Cuban State Media Blames U.S. for Power Outages, Rising Prices, and Transport Crisis

In a recent piece titled "Who Bears the Brunt of an Economic War?" the Cuban state-run newspaper Girón assigns blame to U.S. economic sanctions for the ongoing power outages, rising prices, and transportation crisis plaguing Cuba. According to the publication, the American embargo has severely restricted Cuba's ability to procure crucial technical and financial resources necessary for maintaining and repairing key infrastructures, such as thermoelectric plants and diesel generators.

The article highlights how the shutdown of significant units in thermoelectric plants, particularly the Lidio Ramón Pérez (Felton) plant in Holguín, has worsened the energy situation, leading to prolonged blackouts impacting both residential and industrial sectors. Additionally, the shortage of spare parts and equipment, attributed to the embargo, is said to hinder proper maintenance of the electrical infrastructure, contributing to ongoing power cuts.

Regarding the escalating prices, the state media argues that U.S. economic restrictions have caused a scarcity of basic goods, resulting in price hikes and diminishing the purchasing power of the Cuban population. This situation is evident in the black market, where essential product prices soar, and in state-run stores, where prices sometimes exceed those of private vendors.

The transportation crisis is also laid at the feet of U.S. sanctions, as they reportedly restrict Cuba's ability to obtain fuel and spare parts required for maintaining vehicles and public transportation systems. This shortage has led to a decline in the availability and quality of transportation services, impacting citizens' mobility and the broader economy.

However, various analysts and independent media question this official narrative, pointing out that Cuba's current crisis stems from multiple factors, including governmental inefficiency and a lack of internal economic reforms. For instance, CiberCuba reports that although the Cuban government blames the U.S. for the mass exodus of citizens, the reality is that many Cubans emigrate due to internal crises marked by inflation, repression, and lack of freedoms.

Furthermore, it has been noted that the Cuban government tends to point fingers at external factors for internal problems, diverting attention from its own management. For example, during a protest in Santiago de Cuba last March, a state representative focused on alleged funding from the U.S. Similarly, the state-run newspaper Granma, a mouthpiece for the Cuban regime, once again blamed the U.S. government for the lack of clarity regarding the situation of Cuban doctors kidnapped in Somalia. While this perspective prevails, the lack of transparency and effective management by Cuban authorities in this case is overlooked. Since the doctors' abduction, the regime's response has been ineffective and marked by misinformation.