Castro’s Tactics

The so-called softening of the rigid dictatorship to allow certain small businesses to be run privately by individuals is only a deceptive scheme to control the ever growing “underground” entrepreneurs in Cuba. Cubans are very inventive, they always have been. It seems that the satrapy of the Castro brothers did not affect – to a great extent – the natural instinct of many Cubans to be creative even under the most difficult circumstances.

I should explain that after the Communist regime eliminated all private enterprises, from the very large to the smallest one, many Cubans began to think of a way to become independent of government control even at the expense of their lives. They began to create clandestine, small businesses with a lot of care and discretion, risking to practice their professions and skills below the government radar.

The regime alerted by neighborhood switches took action and some self-made entrepreneurs were caught and given jail time. However in spite of all the inconveniences and urged by the necessity to sustain themselves many continued to take the risk. It was practically impossible for the government dogs to keep pace with the surreptitious activities. There were the many dispersed around the entire country. The government was also running out of space in their ominous and filthy jails. The small undercover businesses continued to grow as the economy of the country went from bad to worse.

We know that among the many concealed activities were shoe repairs, manicurists, barbers, appliances and car repairs, eateries (in-home), animal grooming, taxi drivers, dolls and toy repairs, music teaching, sale of medicinal herbs and flowers and many others. Even doctors and dentists practiced their skills secretly.

The rigid Communist rule was not getting any income or advantage from the widespread entrepreneurial activities. The regime finally realized that it was better to “legalize” all the small businesses and obtain a revenue through a contribution or taxation system. Additionally, allowing the small businesses to operate in the open was going to make it appear that the regime was relaxing its tight control over the population. What it really does is to make small entrepreneurs practically employees of the government. They would be regulated and closely observed.

It should be mentioned that taxes under the Communist system did not exist and were not needed. Under the slaved labor system existing in Cuba, the salaries are very small and the workers indirectly pay dearly for whatever meager benefits they receive, ie. children’s education, health care, etc. That is why the so-called “free” education and precarious health care they receive are all a shameful fallacy. In contrast, well equipped hospitals are reserved for the high ranking military elite and the privileged top level civilian members of the regime. In fact, the underground entrepreneurs, now free to surface and become “legal” will be the losers. The dictatorship becomes the winner expanding its surveillance to the segment that wa previously undercover and additionally getting an income.

The Communist government is calling this sinister trap “an economic reform package,” pretending is opening up the failed Communist model implanted by brutal force in Cuba.

The entire history of the Cuban tragedy under Castro-Communism is detailed in my book. (see sidebar for information.)