Bread and butter

A new study conducted secretly inside Cuba by a research group associated with the US Republican Party has found that most of those interviewed "considered their economic woes to be their chief concern".

At least that's how The New York Times has interpreted the findings, which are due to be released today by the International Republican Institute.

The study found that less than 10 per cent of Cubans polled listed a lack of political freedom as being the main problem facing the country, which makes sense when you consider average Cubans spend much of their time trying to make ends meet on State wages of less than USD20 a month.

According to those who conducted the study, such results are not unusual - when pressed, most people tend to list "bread and butter" economic issues at the top of their concerns, regardless of whether the questions are asked in Cuba, the US or elsewhere.

Mind you, the study also found that nearly 70 per cent of Cubans aged between 18 and 29 said that give a choice, they would support a democratic system with multiparty elections, freedom of speech and freedom of expression.