[NYTr] Cuban Radar Newsbriefs - Nov 29, 2007 Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:38:40 -0600 (CST) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Progreso Weekly - Nov 29, 2007 http://progreso-weekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=254&Itemid=1 Cuban Radar Newsbriefs - Nov 29, 2007 A Service by the Radio Progreso Alternativa Havana Bureau * Statistics and reality * DNA test of Chebs remains offers evidence * Cuban GNP growth revealed * Cuban Viagra * Delegation of Mexican PRI visits Cuba * New piping factory * Catholics help flood victims * Statistics and reality An article in Juventud Rebelde under the headline bJobs for the Young: A Never Ending Story?b contrasts official figures for unemployment among young people with research finding conducted by the Young Communist Union (UJC). According to the newspaper, the unreality of the official figures is due to inefficiency on the part of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) and other government agencies. But the reasons that young people are not motivated to get a regular job are many, among them low salaries, jobs inconsistent with their degrees or qualifications or because they do not agree with the conditions offered at work centers. Regarding this aspect, a UJC official told the newspaper that b90 percent of more than 146,000 not working or studying in 2006 would like to do so, but could not find acceptable offers.b The article blames the lack of coordination and foresight on the part of agencies involved together with MTSS, such as the Ministries of Education and Higher Education. Also receiving blame were a lack of coordination among the needs of each province, qualifications of graduates and offers by the MTSS influence young peoplebs unemployment. * DNA test of Chebs remains offers evidence Cuban scientists announced results of tests on the remains of Commander Ernesto Che Guevara, including the DNA testing. On Monday, November 26, in a meeting at the central city of Santa Clara, Dr. Jorge GonzC!lez, the Cuban doctor who headed the multinational forensic team that found the remains of Che and his comrade, explained that bthey did not make a DNA study on Che to identify him (but) used DNA as evidence.b According to GonzC!lez, they had elements for identification from the start, such as ban impression of his teethb, and bseven fractures that were coincidental.b DNA tests then were used for validation. Ricardo Leonard, an expert from the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, explained that since Chebs widow and children live in Cuba, the DNA test is unquestionable. A few months ago in Miami, people involved in the operations that ended in Chebs capture and assassination in Bolivia denied the authenticity of the mythical guerrillabs remains buried in Cuba. They dared the Cuban government to present DNA evidence. Cuban authorities kept silent, but during the meeting revealed that tests had been conducted back in October, 1997. * Cuban GNP growth revealed Cuban Minister of the Economy JosC) Luis RodrC-guez predicted that the growth of the Gross National Product for fiscal year 2007, which ends in December, will be 10 percent. The announcement was made during the celebration of Economistbs Day, held on November 26. Cuba's economy should grow by 10 percent in 2007, the third straight year of double-digit expansion, despite slips in the tourism sector, according to Rodriguez. Speaking at a meeting of economists, Rodriguez said gross domestic product on the communist-run island would rise by 10 percent this year, reiterating a prediction he made in February. RodrC-guez said that there would be no magical solutions to problems and that complex situations must be faced, such as oilbs high prices, but he assured that Cuba is prepared for the challenges imposed by a convulsive world, on the brink of an economic and environmental catastrophe. * Cuban Viagra Cubans wonbt have to buy smuggled Viagra at 10 CUC a pop (1 CUC = $0.82 USD), for in 2008 the local version will be sold at the countrybs pharmacies. According to national media, Dr. JuliC!n PC)rez, head of the Center for the Development of Drugs, announced that sildenafil, the generic drug sold with the brand name Viagra, will be available under the system of control cards. Controlled drugs such as this are not over the counter and require a medical prescription. Although the drug is marketed for men with erectile dysfunction, sildenafil is also used for greater sexual potency and longer sexual relations. The requirement of a medical prescription could serve as a deterrent for some, due to reluctance on the part of many Cuban men to publicly admit a condition that smacks of unmanliness, an example of the sexism that still survives in the country. * Delegation of Mexican PRI visits Cuba A delegation of the Mexican Revolutionary Institutional Partybs (PRI) National Executive Committee visited the island on November 21 to 24, invited by the Cuban Communist Party (PCC). Heading the delegation was the PRIbs present chairman Beatriz Paredes Rangel, who up to 1994 was the Mexican Ambassador in Havana. According to the Notimex news agency, Ms. Paredes met with acting president RaC:l Castro. During their stay, the delegation also met for talks with high officials of the Cuban government and the PCC. Paredes declared to Mexican media that she was sympathetic with the rapprochement of Mexican President Felipe CalderC3nbs administration with the Cuban government. * New piping factory Radio Habana Cuba (RHC) reported that the new plastic piping factory at the eastern city of HolguC-n bentered its marketing stage." According to RHC, the first productions, some 2,000 meters of 900 millimeter tubes was an order for the water conduit at the Nipe reservoirbs channel in Gibara. The start up of this factory, the third in the country, will also serve to increase repairs of thousands of kilometers of water works in towns and cities. One of the problems affecting the Cuban population is the disrepair of aqueducts that cause huge losses of water. * Catholics help flood victims In almost every Catholic church in the country priests have made a call to members of their congregations to donate clothing, shoes, bed sheets, towels, money and food for their compatriots, victims of the flooding caused by tropical storm Noelbs rains. In the eastern region of the country, the most damaged, losses are calculated at half a billion dollars. A report on the official site of the Conference of Cuban Catholic Bishops says that bthe first donations have already been distributed in cash and kind, a result of the collection among the faithful from several parishes of the dioceses, religious orders and a remittance by the Cuban chapter of Caritas.b Although the government has dedicated large resources for the reconstruction of the disaster areas, all aid is important to alleviate the suffering of thousands of victims. * ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us Our main website: http://www.blythe.org List Archives: http://blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ Subscribe: http://blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr =================================================================