Minister wants less state intervention

Cuba’s Economy Minister Marino Murillo is calling for less state intervention in the country’s affairs.

Sources within the island’s Communist Party say Mr Murillo has also stated that the government can no longer afford its all-encompassing control and paternalism.

Earlier this year Mr Murillo told armed forces and interior ministry officials that the “paternalistic state can no longer be, because there is no longer any way to maintain it.

The government in Havana was forced to cut imports by 37% last year, because of the effects of the global financial crisis.

Eustace wants answers

St Vincent’s opposition leader Arnhim Eustace wants the Trinidad government to explain whether it has changed its position on a plan to rescue the cash-strapped insurance company, British American.

Eustace’s call follows a statement by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves in Parliament last week.

Gonsalves said at the time that Eastern Caribbean governments were closer to taking over the operations of British American.

But Eustace says an interpretation of his statement suggests that Trinidad is no longer responsible for clearing up the British American matter.

The insurance company’s problems surfaced following the demise of its parent company, Trinidad-based conglomerate CL Financial, last year.