Raul Castro to address Cuba as island marks revolution

HAVANA (AFP) - Cuban president Raul Castro on Saturday was expected to announce more economic and social reforms in a speech marking the 55th anniversary of the country's communist revolution.

While apparently no big surprises are in store, Raul Castro told the parliament on July 11 that he would touch on social and economic issues in the speech in Santiago de Cuba, the birthplace of the Cuban revolution.

Thousands of people choked the southeastern city's streets since early hours in the morning Saturday, dancing to conga music, drinking rum and delighting in the fireworks display at dawn.

A huge photo of former president Fidel Castro dominated the public square where his brother will speak at 2300 GMT.

About 10,000 people are expected to gather, according to official media, to hear the 77-year-old president, whose reign became official in February when he was named Fidel's successor.

Coming two years after Fidel's last major address, Raul's appearance will be closely watched at home and abroad for signs of whether, after more than half a century of hardline socialist policies, the regime is embracing a broader market-oriented shift in the footsteps of fellow socialist states China and Vietnam.

With little fanfare, in recent months Raul Castro's government has introduced a few reforms, such as the right to buy mobile telephones and to stay in hotels previously reserved for foreigners.

Other reforms, such as the right to own private taxis or some farmland, and the lifting of salary ceilings, have been approved and are waiting to be applied.

But there is uncertainty as to whether deeper changes are on the way.

"We don't expect big announcements, but I think we have to speed up the changes or people will lose their hope," said Roberto, 38, a motorcycle taxi driver in Santiago.

The country continues to suffer power and food shortages, but electrical blackouts have become rarer and shorter. And brand-new Chinese-made buses can be seen in the streets -- which are themselves repaired more quickly by workers.

The modest changes have been welcomed.

"There is less political pressure, we are less caught up by that sort of thing," said Maria Cruz, 54, explaining that the huge public rallies with near-required participation that accompanied Fidel Castro's addresses have disappeared.

"The public transport has improved. Just a little, but it's improved. For the rest, though, no, everything's the same," said Nancy Gutierrez, 57.

"If you work, you eat, but you can't do anything else."

In his July 11 speech to parliament, Raul Castro authorized the placement of vacant farmland in private hands -- considered the reform with the greatest potential economic impact to be unveiled since he became president.

But he also asked Cubans to tighten their belts and work harder in a troubled economy.

Washington has dismissed Castro's reforms so far as "cosmetic" and, with Europe, has demanded political prisoners be released and dissent tolerated.

But recent one-day roundups of dissidents suggest Raul Castro's administration is not prepared to allow more room for the political opposition in the near future.

The celebrations will be centered on Santiago de Cuba, Cuba's second largest city where the Castros and their supporters launched their campaign to overthrow the previous regime on July 26, 1953.

They finally succeeded in 1959, carrying Fidel Castro into power and subjecting the Cubans to nearly five decades of Marxist rule.

Fidel held power firmly until July 2006, when an undisclosed ailment requiring intestinal surgery forced him to hand the reins to his younger brother.