Cuba after Fidel Castro may prosper on free economy

Fidel Castro who died at the age of 90 will be remembered for having turned his country as the last communist citadel against free markets but though it resulted in destroying his country’s economy by denying free trade with the world.

Donald Trump expects better future for Cubans after the death of this dictator saying, “While Cuba remains a totalitarian island, it is my hope that today marks a move away from the horrors endured for too long, and toward a future in which the wonderful Cuban people finally live in the freedom that so richly deserve”. 

His implementation of  free education and healthcare to the masses virtually not only dried up state funds for other economic activities. Castro literally forced political opponents to live in exile  and suppressed freedom and democracy, curbing civil liberties, showed no tolerance to any deviation from official ideology thus destroying the national economy in his more than 55 years of his rule. 

He turned out to be the first dictator of this island nation who defied 10 US Presidents and brought his country to the brink of Nuclear war in 1962. Barack Obama rejecting the Cold war era policy initiated the policy of charting a new course in relations with Cuba in 2015. 

His more than 55 years rule brought untold misery and sufferings to his countrymen. He may not be remembered after his ritual mourning after his death. But as Raul Castro came to power in 2008 after Fidel’s illness, it is expected that the Cubans will now start enjoying the basic rights and will benefit by availing the opportunities of free trade and enterprise. 

Castro earned a worldwide recognition of having ruled a small island nation on Marxist-Leninist lines  just 90 miles from the coast of Florida. 

Cuba received subsidies from the Soviet Union which ceased after its collapse and the remaining fringe subsidies from Venezuela have also come to an end. Therefore, Cuban President Raul Castro’s policies will now determine the fate of this island nation.

Article Courtesy : Arti Bali, Senior Journalist & Analyst