San Francisco Frontiers - Crisis-hit Cuba opens pharmacies, gas stations to private firms

In a lengthy decree, the authorities lifted restrictions on a swath of sectors including petrol distribution, electricity generation, rubbish collection and the manufacture and sale of medicines.

For months, daily life in Cuba has been upended by rolling blackouts, water cuts and shortages of necessities like food and medicine.

The reforms -- decreed on July 22 but detailed Wednesday by state media -- seemed to target sectors linked to the most affected parts of daily life.

With piles of rubbish lining the streets of Old Havana, private firms will be able to operate waste collection and recycling services.

And with few buses or cars on the roads due to petrol shortages, private firms will also be able to import and construct electric vehicles.

Oil and mining operations will also be liberalized.

Details of reforms emerged as Cuba's National Assembly met, with delegates denouncing imperialism and chanting "socialism or death!"

Despite the rhetoric, the decree represents a loosening of decades-old communist doctrine as the party tries to withstand its biggest crisis since the death of longtime leader Fidel Castro and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Cubans who once feared government reprisals now criticize the country's leaders and have taken to banging pots and pans in regular nighttime protests.

The new regulations "considerably broaden the scope for entrepreneurs and private companies on the island," state controlled media reported.

The government, however, stressed its tight control over sectors key to retaining power: education, telecommunications, media and defense.

Tobacco sales will also remain under government control.

The United States has effectively blockaded fuel imports to the island for almost six months, leading to an acute shortage of fuel for transport and electricity generation.

The US took control of Venezuela energy assets in late January, effectively cutting off Cuba's main source of supply.

Washington threatened sanctions against other countries that exported oil to Cuba.

There have been at least five nationwide blackouts this year and countless localized cuts.

Most parts of the capital have electricity for only a few hours each day.

Cuba's state electricity provider said it would be able to generate only about 27 percent of expected peak demand on Wednesday, leaving the grid facing a 2,380-megawatt shortfall.

A.Smith--SFF