[NYTr] Cuban Radar Newsbriefs - January 10, 2008
 
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:25:15 -0600 (CST)


Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
Progreso Weekly - Jan 10, 2008
http://progreso-weekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=295&Itemid=1

Cuban Radar Newsbriefs - January 10, 2008
A Service by the Radio Progreso Alternativa Havana Bureau

* Encouraging Exploration for Cuban Oil in the Gulf of Mexico
* Cuba and Canada Lead the Hemisphere in Lowest Infant Mortality
* Cubans' Pay Moves from Under the Table to Above-board
* Catholic Magazine Supports "Gradual Changes"

* Encouraging Exploration for Cuban Oil in the Gulf of Mexico

A report published by the weekly Granma International on its January 6
edition said that Cuban experts valued as bvery encouragingb the work
done by foreign oil companies in Cubabs exclusive zone in the Gulf of
Mexico. The 112,000 square kilometer area is divided in blocks. In
some, oil companies from several countries are drilling bat their own
risk.b

According to the weekly, during the last few months research was
carried out bat the blocks in the Gulf of Mexico with very promising
results.b

Cuba closed 2007 with a production of 4 million tons of oil and
accompanying gas, up 12 percent from 2006. The largest production of
oil was on the mainland, but Cuba is certain that it will strike it
rich in the Gulf.

Seven foreign oil companies are prospecting at present in Cuban waters.
None of them is from the U.S., for the blockade imposed by the U.S.
government forbids it. Nevertheless, U.S. government agencies have
declared that in the Cuban-controlled area of the Gulf there are 9
billion barrels of crude oil waiting to be pumped out.

* Cuba and Canada Lead the Hemisphere in Lowest Infant Mortality

For the second consecutive year Cuba reached an infant mortality rate
of 5.3 for every one thousand children born. The same figure was
attained by Canada, which make both countries the leaders of the
Western Hemisphere. The United States has a higher rate -- 6 for every
one thousand.

A report by the Ministry of Public Healthbs Department of Statistics
said that six provinces had a lower rate: Sancti SpC-ritus, 4.1;
CamagC<ey, 4.2; Matanzas and Las Tunas, 4.4; City of Havana and HolguC-n
5.0. 

The key to Cuba's success has to do with a system of integral
attention to expectant mothers from the moment that pregnancy is
detected. 

* Cubans' Pay Moves from Under the Table to Above-board

Cubans that work for foreign companies in the island will begin to pay
taxes in Cuban convertible pesos (CUC). The information was released by
authorities at a meeting last December with representatives from
foreign firms in Cuba.

Up to now, Cuban employees were receiving a small income in hard
currency bunder the table.b Now that income will be taxed.

The figure to be paid, which still has not been officially disclosed,
is rumored to be somewhere between 10 and 50 percent, according to the
quantity declared by employers, who from now on must register it in
their accounting books. Well-informed sources say that employees will
pay their taxes every quarter to the Cuban Revenue Service (ONAT) and
submit a sworn statement by the end of the year.

Cuban legislation does not allow free contracting of personnel by
foreign companies in Cuba, but rather through a government agency
called ACOREC, which supplies them with the required personnel.
Companies pay ACOREC in hard currency and employees are paid by the
agency in Cuban pesos.

With this measure, the government allows Cuban citizens to legally
receive a gratification in CUC and at the same time increases its
revenues through taxes.

* Catholic Magazine Supports "Gradual Changes"

"It is true that we should not expect immediate and sudden solutions.
Graduality is more convenient than impetuous and fast radicalism,b
wrote Orlando MC!rquez, editor of "Palabra Nueva," the magazine of the
Havana Archdioceses, in an op-ed piece.

The magazine is sold at churches at the price of two Cuban pesos but
has a limited edition, so one issue is read by many.

For MC!rquez bgraduality must be seen soon, because the idea of
postponing the solutions once again not only frightens, but it would be
a joke and completely disheartening."

The article comments on the recent meetings held at neighborhoods and
work centers in which citizens have contributed with ideas and
proposals to solve the problems affecting Cubans.

bTo listen and satisfy the needs of the citizensb is the braison
dbetreb of the government, said MC!rquez. He also added that bBeginning
to give comprehensive answers to the expectations would be proof that
complaints are not a moment for collective catharsis."

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