Aleida Guevara March, daughter of Che Guevara and spokesperson for the Castro regime, admitted that the wages received by state workers in Cuba, including herself, are insufficient. "The wages we receive as state workers are not enough to live on, and that is a serious problem in a socialist society," she stated in a recent interview with the Latin American leftist project "Voces en la Lucha."
"We need to solve that. I don't know if raising wages is the answer; I think the correct approach would be to control prices," she added, before harshly criticizing the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (Mipymes), which she has previously condemned.
Revealing the National Struggle
Revealing the national struggle—of which she claimed to be a part—Aleida Guevara explained that her salary is a little over four thousand pesos. She noted that a cheese costs 7,000 pesos and that until recently, a carton of eggs cost 3,000 pesos.
"I either eat eggs or do something else, but I can't do everything; it's not possible. Even though the basic basket is still subsidized by the state, it’s not enough to get through the end of the month," she emphasized.
When asked about the economic future of Cuba, Aleida Guevara also criticized economists, accusing them of failing with the elimination of the CUC. "The economists didn’t get it right," she asserted, adding that now instead of two currencies, there are four: the Cuban peso, the MLC, the dollar, and the euro.
Aleida repeatedly described the economic situation in Cuba as "critical" and thanked Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, China, and Vietnam for their significant support to the island in recent years.
"Undeniably, we need to produce. Seventy-seven percent of Cubans live in cities. The countryside needs more work, more people. We need to industrialize our agriculture and provide our farmers with a better quality of life so they can live better and better exploit our lands," she affirmed.
Aleida Guevara’s War on Mipymes
Regarding the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (Mipymes), she pointed out that they enjoy privileges that the state does not because they are not as pressured by the 'blockade' and can make imports on which they then impose black market exchange rates.
Guevara March criticized that the Mipymes are not fulfilling their initial mission of production and believes they are only making social inequalities more apparent.
In May, Aleida Guevara already lashed out at the Mipymes, calling for greater surveillance by the CDR (Committees for the Defense of the Revolution), considering them a potential threat to national security.
"Mipymes pose risks for security because they can facilitate the entry of drugs or other illicit goods into the country: we need to intensify controls by the CDR over what happens in Cuba," she asserted in statements to the portal Ilfattoquotidiano.
At that time, the prominent 63-year-old Castro supporter—who is a pediatrician by profession—argued that while the initial purpose of the Mipymes was correct, those activities are now creating problems and she labeled them "capitalist anarchy" that has increased inequalities, making many consumer goods inaccessible to the average Cuban, who lives on a very low salary, especially in the public sector.
In this regard, she urged the government to act immediately in the face of the growing inflation affecting the people amidst the economic crisis. "It's a serious problem that the state must address and solve now," she noted then, considering that the path was first to find mechanisms to regulate prices and then to raise wages; a wage increase that she seems to have abandoned in light of her most recent statements.
Understanding the Economic Crisis in Cuba
The interview with Aleida Guevara sheds light on the pressing economic challenges in Cuba. Below are some frequently asked questions and answers that provide further insight into the situation.
Why does Aleida Guevara believe state workers' wages are insufficient?
Aleida Guevara argues that the wages are not enough to cover the basic cost of living, highlighting the high prices of essential goods like cheese and eggs.
What solutions does Aleida Guevara propose for the economic crisis?
She suggests controlling prices rather than raising wages and calls for increased production, especially in agriculture, to improve the quality of life for farmers.
Why does Aleida Guevara criticize the Mipymes?
Guevara criticizes Mipymes for failing to fulfill their intended role of production, arguing that they exacerbate social inequalities and pose security risks.