Cuba Replaces Economy Minister İn Update To Models

By Neysi Hernández

HAVANA – Cuba has replaced its economy minister with a long time politician amid the country’s economic crisis, according to a government statement.

Vice President Ricardo Cabrisas will take over for Marino Murillo, who will now oversee a commission that will concentrate on “updating the Cuban economic and social model” as adopted by the government, the statement said.

The move announced late Wednesday comes as the Caribbean island applies measures to save energy and fuel supplies that have been strained by economic and political crises in Venezuela, which has been a key ally and supplier of the country’s energy needs.

Cuba is also struggling to meet fiscal goals for the second half of the year, due in part to a more than 50-year economic blockade by the U.S.

The embargo has had crippling effects and left some Cubans ready to try a different approach.

“At this time any change in the economic area in Cuba is important, because the fear of scarcity is latent in every home on the island,” Ephraim Napoles, 65, told Anadolu Agency.

The ministerial shakeup is not a demotion for Murillo who retains his title as vice president and remains a key member dictating the economic direction of the country.

Cabrisas is an obvious move for Cuba as he has spent years in the economic sector and has negotiated payment terms for the country’s outstanding debt.