Cuba parliament meets amid fiscal woes, energy restrictions

Cuba parliament meets amid fiscal woes, energy restrictions
July 8, 2016

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s parliament convened Friday for one of its
twice-annual plenary sessions amid warnings from government officials
that the country needs to cut energy use and as hopes among many
islanders for deepened economic reforms.

The National Assembly is expected to approve an economic roadmap that
emerged from a spring Communist Party congress. The reforms begun six
years ago under President Raul Castro have allowed a smattering of
private-sector activity, although the state still controls crucial areas
of the economy.

Officials warned this week that falling prices of exports and other
economic problems mean Cubans need to adopt power- and fuel-saving
measures. So far those have included reduced bus services, cutting back
on air-conditioning at public offices, reduced work days at some state
buildings and slashing fuel allotments for government vehicles by half.

The official website Cubadebate said Castro and 505 members of
parliament opened the full session at a convention center in Havana.
International media were not allowed access to the gathering.

Lawmakers have been meeting in committee during the week to discuss
matters such as Cuba’s chronic housing crisis, food quality and customs
regulations.

Cuba’s is not a professional parliament. Instead, members keep their
normal jobs and gather twice a year to approve laws.

Source: Cuba parliament meets amid fiscal woes, energy restrictions –
www.yahoo.com/news/cuba-parliament-meets-amid-fiscal-woes-energy-restrictions-160948884.html?ref=gs