HAVANA, (Reuters) – Cuba will authorize limited housing and car markets by 2012, the Communist party newspaper Granma said yesterday, a move awaited by local residents since the early 1960s when home and most auto sales were banned.
Granma, reporting on a recent meeting of top level party, government and other officials, said Cubans would still be prohibited from owning more than one home. But for the first time, they could buy and sell the dwellings with minimal government interference.
A ban on the buying and selling of cars registered after the 1959 Revolution will be completely lifted, Granma said, as will the prohibition on owning more than one vehicle.
The measures will not apply to foreigners unless they are permanent residents.