Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 23 deceMber 2019

Cuba names tourism minister to be first PM since 1976

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban stepped down as president
President Miguel Diaz-Ca- and a new constitution di-
nel on Saturday named vided the president's re-
Tourism Minister Manuel sponsibilities between Cas-
Marrero Cruz as the coun- tro's successor, Miguel Diaz-
try's first prime minister Canel, and the new post of
since 1976 — a nomination prime minister.
quickly confirmed by the The new constitution envi-
country's parliament. sions the prime minister as
Marrero, 56, has been tour- responsible for the daily
ism minister for 16 years, operations of government
presiding over a rise in visi- as head of the Council of
tors and a hotel construc- Ministers.
tion boom that has made The prime minister has a
tourism one of the most im- five-year term and is nomi-
portant sectors of the Cu- nated by Diaz-Canel and
ban economy. approved by the National
Diaz-Canel cited Marrero's Assembly, which unani-
experience in negotiating mously approves every
with foreign investors as proposal put before it, with
one of his prime qualifica- one known exception in re-
tions, according to state cent history. In recent years
media. Marrero Cruz has worked
The position of prime minis- Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz embraces Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel during closely with Gaesa, the
ter was held by Fidel Castro the closing session at the National Assembly of Popular Power in Havana, Cuba, Saturday, Dec. military-linked conglomer-
from 1959 to 1976, when a 21, 2019. ate that dominates tourism
new constitution changed Associated Press and many of the island's
his title to president and other key sectors, includ-
eliminated the post of Castro and his brother Raúl along with Cuba's other munist Party leader, until ing import/export and retail
prime minister. held the presidential post highest positions, like Com- this year, when Raúl Castro sales.q

Panamanians honor victims of US invasion on 30th anniversary

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Rela- city to the neighborhood of some 27,000 American
tives of Panamanians killed El Chorrillo, which was dev- forces, ended Panama's
during the 1989 U.S. inva- astated by bombs three 21-year military regime. For
sion brought flowers to their decades ago. the first time, Panama's gov-
loved ones' graves Friday "What we have to be doing ernment made Friday's an-
to honor their memory on is seeking the truth," Cortizo niversary an official day of
the 30th anniversary of the said, "so that the families national mourning, some-
military action that oust- of the many disappeared thing that victims' relatives
ed then-dictator Manuel know where their loved have demanded. Flags
Noriega. ones' remains are." flew at half-mast, but busi-
President Laurentino Cor- According to official fig- nesses and government
tizo took part in the solemn ures, 514 Panamanians in- offices were not closed
event at the Jardin de Paz cluding both soldiers and and pre-Christmas com-
cemetery in the capital, civilians died in the inva- mercial activity appeared
A woman places flowers on the grave of a person who died where about 130 of those sion, though human rights normal."We must heal that
during the 1989 U.S. military invasion that ousted Panamanian killed in the invasion are groups say the losses were wound and that can only
strongman Manuel Noriega, on the 30th anniversary of the inva- buried. In the afternoon, greater. On the U.S. side, 23 be achieved through the
sion in Panama City, Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. demonstrators marched troops were killed. truth," said Cortizo, who
Associated Press through the center of the The invasion, involving took office in July.q