Business & Economy

Turning a deaf ear to the call of Pope Benedict XVI for the US to end its blockade against Cuba, the US government reiterated yesterday that it does not intend to change its policy that has been in place for more than half a century.

Under the theme of “The Economic and Social Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean and Prospects for 2012,” Cuba’s representative to the UN, Pedro Nunez, spoke Wednesday at that organization’s headquarters in New York.

Marino Murillo, a vice president of Cuba’s Council of Ministers and charged with overseeing the implementation of President Raul Castro’s economic reforms, told the local and foreign press not to expect any political reforms from the government.

The Cubarte network, one of the governmental institutions charged with providing access to the Intranet, Internet and email on the island, reported today that its users are experiencing difficulties with Internet browsing that will continue throughout the visit of Pope Benedict XVI (March 26-28).

Carlos Saladrigas, a Cuban-American businessman and politician, will lecture in Havana this coming Friday March 30 at the Centro Cultural Padre Felix Varela, attached to the local Roman Catholic archdiocese.

Discussions took place in the US Congress on Wednesday concerning draft legislation that would allow American companies to drill for oil in Cuba-controlled waters off the island’s coast.

Opening its a pavilion at Panama’s Expocomer trade fair yesterday, Cuba presented 26 companies interested in featuring their products for export.

The United States government is continuing to harass Spanish firms that have commercial interests in Cuba, according to a report that broke on Wednesday in Spain’s El Pais newspaper.