Cuba's epidemiological situation is improving every day, thanks to the commitment and work of Cuba’s public health system and the contributions of scientists and innovators, stated President of the Republic and Party First Secretary Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, during a recent meeting of the Council of Ministers, also led by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz.
It is no exaggeration that our scientists - with their vaccines - have contributed to saving the country, the President insisted.
The impact of our immunization campaign is evident and the effectiveness of the vaccines is clear, despite being administered under very difficult conditions, given circulation of the Delta strain, he said.
Over these last few weeks, we have witnessed a stable decrease in the number of new cases, deaths, hospitalized patients and active cases, reaching lows that we have not seen for a long time, he noted.
Recounting the nation's experience during this past year, the President recalled that for several months we had more than 8,000 cases per day, but forecast models are now showing that we are going to drop below 1,000 new cases a day.
We faced moments with more than 96,000 patients admitted in our health system’s hospitals; today we have some 16,000. We had more than 30,000 active cases and at the moment that figure is down to around 6,000.
"Our vaccines have demonstrated one of the Revolution’s strengths, honoring the visionary thinking of the Comandante en jefe and the continuity later given by Army General Raul Castro, when he proposed reorganizing the scientific pole as a solid enterprise system."
With their proven efficacy, our vaccines have become a source of national pride, Díaz-Canel reflected before the highest body of the Cuban government. They have helped us reach a new normality, which now allows us to reactivate our economic activity, both state and private.
We are talking, he said, about opening up tourism, normalizing travel for Cubans, and possibilities of exporting vaccines and services, which will increase the country's income, after having had almost all sources of financing cut off for more than a year.
Referring to the huge impact of the economic crisis the nation is experiencing, due to the pandemic, the ironclad blockade of the United States and our own internal insufficiencies, Díaz-Canel cited the unfavorable opinions of the population caused by inflation, shortages in stores, the illegal foreign exchange market, the persistence of inequalities, the difficult situation of retirees, the wage-price relationship, as well as the occurrence of acts of corruption.
All of which, he said, has been accompanied by expressions of pessimism and lack of confidence from some.
We must reverse this, he said. We are not working to make people's lives more difficult every day, we work to make people's lives better, but the options available to the state and government are limited, given restrictions imposed on us by the pandemic and aggressive U.S. policy.
The blockade is going to be maintained, the Cuban President noted, "So the call is to find ways, to do things better, with intelligence and taking advantage of our own strengths, to overcome this situation."
Díaz-Canel referred to what is being done in neighborhoods, despite the shortages and the economic siege. We cannot let ourselves be defeated, he insisted; on the contrary, this situation is giving us the opportunity to do things with a different disposition, with another kind of commitment.
Life has shown us, he stated, that we have experiences in workplaces, where effort, initiative, courage and commitment have overcome limitations.
This is a new opportunity to defeat and dismantle the enemy’s plans; to demonstrate the capacity of our Revolution and to do so, we must continue building consensus, strengthening unity and recognizing the capacity of resistance and the dignity of this people, the President emphasized.
OPENING THE ECONOMY
The Cuban economy is beginning to awaken, after more than a year and a half with activity slowed or, at worst, completely paralyzed. Thus, analysis of what has been done during the first nine months of the year consumed a good portion of this Council of Ministers’ meeting.
Deputy Prime Minister Alejandro Gil Fernández, pointed out that at the end of September, the level of exports reached was in line with projections and were increasing, as compared to the same period in 2020, especially of key items, including nickel, lobster, honey and pharmaceuticals.
Imports have also increased, although he noted that the higher total is largely associated with higher prices. Fuel, food and fertilizers are being purchased at a much higher cost, in addition to freight rates that have almost doubled.
The Minister also referred to non-state economic actors that have signed some 200 contracts to export, through state foreign trade entities; and have made some 5,000 import requests. These figures will increase due to the recent approval of legislation providing a legal framework for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and non-agricultural cooperatives.
Regarding the principal results in terms of food, he reported that projections have not been met in production of rice, corn, beans, milk, meat and eggs. On the other hand, wholesale plans for other agricultural products are being met, although at levels still far below demand.
