Cuban poll: 82% say life so-so or worse
International Republican Institute survey was done surreptitiously
Lesley Clark, McClatchy/Tribune news
November 18, 2009
WASHINGTON - -- Any good will Raul Castro enjoyed as Cuba's new leader
has dissipated, according to a new poll, which found that more than four
out of five of those surveyed in Cuba were unhappy with the direction of
the country.
The survey, conducted by the International Republican Institute, also
found one in five Cubans cited food scarcity as their biggest worry and
82 percent said life in Cuba was going "so-so," "badly" or "very badly."
That was up slightly from 80 percent in November 2008.
"Cubans are as frustrated and pessimistic as they've ever been," said
the institute's Alex Sutton.
The nonpartisan institute, which receives funding from the State
Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, along with
the National Endowment for Democracy and other private donations, has
been surveying Cubans on the island since 2007 to support its work
promoting democracy.
The poll had to be conducted surreptitiously on the island. It was done
by a Latin American polling firm the institute won't name.
There was divided opinion on how to improve Cuba's economy. Twenty
percent suggested changing the political system, 15 percent cited ending
the practice of double currency -- Cubans get paid in local Cuban pesos
but must buy goods and services with a different currency -- and 10
percent cited changing the economic system.
No questions involved U.S. policy, though 8 percent volunteered that
ending the U.S. embargo would help improve Cuba's economy.
Cuban poll: 82% say life so-so or worse -- chicagotribune.com (18
November 2009)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-tc-nw-cuba-poll-1117-1118nov18,0,5964869.story
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