An American basic automotive makes its approach down a road in Havana, Cuba, Nov. 11, 2023.

Ramon Espinosa/AP

cover caption

toggle caption

Ramon Espinosa/AP

An American basic automotive makes its approach down a road in Havana, Cuba, Nov. 11, 2023.

Ramon Espinosa/AP

The Cuban authorities stated Friday it should both enhance costs for gas and electrical energy, or cut back rations for primary provides.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated such tough measures have been wanted for tough occasions, after the minister of the economic system stated Cuba’s economic system contracted between 1% and a pair of% this 12 months, and inflation ran at about 30%. There have been issues within the tourism trade — Cuba’s principal supply of earnings — and in farm manufacturing.

“This is a question of complicated measures, as complicated as are these times,” Díaz-Canel stated. “I emphatically deny that this is neo-liberal plan against the people, nor a crusade against small businesses, nor an elimination of the basic market basket” that Cubans can get with authorities coupons.

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz stated that due to financial issues, the federal government should increase costs for gasoline, electrical energy and fuel, or cut back the quantity of meals and different fundamentals contained in authorities ration books.

The remarks got here in appearances on the closing classes of Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power, successfully Cuba’s congress.

The financial disaster in Cuba has already pushed a whole lot of hundreds of individuals to depart in a bid to succeed in the United States. Long strains at gasoline stations had gotten shorter just lately, however the information of potential worth will increase may immediate a rush to replenish.

“Since they spoke (in congress), I haven’t been able to get gas yet,” Alberto Corujo, a 54-year-old driver, stated as he waited in an extended line at a fuel station in Havana.

Mercy García, a secretary at a state-owned enterprise, stated occasions have been certainly powerful.

“The situation is very hard for people of all social levels, because wages don’t keep up and prices have gone through the roof,” stated García.

Visits by vacationers are nonetheless solely at 64% of the extent in 2019, earlier than the coronavirus pandemic. Sugar manufacturing was down, and the federal government needed to import meals.