University fires reform-minded economist

Associated Press 23 April 2016

One of Cuba's most renowned advocates of economic reform has been fired from his University of Havana think tank for sharing information with Americans without authorisation, among other alleged violations, writes Andrea Rodriguez for Associated Press.

The dismissal of Omar Everleny Perez (56) from his post at the Centre for Studies of the Cuban Economy on 8 April adds to a chillier mood that has settled over much of Cuba as the country's leaders try to quash the jubilation that greeted President Barack Obama's historic trip to the island last month.

Perez is one of the country's best-known academics, an expert in developing economies who served as a consultant for Raúl Castro's government when it launched a series of market-oriented economic reforms after he took over from his brother Fidel in 2008. Reached by The Associated Press last week, Perez confirmed his dismissal by the centre’s director, Humberto Blanco, for having unauthorised conversations with foreign institutions and informing "North American representatives" about the internal procedures of the university.
Full report on the Orlando Sentinel site

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