50 years a paradise

We are at the fiftieth anniversary of the Cuban revolution. Fidel has effectively gone, but the dynasty carries on under his brother.

Has the experiment been a success?

As an economist within 10 years of Fidel's success, I predicted the economic failure which has resulted in every case where state socialism or communism has been tried. I was not alone, most economists would condemn the command economy in economic terms because of its gross inefficiency.

Cuba has been no different. It is a backward country, and survived for many years only because Russia subsidised it for political and military reasons. It is now apparent that its cars are 30 or more years old, and patched up, mobile phones and other consumer goods are unavailable. If there are televisions, it is because the government wishes to speak into homes and proclaim its message.

Ah, but some say, the health service is something to be proud of. Really? Thousands of doctors have left, especially to go to Venezuela, to earn currency to enable Cuba to buy essential goods such as oil. Hospital care is not great and hospitals not clean.

The people are content, and support the revolution! Then why did1.2 million leave, often at great personal risk, between 1959 and 1993? Why did so few apparently go the other way to enjoy the island paradise.

Americans originally from Cuba have estimated that 12,000 have been executed under Fidel since the revolution. How many more have languished in prison for political crimes which we would not recognise as crimes, such as trying to leave the country without permission? Why are newspapers routinely censored, and why are people encouraged to spy on and report non-conforming neighbours?

Castro has been a dictator for almost 50 years. Some on the left regard him as a hero, and we would have to admit that he has not been as cruel as Stalin or Hitler. Nevertheless when citizens want to leave in such numbers, often without permission and in small boats for a long sea crossing, it is difficult to see that they have many positive compensations for the economic misery they have suffered.