Raul Castro holds off on more reforms

President Raul Castro did not announce any more changes to Cuba’s communist system during a major speech.

There had been expectation that Castro would use the occasion to announce further economic reforms.

Since taking office about five months ago, Castro has made economic and social changes eschewed by his older brother, Fidel, such as opening more unused state land to private farmers, legalizing cellphones for ordinary citizens and allowing some workers to seek title to their homes.

Some Cubans hoped he would ease restrictions on foreign travel or announce other incremental reforms.

Castro did warn that rising food and fuel prices signaled tougher times ahead for the impoverished island nation. He said that people “have to get accustomed to not receiving only good news.”