New Head of Cuban Small Farmers Org. Appointed

March 19, 2014

Rafael Ramón Santiesteban (l) y Juan Ramón Machado Ventura (t). –

HAVANA TIMES — Rafael Ramón Santiesteban was appointed as the new president of the National Association of Small Farmers of Cuba (ANAP) during the plenary session of the organization, Cuban TV informed on Tuesday.

Despite being an association of small private farmers, the meeting was chaired by the second secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and Cuban Vice President José Ramón Machado Ventura.

For over nine years Santiesteban led the farm organization in the eastern province of Holguin, and was a member of the national executive. He is currently also a member of the Cuban parliament. The new president replaces Felix Gonzalez, who died in February.