US propaganda hurting Cuba – Ambassador

American propaganda is responsible for the suspicion that some have of the Cuban political system, says the Cuban Ambassador to this country.

In an exclusive interview with SEARCHLIGHT, Ambassador Olga Chamero Trias said that as Cuba prepares for National Assembly elections on January 20, little is known by those on the outside about the Cuban electoral process.{{more}}

Ambassador Trias explained a system which sees persons elected to serve their various communities at the base. These persons are nominated due to people’s recognition of their work in the communities.

As you climb the political ladder, even to the foundation of the Cuban political system, the National Assembly of Peoples Power, the highest legislative power, Ambassador Trias said that the will of the people is clearly seen.

She suggested that persons who serve in these elected positions in Cuba do so out of love for country and the people.

“When you are elected, it is on a personal basis. You are not representing any organization, any religion. You are just yourself, a candidate willing to serve the community and the country,” Ambassador Trias.

“You do not get any salary for being a member of any of these organs. You will continue earning what you were earning when the people elected you,” Ambassador Trias explained.

She noted that this is slightly different for persons who are the heads of the provincial and National Assemblies, or head of committees. Such persons will continue to earn what they were earning before, but will be full time in their posts as they fulfill their mandate.

When the 614 candidates are elected to the National Assembly for their new five-year term, among them, they elect their President, Vice President and Secretary, as well as the 31 members of the Council of State, whose President is the Head of State and Government.

The latter position is currently held by President Fidel Castro.

Ambassador Trias said that it is uncertain whether or not President Castro will want to continue as Head of State.

President Castro, however, is the First Secretary of the Communist Party, which is “the leading force of society and of the state.”

She told SEARCHLIGHT, however, that as a country, they are prepared for the day, whenever it comes, when President Castro is no longer Head of State, or even dies.

“For the last twenty years, Fidel has been forming new people for when that happens,” Ambassador Trias said, noting that there are enough young, vibrant, able persons to carry President Castro’s vision forward.

“My personal conviction is that we have all the economical, social and political conditions to continue flourishing, perfecting…without changing the political system,” she said confidently.

She said that even now, the Communist party of Cuba has opened up the door for Cubans to discuss the way things are and make suggestions that will help, among other things, to improve the economy.

She, however, noted that the general consensus was that no one wants to go back to capitalism, but rather change the way certain things are run for the further development of the country.

Ambassador Trias said that the principles by which the country operates have been embraced by most, which augurs well for continuity.

She noted that of the 614 candidates to be voted on as deputies in the National Assembly, 60 percent were born after the revolution and 21 percent were only ten years old.