in Cuban hard-currency stores catering to tourists and
other foreigners.
Rio Zaza is jointly owned by Cuba's government and Marambio, but has
been shuttered as part of an investigation by Cuba's government. Fidel
Castro has not commented on the case, even though he and Marambio have
been friends for decades.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/03/1611709/cuba-dismisses-transportation.html
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