MARTI PLAN
For reconstruction of the Republic of Cuba
By Luis Alberto Lacalle
I) INTRODUCTION
Once the dictatorship has fallen and Cuba will continue its
democratic journey, an enormous effort will be necessary in order to
transform Cuba in a free and prosperous nation.
The “Marti Plan” aims to support the process with economic and
human resources through coordination of activities carried out by
international actors, by Cubans who live in the island and those who live
in “the Pilgrim Homeland”.
It will be necessary to offer economic contribution and technical
aid consisting in the introduction of knowledge and business and trade
union experience which would channel the every-day life of a nation
that during 50 years has known neither liberty nor justice.
It is essential to remember and to make clear that the Cubans are
the only ones to undertake the task. They and their democratic
government will carry out the changes and the cooperating actors, be it
nations, institutions or individuals, will act only when asked by the
legitimate representatives of the Cuban population.
In this introduction, special mention must be made of the
phenomenon of exile. During the last half century, without any similar
precedent, thousands of compatriots were separated, new generations
were born and grew up loving and yearning for country the do not know.
Others remained in the native land, suffering the tyranny. All of them
are Cubans and all of them can and should contribute to the
reconstruction process. Having in mind this aspect, the Marti Plan
wishes to combine all the contributions and to connect and bring closer
together those who were separated for so long.
II) PLAN’S SUMMARY
The plan proposes two types of contribution:
a) Economic, which comprise financial resources, technological
support and commercial opportunities.
b) Human, including creation of leadership structures (leading
officials) and training opportunities.
More detailed concept is explained below:
III) ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION
Destruction of Cuba’s economic base created by the tyranny will
require economic recourses and legal and cultural measures that would
establish a modern society.
Reconstruction fund
It is a body of public international right with limited duration of
existence. It will centralize contributions from different sources.
The aid will be reciprocal, aiming at creation of private culture and
initiative with its rights and duties. Loan installments and interest rates
will be as generous as possible. However, the loan shall be properly paid
back. It can be agreed that the loan repayments, once offered, will be
used as donations to the education and public health system.
One part of the fund resources will be donated to educational and
health institutions that will submit specific projects.
The fund will be lead by a board of directors made up of important
personages of the world and managed by a director with experience in
the finance sector.
The contributions will be free or onerous, provided by
governments, public or private entities or individuals.
The aim of the support will be to establish democratic government
in Cuba. Its contributions will be offered to public entities (central and
local government, public personages of the state) or to private
corporations.
IV) HUMAN CONTRIBUTIONS
Fund of Technical Assistance
The introduction of knowledge and experience in public and
private life represents a central point of the task that awaits us.
In the public sector, technical support will be offered to improve
the constitutional and administrative area and help organize political
parties and trade unions. However, it will be done so only after the
Cuban government has requested it.
In the private sector, a list of persons with business experience will
be offered to companies and business organizations that will have the
chance to request these people. This activity will be free in terms of
personal rewards.
The assistance will last, at most, as long as the Marti Plan is valid.
V) DURATION
Duration of the Marti Plan will be limited, announced beforehand
and its end will not be postponed. Its aim is to help, to create an impulse,
but it can not replace authentic public and private action.
Once it fulfills its duties, the initiative will disappear. If its
contribution helps to create freer, more prosperous and fair Cuba, its
goal will be fully achieved.
Berlin, April 2007