Private enterprise

Meanwhile, the other Castro, Raul, has apparently agreed to allow Cubans lucky enough to own a car to turn their motor vehicles into “private” taxis – and set their own fares.

This is the first time in a decade the rules have been relaxed by the regime, which is under renewed pressure to fix Cuba’s woeful public transport, which, truth be told, has been in a state of crisis for … well, for the past 50 years.

Of course, few Cubans will be able to take advantage of the new rules, as the vast majority of motor vehicles on the island belong to the regime.

But as you can read from some of the coverage, the decision has been interpreted as a break from the policies of Fidel Castro, who not so long ago railed against “private” taxi drivers, describing them as nasty profiteers, etc, etc.