After succeeding Fidel last year Raúl announced minor reforms: more privately-run farms and taxis, greater wage flexibility and permission to stay in hotels and buy computers, DVD players and mobile phones.
You need government permission to stay in a hotel, buy a mobile phone, a DVD player or a computer.
Yes, the place is a totalitarian hell hole.
It’s why Fidel is a Hero of the Left: Gordon Brown would dearly love to be able to stop us watching inappropriate DVDs, or spending our time on inappropriate activities, or buying inappropriate things.