Although it functions under conditions no different from those in other municipalities in Villa Clara, Camajuaní has achieved singular economic results, demonstrating that, despite the complex circumstances the country faces, with initiative, creativity and astuteleadership, the economy can perform to the benefitof the population. Last year, for example, the township was the only municipality in Villa Clara, and one of the few in the nation, that achieved a surplus, closing 2021 with 212 million pesos in hand, a figure well above expectations. They have managed to maintain this success thus far this year, exceeding projected revenues during the months of January, February and March, providing evidence that the local economy is well managed, although impacted, of course, by the limitations imposed by the pandemic and the tightenedU.S. blockade. In this light, one might wonder what Camajuaní does differently to achieve these results, taking into account that its farmers, artisans and workers must overcome the same challengesand lack of resourcesfaced by other economic actors across the country.
Iban Higuera García, superintendent of the municipality, does not hesitate to affirm that the key lies in the ability of the people of the valley’s land and the traditional parrandas to overcome difficulty, and do so, moreover, in a creative manner, as advocated Party First Secretary and President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez. He speaks with pride of the work done by the 25 recently-approved micro, small and medium sized businesses here, and of the more than 4,000 self-employed workers, who have been capable of producing close to a million pairs of shoes, boots and sandals a year; in addition to work clothes, uniforms and handicrafts of different types.They have found alternatives and established productive chains that allow them to mitigate the deficit of raw materials and other inputs. More than 3,000 agricultural workers have made a significant contribution, led by the nearly one hundred members of the productive political movement “90 for his 90th,” which emerged in 2016, on the occasion of Fidel's birthday.These farmers have found ways to produce enough food to supplysome 80 retail outlets where produceis sold at prices lower than those prevailing elsewhere.
Added to this is the decisive contribution of state enterprises, Higuera reported, including, he said, two meat packers that produce most of the cold cuts consumed in the province, supplying key sectors like tourism; the Cubanacán beverage complex; three poultry farms; the same number of mini-food processors and an enterprise local unit producing aggregates for the housing program, among others.
Of paramount importance, he noted, is the work of national economic entities, including the ministries of Finance and Prices and Economy and Planning; the banking system; and the country’s tax authority, ONAT, all represented in the municipality by highly experienced cadres, which has been a strength and great support for those who have the task of leading the township.
Nonetheless, Camajuaní’s positive financial economic situation is not an indicator that everything is just fine, that there are no problems affecting the population which must be resolved.The young superintendent is fully aware of this, citing, among the main concerns, the poor condition of roads and housing; a deteriorated water distribution system in several communities to which this indispensable resourceis delivered in tank trucks;as well as the poor performance of the sugar industry this season, among other issues that occupy the municipal leadership.
For him it is clear that the more money that enters the municipality's budget, the greater ability they will have to fund new plans. He mentions several of the principal local development projects launched with income generated from the 1% commercial production tax, among them the construction of livestock centers and financing of the renowned Camajuaní parrandas.
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
Recognized is the quality of the footwear manufactured in Camajuaní and the improvements of its productions noted recently, thanks primarily to the consolidation of a centuries-old culture of the craft, initiatives taken and investments made in this productive line. Today, for example, the workshops of Luis Fernández, leader of the Sociedad Mercantil Calzados Jona's, (footwear company) are far removed from the small shop where a few hundred pairs of shoes were produced just a couple years ago, barely enough to supply the local market.
Jona's has now installed modern technology that, in addition to humanizing working conditions and increasing productivity, allows for the manufacture of nearly 20,000 pairs of shoes a month, at the rate of a thousand pairs per day, including women's sandals, work boots, tennis shoes, slippers used by doctors and nurses on duty, as well as footwear and sandals for men, among other lines. To get an idea of how well-received the shoes Luis Fernández and his coworkers produce, suffice it to say that they generated earnings of over 15 million pesos, and that their tax contribution reached more than two million, reports Yoandy Riverón González, director of the small company. Another small private business that has contributed to development in Camajuaní is Jireh-Ebenezer S.R.L, which, according to Iván Cintra, one of its leaders, is producing a thousand pairs of flip-flops and an equal number of PVC rubber boots, in addition to some textile confections, products that are in high demand given their excellent quality.
Likewise, of special interest are the productivelinks establishedby the Triple AAA workshop, affiliated with the Cuban Cultural Assets Fund, headed by Domingo Pérez Rojas, which uses leather trimmings from the Caibarién tannery to produce gloves, shoes andbelts, among other items, including overalls, clothing for healthcare workers and uniforms for a variety fo sectors. Regarding the self-employed and workers at small and medium-sized private companies, Camajuaní Superintendent Higuera noted that their contribution, beyond what they pay in taxes and the community problems they solve, like supplying footwear that the population needs, lies in their commitment to society.
To illustrate this, he mentions the reparation these economic actors undertook, along with the Cultural Assets Fund, credit and service cooperatives, and several state enterprises, of 19 community family doctor and nurse offices, in addition to support for other institutions like nursing homes and group homes for children without family support. Also significant was the help they offered hospitals and isolation centers during the most difficult stage of the pandemic, Higuerae emphasized, affirming that Camajuaní is like a big family, committed to the development of the municipality. To consolidate what has been achieved, authorities are continuing to take steps to remove all obstacles still holding back the development of the township’s productive forces; among which he mentioned work begun recently, in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment, to facilitate the export capacity of entrepreneurs in Camajuana, in addition to promoting productive relations with other entities and sectors such as tourism, the Ministry of Domestic Commerce and the Mariel Special Development Zone.
IN CONTEXT
- The Constitution of the Republic, in its Article 168, established the municipality as the primary, fundamental political-administrative unit of national organization, and enjoys autonomy and legal personality for all legal purposes.
-The municipality has at its disposal its own revenue and allocations received from the national government, to advance the economic and social development of its territory and other state objectives, under the direction of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power.
-Article 169 of the Magna Carta establishes that the autonomy of the municipality includes, among other elements, the authority to determine the use of its resources, and this authority is exercised in accordance with the principles of solidarity, coordination and collaboration with the rest of the country’s territories, without detriment to the superior interests of the nation.
