Populism and demagoguery in Baracoa

Raul Castro and his entourage in Baracoa, after the passage of Matthew. (Granma)

Cuba is possibly the only country in the world where its inhabitants, after running out of homes, furniture, electrical equipment, clothing, medicine, food and water, for the destruction of a giant hurricane, they feel "happy" because the cacique the visit. No hopefuls, comforted, not excited, but "happy".

At least so says the Granma, propaganda organ of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). It became public after visiting Raul Castro the city of Baracoa, catastrophically destroyed by Hurricane Matthew, the "Decision of the Revolutionary Government , " whatever that means, that the state budget would finance 50% of the costs of materials to rebuild or repair homes destroyed totally or partially.

But the prices the government sells building materials, even reducing them to 50%, still raising unconscionable sums for products of dubious quality. Funds the regime Cubans or Cuban finance the "revolutionary government" more than half a century?

Those who can not afford the materials for cash (many would Baracoa's) may receive low - interest loans to purchase, but the problem persists. With poverty wages paid by the "revolutionary government", how long victims need to repay loans, although there was no interest?

Those who can not even aspire to credit should apply for full or partial rebates or subsidies from the state budget. This does not guarantee that they will be granted, but at least you can have fun time with that illusion.

Supposedly, which is designed for damaged towns in the province of Guantánamo is based on the experiences of Santiago de Cuba after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. It does not say Castro 's press, but everyone knows, is that there are still houses unrepaired in that city and its inhabitants malviviendo in shelters, and that corruption, diversion of funds, theft and blackmail campean by his respects after four years of demagoguery and state paternalism without the most pressing problems of the victims are really resolved .

There who think that in situations of disaster conditions for spontaneous popular uprisings there. Castroism knows that is the opposite: those who have lost everything do not think to rebel, but to survive; and they know that the government is the only option to get help in the first instance, albeit few and bad. They will not risk losing even more by joining a blurred and fuzzy affair with vague and open - ended.

Therefore populism does not rest. Raul Castro went to go Baracoa in a "marathon day of love and trust in the Revolution" as Granma said in cheesy headline. When state security and has taken steps to occur no unforeseen measures and bodyguards around him not so discreetly.

Then came the inevitable. While groups (? Militant) alive shouted the Castro brothers and the revolution, someone said to thegeneral: "We are happy to have him here with us." Again, not that they were hopeful, comforted, or excited, but happy. Peculiar concept of happiness.

But Raul Castro hinted things not so optimistic: a vital work for the city, the bridge of almost 300 meters above the Toa river, which links Baracoa with Holguin, collapsed. In the same place he said: "We have to restore all these wounds". But no illusions to be done, he stressed: "It will take a while." Something like to do it slowly but surely. A neighbor told him that "the revolution will never forsake us , " and Raul Castro replied "never". But in fact they are already homeless.

However, in itself something differed from Fidel Castro: When one of the people shouted "thank you for your visit , " Raul Castro said, "No, thank you, for your resistance." Although that answer only out of courtesy and protocol, the Castro greater had never spoken so, since it is considered above all and all, I believe that we should thank him for having deigned to "go down to thevillage level" .

Interestingly, Raul Castro is showing something slowly. It was always considered a simple segundón in the shadow of older brother, intellectually mediocre and little charismatic. But it has not done worse than Fidel Castro (always be very difficult to do worse than the Commander). Nor it has destroyed the country with the viciousness and persistence with which Castro did I. And achieved things that, despite his reputation as a brilliant statesman and intelligent person, never got.

Not to congratulate Raul Castro for his work, or his complicity with the older brother. But we must recognize that it is knowing how to manage populism and demagoguery almost as well as his brother and sometimes better.