Although she did not take part in the historic protests that rocked the entire island of Cuba on Sunday, Caridad Montes, 50, says she understands why they took place.
But the embargo is not solely to blame for Cuba’s woes. One of the most important factors that has led to years of economic stagnation is the country’s Soviet-style, centrally planned economy and its hesitation to adopt market-oriented reforms that other remaining communist countries have taken. The U.S. embargo does have a negative impact on the economy, restricting imports and exports and making it riskier for investors to put money into Cuba, Vidal said.
Riot police walk the streets after a demonstration against the government of President Miguel Díaz-Canel in Arroyo Naranjo Municipality in Havana on Monday.Faced with severe shortages of food and medicine, Díaz-Canel recently picked up the pace of reforms, unifying the country’s dual currency and legalizing the status of private businesses that began operating decades ago, promising more movement in that direction.
The island is grappling with a spike in Covid-19 case numbers. It registered over 6,000 new cases Monday, and the province of Matanzas, where the beach resort of Varadero is located, is at the center. Cuba’s strict measures during the pandemic were praised for having greatly limited the number of Covid-19 infections last year. But the success came at the expense of the economy. Cuba shut its borders for eight months with absolutely no tourism. Cuban Americans desperately tried to send medicine to relatives through agencies, but it took months to arrive, adding to the frustration.
NBCLatino Simple! Incompetent leadership and Communism is Kaput.
NBCLatino The Cuban realized that what really impoverished them was the socialist dictatorial government. That is why they waved American flags as a sign of freedom.
NBCLatino Correct it is the price countries like ours pay for not having free and fair elections. The GOP, Supreme Court, and their followers must be stopped from taking voting rights from the people. WE THE PEOPLE own the country, not the GOP and their demagogue.
NBCLatino It’s the result of having one Party rule with the Party getting anything it wants! It could happen here with far left or far right!
NBCLatino Because of the communist dictatorship admired by the Democrat party
NBCLatino ITS BECAUSE OF COMMUNISM MORONS! Something being pushed HERE AND NOW in AMERICA!