By Alejandra Garcia on March 10, 2024 from Havana
photo: Bill Hackwell
The ousted Cuban Economy Minister, Alejandro Gil Fernandez, is under investigation by the island’s Interior Ministry for making serious mistakes in his previous position. In a statement issued on Friday, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said that, from now on, authorities will initiate corresponding actions for total clarification of these behaviors. The president assured that there would be zero tolerance for corruption on the island.
Gil had led the economic sector since 2019, the year in which economic conditions, which had already deteriorated by the impact of the US blockade, would be aggravated by the health crisis that generated COVID-19 in Cuba and the world. He was the image of decisions that meant a difficult change for the people – regardless of whether they were necessary or inevitable – such as the process of monetary unification, the increase in the value of fuel, and other basic services, in an effort to contain inflation.
“Due to a rigorous investigation, it was determined that former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Alejandro Gil Fernandez, made serious mistakes in the performance of his duties,” a journalist said on Thursday while reading a message from President Miguel Diaz-Canel during a news report on Cuban state television.
Diaz-Canel’s message does not detail what Gil’s mistakes have been, but he is forceful in clarifying that his government has never allowed corruption. “Under this principle, legality, permanent confrontation, transparency, and zero tolerance will be maintained for these kinds of actions that affect our people,” the president warned.
Gil acknowledged the serious accusations and decided to resign as a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and as a deputy to the National Assembly of People’s Power. The former minister was removed from his government post in early February, during a reorganization of several ministries.
Still, the news shocked many people, who are not used to seeing senior government officials face corruption allegations. And the news is bitter. The last five years have been painfully marked in the popular imaginary. It has been months and years of long lines of people outside low-supplied establishments, absence of medicines in the national network of pharmacies, scheduled blackouts, or long lines of cars waiting their turn at the gas stations.
This news, besides unexpected, is also painful. It is known that the economic crisis that Cuba is experiencing is induced by the hostile policy of the White House against Cuba. That reality cannot be denied. The growing impact of the US economic blockade, whose negative consequences over more than 60 years, and until February 2023, has caused $159 084 million in losses, is a fundamental obstacle to our development. But this news shows that the blockade is not the only obstacle that halts the evolution of our economy.
Holding a political position implies responsibility, hours of sacrifice, and little sleep. But it implies, above all, empathy. Empathy with a people that suffers first-hand from the consequences of a foreign power’s hatred for an outdated war for which it is not responsible. They must feel empathy for all Cubans, the humble people who support their leaders because they trust that the government will never leave them behind.
Source: Resumen Latinoamericano – English