(24 Feb 2009)
February 24 2009
1. Pan right horse and carriage passing in Old Havana
2. Wide of people crossing St. Francis Square in Old Havana
3. People walking on pavement
4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Alfredo Echevarria, 72, Retiree:
"There is still much to be done and I think he has the support a president really needs. He already has a lot of experience from this year that has passed."
5. Tourist bus passing on street
6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juana Maria Gonzalez, 66, Housewife:
"Yes, one must always have confidence and think good things, right?"
7. Zoom in new Chinese bendy bus passing on street
FILE - February 24, 2008
8. Mid of Raul Castro voting
UPSOUND (Spanish) Raul Castro, President of Cuba: "United vote."
9. Wide of Raul Castro introduced as president to Cuban Parliament
10. Close up Raul Castro
11. Wide of Parliament
UPSOUND (Spanish) Raul Castro, President of Cuba:
"Long live Fidel!"
FILE - July 26, 2007
12. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Raul Castro, then-Interim President of Cuba:
"If the new U.S. administration wants to put aside their arrogant ways and decide to talk in a civilised manner, we welcome them."
FILE - July 11, 2008
13. Zoom out from empty chair used by Fidel Castro to Raul Castro seated next to it
FILE - 2008
14. Man talking on cellular phone
15. Zoom out classic cars, new chinese bus passing in front of Revolution Square
16. Rent-a-Car sign
17. Zoom out Hotel Nacional and Malecon Avenue
18. Zoom in woman at cash register counting money
19. Wide of customers looking at electric scooters
20. Customers looking at DVD players in store
STORYLINE
Cuban President Raul Castro marked his first year in office as head of state on Tuesday.
While bringing about some changes in every day life to the Cuban people, the younger Castro has made it clear in speeches that communism is here to stay.
Shortly after being elected in February of 2008, Raul Castro's government opened luxury hotels and rental cars to all Cubans who can afford them, ending a ban that enraged ordinary citizens, embarrassed communist officials and was considered "tourist apartheid" by critics.
What little change there has been over this past year has been a long time coming after almost 48 years of Fidel Castro's tight rein on the Cuban revolution.
Fidel Castro spent decades rallying against economic reform that could promote a new class of rich Cubans, and has even written newspaper articles last year about the poor being increasingly frustrated with an island buried under a flood of convertible pesos.
Despite the elder Castro's concerns, Cubans who have access to convertible pesos or foreign currency have suddenly had a lot more to spend them on over this past year thanks to younger brother Raul.
Raul Castro promised to eliminate many prohibitions when he assumed the presidency on Feb. 24, 2008 after his ailing 81-year-old brother Fidel resigned for health reasons.
Along with selling consumer goods, he has done away with bans that kept most Cubans from legally obtaining cell phones, renting cars, buying computers and DVD players.
One year later, much to the chagrin of the anti-Castro movement off the island, there have been no revolts nor public displays of malcontent nor mass exodus.
Considering this past year was the worst weather-wise in history: Hurricanes Gustav, Ike and Paloma which caused more than 10 billion (b) US dollars worth of damage, it certainly was no easy feat to maintain the peace and well-being of a nation.
It's been business as usual even without seeing Fidel in public for over two and a half years rallying his followers.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
