Cuba Recognizes Relevance of Constitutional Consultation

Havana, Aug 24 (Prensa Latina) The popular consultation on the Draft Constitution of the Republic of Cuba, begun last week, is drawing favorable opinions, in general, from the island's inhabitants.

According to Rigoberto Ladron de Guevara, director of Plaza municipality in Aguas de La Habana company, although there are certainly exceptions, the people have participated massively up to now.

We see the willingness of people to express criteria, proposals and solutions so that the new Constitution represents everyday life. It is, without a doubt, a unique democratic exercise, and we trust that we together will be capable of proposing a more adequate Constitution, he told Prensa Latina.

The process itself is very interesting, as the State needs that all its citizens express themselves, not only in terms of reflection and modifications, but also on the essence of the Constitution, he added.

According to Ladron de Guevara, there are many issues in the State and the functioning of the Cuban socialist system that require changes to achieve greater efficiency and adjust it to the country's circumstances.

Rigoberto Ladron de Guevara participated in the debate held yesterday in the Aguas de la Habana company, where the suggestions turned, essentially, around the economic foundations of the nation and the structure of the State.

About 135,000 meetings of this kind are scheduled in Cuba. The criteria provided by the citizens will return to the National Assembly for the drawing up of a Constitution that, if a popular referendum is approved, it will replace the one in force since 1976.