"Cuba produces about one-third of its own oil needs and imports the rest mostly from Venezuela and Mexico. After the US attack on Venezuela and the tariff threat, both countries completely halted oil exports to Cuba. Since early February, the length of daily power outages has doubled, lasting about 18 hours a day."
"I landed in eastern Cuba last month, a day after President Diaz-Canel announced a series of petroleum austerity measures. The measures ending gasoline and diesel sales to the public were quickly followed by the cancellation of airline routes to Cuba, an inflationary surge caused by higher fuel prices and a weakening Cuban peso."
"Cuba during the Obama administration felt like a very different place than it does at this moment, where desperation is setting in as I saw first-hand on my latest trip."
President Trump issued an executive order on January 29 declaring a national emergency against Cuba's government and threatening tariffs on ships carrying petroleum to the island. Cuba produces only one-third of its oil domestically and relies on imports from Venezuela and Mexico. Following US actions against Venezuela and tariff threats, both countries halted oil exports to Cuba. Since early February, daily power outages have doubled to approximately 18 hours. The Cuban government implemented petroleum austerity measures including halting gasoline and diesel sales to the public, canceling airline routes, and cutting school hours. These policies have triggered inflation, currency weakening, and widespread economic hardship affecting ordinary citizens. The situation contrasts sharply with the Obama administration period from 2014-2016, when normalized relations brought economic growth, tourism, and hope.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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