Fidel Castro: Wage Raise to Ease Differences
Cuba´s President Fidel Castro asserted the Revolution´s programs and measures are aimed at enabling citizens to live on their effort and incomes.

The head of state, at Wednesday´s Round Table program, said all those actions would progressively reduce the social differences that arose during the special period.

The Cuban government announced yesterday a salary improvement, also of social security and public assistance, to cushion a rise in energy prices.

The latter was established because of rising oil prices and to encourage energy saving.

"No other society in history has advanced so fast in these issues, because here the resources belong to everyone… It´s worth it to be small and not an empire," the Cuban leader stressed.

Regarding better use of power, he mentioned distribution of about 14 million energy saving light bulbs and purchase of a million fresh TVs, among others, adding the idea is to provide people with 300 million dollars of more efficient electrical appliances from steady suppliers, seeking for standardizing means in the country.

"All this is part of measures designed to improve people´s living conditions in a reasonable way," pointed out Fidel, who said those who deserved it for their work and merits would be given incentives and benefits.

The president repeated that salaries would continue to rise under the socialist principle of "everyone depending on his capacity, everyone depending on his labor".