Gil Fernández additionally discussed investments underway in the country, also impacted by the economic crisis. On the one hand, planned investments in cement plants and housing have been delayed; but on the other, work was recently completed on Unit 1 of the Lidio Ramón Pérez thermoelectric plant with 260 MW and Unit 6 of the Máximo Gómez thermoelectric plant with 100 MW, allowing these facilities to be reconnected to the National Electric System. Plus, civil works and technological assembly were completed at Antillana Steelworks on four of five electrical substations planned, which are now in the start-up phase.
In the period under evaluation, the employment situation continued to improve, the Minister reported, with more than 200,000 persons joining the workforce since January.
He recalled that last September 20, a process of updating the legal framework for economic actors was begun, with the constitution of the first micro, small and medium companies, as well as non-agricultural cooperatives. Thus far, 234 companies and seven cooperatives have been approved, which have generated more than 2,300 jobs.
Summarizing his report, the Minister cited as positive outcomes, these last nine months, include the meeting of projections for exports; the gradual opening of the economy; a decrease in accounts receivable abroad; a greater presence of agricultural products; a more stable, regulated supply of personal hygiene and cleaning products; increased employment; and the initial implementation of new measures related to different economic actors.
Among the issues to be resolved, he cited, first of all, inflation, currently receiving priority attention from the government; problems in the generation of electricity, which are affecting the population and the economy; the deficit of supply in the retail markets in Cuban pesos; and enterprises showing losses and low productivity.
TOURISM TO RETURN AS THE ECONOMY’S DRIVING FORCE
The opening of tourism on the island is making news around the world, stated Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, during the Council of Ministers meeting. We are optimistic about what will happen on November 15; industry leaders are motivated, but this process entails commitment from everyone.
The Prime Minister, also a member of the Party Political Bureau, who led this important sector for more than 15 years, reflected on the transcendence of the so-called leisure industry for Cuba. It is imperative that we understand, he said, what tourism means for the country's economy, its impact on the economy, which goes directly to the people, but is often not interpreted this way.
When tourism opens up and advances, it pulls other sectors along, invigorating agriculture and all industries; it generates employment far beyond its own 120,000 workers. We need to update the data, he commented, but at one point there were more than 400,000 indirect workers, who produced supplies or provided services for tourism.
A good part of the income we need to sustain the social conquests of the Revolution, to buy food, fuel, medicines, is generated by tourism.
Marrero noted that Cuba is a tourist destination that has as much to offer as the competition in the region, we are blessed with a remarkable natural environment; we have high quality facilities and highly qualified personnel.
We have the responsibility, he pointed out, to offer quality tourism, but in strict compliance with sanitary protocols. "We cannot afford to take a step backward in what we have accomplished."
The November 15 opening is a great opportunity, but we must offer something different. We must reach a level of great dynamism in the economy and ensure that all this contributes to improving the people’s quality of life, increasing the market supply we must provide our people, he reiterated.
A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS MUNICIPALITIES
Comptroller General Gladys Bejerano Portela presented a report to the Council of Ministers summarizing the audit conducted of the state budget’s execution, which generated several directives from the Prime Minister.
Marrero insisted that, given the experience gained and all the socio-economic changes in progress, execution of the 2022 state budget must be more orderly, more rigorous and better controlled.
The 2022 state budget, he clarified, must include the resources needed for work in neighborhoods, because this cannot become an improvisation. Everything that we continue to do for the most vulnerable persons must be identified, better than ever.
The budget, as a guiding document, he stated, must reflect the first steps being taken regarding new municipal authorities, starting with those that are still centralized in the province. The municipal budget, he pointed out, cannot be prepared by the province. It must emerge from and be approved by the municipal assembly. It is imperative that these assemblies truly assume control of their budgets.
On this occasion, the Council of Ministers also discussed a report on the economic effects caused by problems in foreign trade operations, a subject regularly addressed in these meetings.
In addition, a proposal for a water distribution solution for the municipality of Sandino was approved, as well as development of the Cuyaguateje basin productive pole in Pinar del Río.
Additionally, the National Statistics and Information Office presented the foundations of a proposal for information to be gathered of interest to the country as a whole and the national inventory of indicators.
Those attending the Council of Ministers included, as is customary, the President of the National Assembly of People's Power, Esteban Lazo Hernández; Vice President of the Republic Salvador Valdés Mesa; and Party Secretary of Organization and Cadre Policy Roberto Morales Ojeda; all members of the Communist Party of Cuba Political Bureau.
