Cuba's president unveils new cabinet

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Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who took office on April 19, presented his new cabinet to the National Assembly, Cuba's parliament, on Saturday.

The 34-member Council of Ministers, including nine new appointments, was approved by lawmakers.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited Venezuela at a ceremony in Caracas on May 30, 2018. /VCG Photo

Among the new ministers are Iris Quinones Rojas, heading the ministry of the food industry; Betsy Diaz Velazquez in domestic trade; and Alejandro Gil Fernandez, leading economy and planning in place of Ricardo Cabrisas, who remains the council's vice president.

Jose Angel Portal Miranda heads public health, with his predecessor, Roberto Morales, now serving as vice president of the cabinet; and Raul Garcia Barreiro leads energy and mines.

Former President Raul Castro (2-L) attended the National Assembly's session to present the new Council of Ministers and discuss the draft of 224 articles prepared by a parliamentary committee, at Havana's Convention Palace on July 21, 2018. /VCG Photo‍

Jorge Luis Perdomo Di-Lella becomes minister of informatics and communications, promoted from deputy minister.

Some others of the cabinet members were previously appointed by Raul Castro, former Cuban president and current first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

(Cover: Cuba's National Assembly held a session for important constitutional amendment in Havana on July 21, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency