Parliament president calls for "complete eradication" of racism in Cuba (AFP, August 24, 2011)

Parliament president calls for "complete eradication" of racism in Cuba

Google translation. Revised by Walter Lippmann

HAVANA, Aug 24 2011 (AFP) - Cuba's parliament speaker, Ricardo Alarcon, called for "the complete eradication" of racial prejudices that persist on the island and said that the issue will be addressed at a conference of the Communist Party in January, according to an interview released Wednesday.

"Committees (legislative) must ensure that all agencies and entities of the country properly taken into account the ethnic dimension and work to completely eradicate any form of discrimination," Alarcón said in the interview with the digital portal

Alarcon called for "much progress in the battle for equality, against racism and discrimination," and said that the issue of representation of blacks and mestizos in the power structures on the island "will feature prominently at the conference "national Communist Party (PCC) to be held in January.

President Raul Castro "has spoken of the importance of changing mindsets," "has been very clear and transparent" and "will not rest until, blacks and women fully exercise equal rights," Alarcon said.

He stressed that "this means working hard to educate people and also to monitor the policy frame (relay) rationally promote blacks and women, preferably youth."

The Cuban leader praised the legislative program on Cuban television which in 2010 tried to open up the topic. "I saw that show and I think there should be many others to address the issue and not just on television," but "in the press and the country's education system," he said.

Cuba, with 35% of its 11.2 million blacks or mestizos has an intense debate about the persistence and new manifestations of racism, despite laws and policies aimed at their elimination.

The black Cuban academic, Esteban Morales argues that blacks and mulattoes will be most affected by the removal of a million state jobs that President Raul Castro has discussed, as part of reforms to make the island's economic model more efficient.

		Parliament president calls for "complete eradication" of racism in Cuba Google translation. Revised by Walter Lippmann HAVANA, Aug 24 2011 (AFP) - Cuba's parliament speaker, Ricardo Alarcon, called for "the complete eradication" of racial prejudices that persist on the island and said that the issue will be addressed at a conference of the Communist Party in January, according to an interview released Wednesday. "Committees (legislative) must ensure that all agencies and entities of the country properly taken into account the ethnic dimension and work to completely eradicate any form of discrimination," Alarcón said in the interview with the digital portal Alarcon called for "much progress in the battle for equality, against racism and discrimination," and said that the issue of representation of blacks and mestizos in the power structures on the island "will feature prominently at the conference "national Communist Party (PCC) to be held in January. President Raul Castro "has spoken of the importance of changing mindsets," "has been very clear and transparent" and "will not rest until, blacks and women fully exercise equal rights," Alarcon said. He stressed that "this means working hard to educate people and also to monitor the policy frame (relay) rationally promote blacks and women, preferably youth." The Cuban leader praised the legislative program on Cuban television which in 2010 tried to open up the topic. "I saw that show and I think there should be many others to address the issue and not just on television," but "in the press and the country's education system," he said. Cuba, with 35% of its 11.2 million blacks or mestizos has an intense debate about the persistence and new manifestations of racism, despite laws and policies aimed at their elimination. The black Cuban academic, Esteban Morales argues that blacks and mulattoes will be most affected by the removal of a million state jobs that President Raul Castro has discussed, as part of reforms to make the island's economic model more efficient. The full interview, in Spanish: http://www.cubarte.cult.cu/periodico/entrevistas/19689/19689.html
		Presidente de Parlamento pide "erradicar completamente" el racismo en Cuba LA HABANA, 24 Ago 2011 (AFP) - El presidente del Parlamento de Cuba, Ricardo Alarcón", llamó a "erradicar completamente" los prejuicios raciales que persisten en la isla y adelantó que el tema será abordado en una conferencia del Partido Comunista en enero, según una entrevista divulgada este miércoles. "Las comisiones (legislativas) deben asegurarse de que todos los organismos y entidades del país tomen debidamente en cuenta la dimensión étnica y trabajen para erradicar completamente cualquier forma de discriminación", dijo Alarcón, en la entrevista publicada por el portal digital <http://www.cubarte.cult.cu> . Alarcón abogó por "avanzar mucho más en la batalla por la igualdad, contra el racismo y la discriminación", y adelantó que el tema de la representatividad de los negros y mestizos en las estructuras de poder en la isla "estará muy presente en la conferencia nacional" que el Partido Comunista (PCC, único) celebrará en enero próximo. El presidente Raúl Castro "ha habado de la importancia de cambiar mentalidades", "ha sido muy claro y transparente" y "no descansará hasta que, en cuanto al negro y la mujer, sea realidad el ejercicio pleno de la igualdad de derechos", dijo Alarcón. Destacó que "eso significa trabajar mucho en educar a la gente y al mismo tiempo vigilar para que en la política de cuadros (relevo) se promueva efectiva y racionalmente a mujeres y negros preferentemente jóvenes". El jefe del legislativo cubano elogió un programa de la televisión cubana que en 2010 trató abiertamente el tema. "Vi ese programa y pienso que debería haber muchos otros para abordar el tema y no sólo en la televisión", sino "en la prensa escrita y en el sistema de educación del país", apuntó. Cuba, con 35% de sus 11,2 millones de habitantes negros o mestizos, vive un intenso debate sobre la persistencia y nuevas manifestaciones del racismo, pese a leyes y políticas que buscan su eliminación. El académico negro cubano, Esteban Morales, sostiene que los negros y mulatos serán los más afectados por la eliminación de un millón de empleos estatales que aplica el presidente Raúl Castro, como parte de las reformas para hacer eficiente el agotado modelo económico de la isla. http://www.noticias24.com/actualidad/noticia/303119/presidente-de-parlamento-pide-erradicar-completamente-el-racismo-en-cuba/