Cuban President Raul Castro has postponed what would have been the the ruling Communist Party’s first congress since 1997, BBC online reports Saturday.
Mr Castro said the congress, which was expected before the end of the year, was being delayed so the party could deal with escalating economic problems.
Cuba has lowered its projected economic growth estimate for this year from 2,5 to 1,7 per cent. That is down from an initial estimate of 6 per cent.
The congress is used to set the Cubas economic and political direction, and elect the partys leaders. The one planned for this year was set to chart the Caribbean nations future into an era where the generation that led the Cuban revolution is no longer in charge.
Raul Castro, 78, formally took over last year from his brother Fidel, who had led Cuba since taking power in the revolution of January 1959.
The congress was due to decide whether Fidel Castro, turning 83 on August 13th, would continue as head of the party. He stepped aside after undergoing gastric surgery (maveoperation) in 2006 and has largely retreated from public life.
