Cuba announces more cabinet changes

Fri Jan 7, 2011

Following last year's major cabinet overhaul, the Cuban government has newly announced the replacement of construction and telecommunications ministers.

According to a government statement announced on Thursday, Cuban Construction Minister Fidel Figueroa was being replaced due to “errors committed in his job.”

He is going to be replaced with Rene Mesa Villafana, who has been the head of Cuba's water supply organization, AP reported.

According to the statement, Minister of Telecommunications Ramiro Valdes will step down to have more time to supervise over the performance of both his old ministry on interior as well as the construction ministry.

Valdes, 78, is a former leader of the rebels who brought Fidel Castro to power in 1959. He is also an ex-interior minister and a close friend of incumbent President Raul Castro, Fidel's brother.

Valdes, who had a key role in boosting Cuba-Venezuela ties, also holds the position of vice presidency.

The reshuffle comes as the latest effort by the Cuban government in a series of cabinet overhauls and economic reforms over the recent months.

In summer, the government replaced ministers of oil and mining, transportation and sugar for what it described as their incompetence.

As part of its economic reform plan, the government has also released half a million state workers and opened up new opportunities for self-employment.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159034.html.