MANUEL MARRERO CRUZ

About:

• The post of prime minister was scrapped in 1976 by the then-revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.
  
  
• It was reinstated under the rules of a new constitution for the communist-run island passed earlier this year.
  
  
• Marrero, who has served as tourism minister for 16 years and is an architect by trade, helped boost Cuba's economy by making tourism one of the engines of growth.
  
  
• On the other hand, critics say any such changes are purely cosmetic as the Cuban Communist Party and the military remain the only two real decision-making institutions in the country.