Julie Webb-Pullman: Raul’s Revamp

Last week’s changes in Cuba’s Council of Ministers have unleashed a torrent of speculation and conjecture in the international press ranging from the minimally considered, to the sublime and ridiculous.

Within minutes of the announcement, several international press agencies were trumpeting “sackings”, “ousters”, “biggest shakeup in 50 years”, to list a few. What in any other country would be called a Cabinet reshuffle was transformed into an almost hysterical sprint for the Pullitzer guesstimate.

Just a brief moment’s reflection would suggest to any person with a modicum of knowledge of current affairs, and a memory or attention span longer than the end of their nose, that the leadership of the country also recently changed for the first time in almost 50 years. As in any and every other country of the world of whatever political and social order and organisation, when political leaders change, so invariably does the composition of their ministerial, advisory and administrative bodies.

Some changes may reflect the different personalities of the leaders thus who they feel able to work with most productively, or their wish to continue historically good working relationships with particular colleagues. Others may reflect different priorities depending on circumstances facing the country at any particular time, specific skills and aptitudes that might be needed, or desires to change direction in accordance with evolving government policy. Still other changes might recognise exceptional individual experience or potential, and the desire to maximize it for the public good through their stewardship of ministries.

Whilst the recent changes in Cuba are undoubtedly of considerable national and international interest, being only the second big change since the triumph of the revolution, the mere fact of change in the Council of Ministers following new leadership is no different to that of any other country, and hardly warranted the rabid response it received. Raul has signalled more changes to come, so hold your breath for the next spasm of speculation…

Wild assertions in some quarters that the new appointments represent militarisation of the government is completely unfounded. Of the 13 or so changes, only a few of the new incumbents come from the military, one of whom, Brigadier General Jose Amado Ricardo Guerra, has been Raul’s secretary at the Defence Ministry for decades and another of whom, Brigadier General Salvador Pardo Cruz, has many years experience in the area of his portfolio. Claims that Fidel’s faithful have been ousted and replaced by Raul’s pets are equally silly. Most have in fact come up through the ranks of the public service and of parliament itself, bringing to their new roles considerable expertise in their areas of responsibility. Some exits result from the merging of Ministries, death, or retirement due to illness, some appointments are merely a move from one portfolio to another. [1]

Cuba has not survived 50 years of a largely-hostile international environment and 10 years of severe hardship after the fall of the Soviet Bloc through nepotism, but through the inspired leadership and competent performance of people elected on their merits and appointed to their posts on the basis of their ability to deliver – and there is no reason to suppose that this revamp is any different.

There are two exceptionally important things that must be borne in mind when considering these changes, and the resulting storm in a teacup – or tempest in a demi-tasse.

The first is the confidence, based on half a century of experience, that the Cuban people have in their representatives and organs of government, which remain essentially the same, to make responsible and considered decisions affecting the country and its wellbeing. The fact that the country is still here today with their socialist revolution intact is in itself testament that this confidence is justified. This trust also means that they do not necessarily need, or want to know, every little detail, particularly where it might breach other important principles such as national security, or in this case, the privacy of some of the individuals concerned, such as the circumstances surrounding the resignations of Carlos Lage and Felipe Pérez Roque.

As in most countries, the details relating to termination of employment are generally confidential to the parties involved, and in cases of people with a high public profile, such as these two men who have served their country so well and for so long, their letters of resignation or an agreed statement are often released to the press in the public interest. Public commentators also frequently weigh in. Sometimes these things raise more questions than they answer. Sometimes they give rise to even more conjecture, rumours or gossip – but that is all it ever can be, until further information is available.

It is up to those directly involved to determine if, and when, further explanation might be desirable – which brings us to the second exceptionally important thing – patience. As a people whose struggle for independence from Spanish then US imperialism has spanned several centuries, Cubans have it down to a fine art, and it is usually rewarded, as in 1959. A more recent example is 2003, when some months after the trial and convictions of the 75 mercenaries masquerading as dissidents, a book containing a wealth of documentary and photographic evidence was published illustrating the nature and extent of their activities against the Cuban state. Conjecture, rumour and gossip were laid to rest – the facts spoke for themselves, and were available to the people.

This is not to suggest to Lage or Pérez Roque were involved in any similar activities, but just to suggest that any details of their confessed errors might be a little longer coming – and maybe never, if they were not illegal, and of a confidential employment nature. It is for the parties involved to divulge such detail or not, as they see fit.

The most that can sensibly be said of the recent changes in the Cuban Government are that they signal a clear prioritising of economic challenges over, but not at the expense of, ideological matters, and that Raul Castro is his own man.

The rest is speculation and conjecture, and like Cubans, the rest of the world will just have to be patient, trust in the Cuban Government to continue to perform its sovereign functions with its usual competence and success, and respect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

[1] http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2009/march/mar3/New-appointments-of-ministers.html http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2009/march/mar3/Council-of-Ministers.html

ENDS

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