Amid the ongoing economic crisis plaguing the nation, the Cuban government has announced restrictions on recreational offerings for this summer, citing the defense of culture as a key principle for the season. However, the announcement conspicuously ignored the persistent power outages affecting the populace.
In the state-run program Mesa Redonda, Raúl Fornés Valenciano, the first vice president of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER), acknowledged that the summer season will unfold under complex economic conditions, which "generate certain restrictions on offerings, but a varied schedule of activities is planned."
In this initial discussion on the topic, Fornés stated that the period will focus on "defending national identity and strengthening the customs and traditions of each territory." He added that "special attention will be given to vulnerable neighborhoods, the Plan Turquino areas, coastal communities, and others," according to the pro-government site Cubadebate.
Lizette Martínez Luzardo, the Vice Minister of Culture, outlined the activities planned by the cultural sector for the summer, such as the International Biennial of Political Humor, held in Havana until June 28. She mentioned that "more than 2,200 cultural institutions will be open this summer," but failed to disclose the high prices of many activities, which negatively impact citizens given the country's low wages.
Meanwhile, María del Pilar Macías Rutes, the General Director of Operations and Quality at the Ministry of Tourism, claimed that "the crown jewel of the season is camping," even though most resources are allocated to international tourism. The experiences and perceptions of many Cubans regarding the offerings from the Group of Popular Camping Enterprises were evident in comments left by numerous users on Facebook in 2023.
All these statements seem hollow when recalling the words of the head of state, Miguel Díaz-Canel: there are no guarantees that the summer months will pass without disruptions in electrical service. Díaz-Canel admitted this in his YouTube segment, where he discussed the state of electricity generation and the short, medium, and long-term projections.
Díaz-Canel reiterated what the Electric Union (UNE) announced weeks ago, that power cuts would increase due to heightened maintenance activities at thermal power plants.
Understanding Cuba's Summer Restrictions and Power Outages
To provide further insight into the current situation in Cuba regarding summer activities and the ongoing power outages, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Why has the Cuban government limited summer recreational offerings?
The Cuban government has cited the ongoing economic crisis as the primary reason for limiting recreational offerings this summer, with a focus on defending national culture and identity.
What activities are planned for the summer despite the restrictions?
The summer will feature various activities, including the International Biennial of Political Humor in Havana and offerings from over 2,200 cultural institutions, although many of these come with high costs.
Will there be power outages during the summer?
Yes, President Miguel Díaz-Canel has admitted that there are no guarantees against power outages in the summer, as maintenance activities at thermal power plants are expected to increase.