US sanctions have caused hardships on Cubans
Published:Saturday | July 17, 2021 | 12:08 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
There have been demonstrations in Cuba over the past weekend, although media houses are describing them as major, they in no way compare with mass demonstrations in Latin America (Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti) or even Portland and Ferguson in the United States. There is, however, no mention about the protesters who came out in defence of the revolution, including the Cuban president.
There is no doubt that the situation in Cuba is bad. There are shortages of medicines, food and other basic necessities and people have to wait in long lines to get these goods. To compound all this is the COVID-19 pandemic. There is also a grave shortage of syringes for vaccinations. But by any comparison, Cuba is doing better than most countries in stemming the COVID-19 spread, despite the shortages.
New York City has a population of just over eight million, where there have been over 50,000 deaths. Cuba, with a population of just over 11 million, had just over 1,700 deaths.
The shortages are being used by proponents of regime change to accuse the Cuban government of failing its citizens. Even the Biden administration called on Cuba’s authorities to “hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves”. Any criticism of Cuba that does not include a thorough analysis of the internationally condemned US blockade will miss the most important factor as to why Cubans are currently undergoing such hardships.
In fact, in 1960 (the blockade has been in effect since 1961) the deputy assistant secretary of state for Inter-American affairs made it clear when he said, “….denying money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of the government”.
Many more sanctions have been added today, including closing Western Union in Cuba and stopping remittances to Cuba. Also those affecting tourism and the energy sector. Naturally, these policies will have a disastrous impact on any economy. Just recently the entire Cuban football team competing in the Concacaf Gold Cup competition to be played in the USA was refused visas by the Biden administration.
Even the lifting of the tough measures that Trump put in place would save Cuban lives. If Biden does not, he may find himself dealing with a Cuban migration crisis.
Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter