Cuba on the boil

Tourism, one of the most important sectors, has been devastated by the restrictions on travel during the Covid pandemic.

Cubans are protesting against food shortages, rising cases of Covid-19 and severe electricity blackouts in the country, which they attribute to the government’s failure to cope with the situation. Due to the pandemic, tourism, which was one of the major sources of income for tradesmen and taxi drivers–one of the only sectors where private activity had been traditionally allowed – has also suffered. Read in detail reasons behind the protests in the Communist State….

Thousands of people in Cuba took to the streets last week against the country’s communist government, in what are believed to be the biggest demonstrations seen in over three decades. Scores of protestors have been arrested by the authorities, fuelled by a collapsing economy and the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mobile internet launched in Cuba in 2018, gave people access to overwhelmingly negative news articles funded by US and altering the balance of power between citizens and the state

Economic Crisis

Cuba has been an authoritarian Communist State for more than six decades. It has a population of about 11 million people and a GDP of $100 billion. Its per capita GDP is roughly $8,000. Cuba’s economy is struggling. Tourism, one of the most important sectors, has been devastated by the restrictions on travel during the Covid pandemic.

The country has suffered due to economic sanctions imposed by the administration of former US president Donald Trump. In 2020, the country’s economy shrunk by 11 per cent — leading to shortages of some basic goods including rice.

Covid-19 impact

A sudden spike in new Covi-19 cases in recent weeks shortage of medicines and imminent collapse of healthcare system has also angered citizens. The country has not imported Covid vaccines, but its authorities have been administering experimental vaccines. About 1.5 million of the country’s 11.2 million population has been fully vaccinated so far.

Government’s response

President Miguel Diaz-Canel blamed the protest on the United States, saying protesters have been provoked by US-orchestrated social media campaigns. The President warned of action and called upon its supporters to confront external provocations. The government has also taken some steps to mitigate the economic distress, whose effects are yet to felt on the ground.

Reforms proposed

Earlier, the government has also announced it will allow private businesses to operate in most sectors of the national economy. Once the long-overdue reforms, which were first announced in August 2020, are implemented, small businesses are expected to expand, allowing private players to move beyond tourism and small farms.

Largest island country in Caribbean sea

Cuba is located in the Caribbean Sea, between the Gulf of Mexico and the North Atlantic Ocean.
Area: 42,803 square miles (110,860 sq km)
Total Coastline: 2,320 miles (3,735 km)
Capital City: Havana
Population: 1,10,31,433 (July 2015 est.)
Official Language: Spanish

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