Heil to the other Chief

It’s official: Fidel Castro will not make an appearance at this year’s 26th July celebrations.

Instead, the official media has announced that the keynote speech on Thursday morning, local time, will be given by the man who is supposed to be in charge while the older Castro continues his “recovery”.

That’s right: Raul Castro will deliver the most important speech on the most important day in the regime’s calendar.

As for what he will actually speak about … your guess is as good as mine, but I assume it's going to be a case of more of the same.

Then again ... Reuters reports on a spate of rumours doing the rounds in Havana that the slightly younger Castro (just 75, folk!) may use the opportunity to unveil several initiatives meant to make life a little easier for the brothers' long-suffering subjects.

According to the rumours, these may or may not include: State land being handed back to individual farmers; Cubans being given permission to operate more small businesses legally; Cubans being allowed to freely buy and sell their cars and homes, and to own mobile phones.

Oh, yes, and Cubans being given permission to stay in those luxury hotels currently reserved for foreign tourists with hard cash, Government officials and the likes of Michael Moore.

Then again …

Photo: Enrique de la Osa, Reuters