MCT Information Services/Havana
Cuban government officials must fight “a grand battle” against corruption in areas such as business deals with foreigners and the distribution of gasoline, official news media said.
Rodrigo Malmierca, minister of foreign commerce and investment, reported at a Cabinet meeting on “irregularities detected in the functioning of businesses with foreign capital and international contracts,” the state-run website CubaDebate reported.
“He declared that among the principal causes ... that make these acts possible, the foremost are the lack of rigour, control and exigency all along the deals, as well as the conduct and attitudes of the officials implicated,” CubaDebate said.
CubaDebate did not detail the cases, but the Cuban government has been rocked in recent years by a long string of corruption scandals involving such figures as a former armed forces general, a couple of deputy ministers and the boyfriend of a daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro.
Two Canadians and a British citizen have been detained for investigation on complaints that they bribed Cuban officials who gave them advance knowledge of government contracts and favoured their bids.
Malmierca told the Cabinet meeting that audits by the general comptroller’s office “merit study to make sure that lessons are learned and the same errors are avoided in the future.” according to CubaDebate.
Economy Minister Adel Yzquierdo reported to the Cabinet that corruption and theft are rampant in the fuel sector. He referred to gasoline stolen from government stocks and sold on the black market.
“The high demand and profits in this illegal business creates a permanent siege of employees in this sector by unscrupulous people who later sell the fuel for up to 60% less than the official price,” CubaDebate reported.