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December 22, 2002
Cuba's economic growth slows to 1.1 percent in 2002
By Anita Snow, Associated Press Writer . Sat Dec 21, 3:29
PM ET
HAVANA - Cuba said Saturday that the island was able to squeeze out economic
growth of 1.1 percent this year despite a pair of damaging hurricanes and a
dramatic plunge in tourism.
Economics Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez told the National Assembly, Cuba's
parliament, that growth was expected to keep creeping along in 2003, ultimately
reaching about 1.5 percent. Growth in 2001 was estimated at 2.5.
Rodriguez noted in his major economics report of the year that despite the
slowing, Cuba was in better shape than most Latin American nations, whose
combined economies shrank by 0.5 percent.
And he said that government spending was increased this year for social
services such as free health care, education and heavily subsidized food
rations, which most Cubans consider their birthright.
"The application of neoliberal policies have brought developing nations
to the point of desperation," Rodriguez said, comparing Cuba's centralized
socialist system with free market regimes in other poor countries.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
earlier in the week projected similar growth — 1.4 percent — for the
Cuban economy.
The U.N. agency blamed the economic sluggishness on two hurricanes that
caused agricultural damage to western Cuba within weeks of each other in the
fall, the nation's tourism losses and drops in key exports such as sugar and
citrus.
Rodriguez said that tourism, Cuba's No. 1 source of foreign currency, was
down about 5 percent for 2002.
Bringing in about $1.8 billion annually, tourism now plays a key economic
role as the communist government strives to diversify its income sources after a
severe financial crisis brought on by the collapse of the former Soviet Union
more than a decade ago.
Tourism throughout the Caribbean plunged in late 2001 and early 2002 because
of fears of about air travel following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorism attacks.
Preparing for the weekend National Assembly session, Cuban Labor Minister
Alfredo Morales announced earlier in the week that the nation's unemployment
rate fell to 3.5 percent during 2002, down from 4.1 percent in 2001.
The local Prensa Latina news agency cited Morales as telling a parliamentary
commission that Cuba was the only country in the region which such a low rate.
Latin America's collective unemployment rate for this year has been
estimated at 9.3 percent.
With more than 11 million people, Cuba has a labor force of nearly 5 million
workers.
Castro's Leg Injury Keeps Him From Duties
HAVANA, 21 (AP) - Saying his doctors ordered him to rest after a leg
injury, Fidel Castro excused himself for the first time in 25 years from a
session of Cuba's parliament — but not without complaint.
"Owing to a small accidental injury in the left leg with inflammation
and other theoretical risks, the medical tyranny has imposed upon me the
terrible punishment of three or four days rest," the Cuban president wrote
in a letter read at Saturday morning's session by National Assembly President
Ricardo Alarcon.
"I don't have any other alternative but to obey," wrote Castro,
76, who has led Cuba for almost 44 years. "I must take care of my left leg
because with it I have made the best steps of my life," he added.
Castro's stamina is legendary, with frequent all-night sessions for meetings
or study, though he has slowed somewhat in recent years. His health is a
constant source of speculation by Cuba watchers on both sides of the Florida
Straits, and rumors persist of ailments including prostate cancer , heart
troubles, Parkinson's disease and stroke. | 
