HAVANA, February 21 (Carmelo Díaz Fernández, APSIC) - Pedicab
drivers here say that a campaign of harassment against them by the national
police is part of a larger effort by the government to discourage individual
economic initiative.
The drivers say such systematic harassment can only be explained if it
answers to orders given from above. They trace the beginning of the intensified
harassment to August of last year. Arnaldo, one driver who didn’t want his
last name used, says, "For the last seven months we have been working under
constant threats and unjust fines imposed on us by inspectors and police."
"Under any pretext they kick us off the main avenues, which is where we
are most likely to pick up a fare. They don’t even let us park in the side
streets near the principal thoroughfares," he complains.
"We have the appropriate licenses from the authorities. We pay for our
licenses in both pesos and dollars," he adds.
Cubans, who in the last 42 years have grown used to reading government
intentions between the lines, have concluded the government has reversed its
policy of tolerance toward self-employment and now wants to eradicate it.
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