Domingo Noriega said this is another step in the changes coming about in Cuba; however, it isn’t going to be as rapid a change as people in the exile community would want.

Noriega thinks Fidel Castro’s younger brother, Raul Castro, will be named president on Sunday and considers it important. Although he isn’t a supporter, Noriega said Raul Castro is more pragmatic and realistic than Fidel Castro.

“He knows that Cuba’s system—as it exists now—doesn’t function,” Noriega said.

“Raul Castro has the great dilemma to figure out how to move Cuba into the future and maintain the regime and maintain himself and his circle in power,” said Noriega, 47, a civil engineer who came from Cuba to Tampa in 1981.

He said there will be change under Raul Castro, but not large-scale ones.

“But the changes will start with him,” Noriega said.

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