Miami, United States. – Cuban television announced this Thursday The beginning of 1,401 “Barriodebates anti -imperialists”, meetings that will be organized by the Revolution Defense Committees (CDR) that they will seek to “inform” the Cubans about the impact of the US embargo and the policies of the Trump administration, as well as promote what they call “the national duty.”
During The report transmitted in the magazine Good morningAnelis Barbán Rodríguez, a member of the National Secretariat of the CDR, justified the initiative as an answer to what he described as “distilled poison by misinformation pathways.” “It is really a way that our organization uses to maintain the bond, feedback and bring information to the yields, since so much poison is distilled by other malicious misinformation pathways,” said Barbán.
The meetings will have “specialized advisors” that will explain the effects of US sanctions and economic difficulties in Cuba. According to Barbán, these sessions will allow the participants to “request explanations and raise doubts”, although they are controlled spaces that seek to promote the official narrative.
The official report insisted that the embargo is the main responsible for the shortage of food, medicines and fuel on the island, and that its purpose is to “limit the life of the whole society.” However, the promises of dialogue and the call for “hope” contrast with the reality that many Cubans face, who suffer from long blackouts and serious deficiencies.
In this context, critical voices such as that of the researcher and independent journalist José Raúl Gallego, have hardly questioned these meetings. On Facebook, Gallego express: “It is too much mockery and indolence towards mothers and fathers who are seeing their children without food, without sleep, sick. People have a limit. ”
Just this Thursday, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) of Cuba advertisement the suspension of non -essential teaching and labor activities on February 14 and 15 due to The energy crisis facing the country.
This measure aims to reduce electricity consumption and mitigate the effects on the population. Only basic services will be kept in operation, and affected workers will receive salary protection in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Code, according to official means.
The energy crisis in Cuba has aggravated in recent weeks due to lack of fuel and deterioration of the thermoelectric system. Several plants have come out of service or work with instability, which has increased the blackouts in different provinces. The shortage of fuels, essential for electricity generation, has further hindered the situation.
Given this panorama, the population has expressed its discontent in social networks and in some cases with peaceful protests in neighborhoods affected by the prolonged blackouts. Although the demonstrations are repressed, citizens have made nocturnal “cacerolazos” and Get out of the streets on several occasions.
Also this Thursday, Cubanet He had access to a message posted by Ángel Aguilera Castillo, delegate of the Cathedral Popular Council, of Havana Vieja, in the WhatsApp community group “for my neighborhood.” The official warned: “We have circulated a note issued by the electricity union, about the current situation we have today with the national electrical system. That causes that there is a weakening of the system, and at the moment there are many circuits that are disconnected. ”
Aguilera Castillo urged citizens to take preventive measures, suggesting that they have 100% portable loaders to recharge mobiles; as well as having rechargeable lamps. ” In addition, he recommended “store water for reservations” and “cook everything that can be spoiled in a short time without refrigeration.”
