标签： Cuba

On September 24, 2026, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, who also serves as First Secretary of the Party Central Committee, launched a new biweekly radio program titled *Criterio Compartido* (Shared Views) aired on Radio Rebelde, designed to create a direct, unfiltered channel of communication between the national leadership and the Cuban public. Framing the show as an innovative mechanism for grassroots engagement, Díaz-Canel opened the debut broadcast by emphasizing that every citizen’s input holds weight, confirming that all incoming calls and public comments—even those not selected for live broadcast—would be formally documented, categorized, and routed to relevant government bodies for official follow-up.

The premiere episode featured live calls from listeners across Cuba’s diverse regions, who raised a range of pressing daily concerns that reflect the challenges currently facing Cuban households. A caller from Cienfuegos pointed out the persistent implementation gap between national policy and local execution, calling for strengthened oversight to ensure central-level decisions deliver tangible results at the community level. A woman from Arroyo Naranjo shared a decade-long struggle to secure access to an unused plot of land for food production, noting that despite a positive official assessment from the Ministry of Agriculture, her request has not yet been approved. She added that she is part of a nationwide network of 101 women-led productive plots, and asked the president to help resolve her long-standing case. Another caller from Contramaestre raised urgent questions about sky-high inflation and rising living costs, arguing that current wages and pension benefits are no longer sufficient to cover basic household needs. An 88-year-old retiree echoed this concern, describing the daily difficulties of making ends meet on a fixed pension and urging that upcoming economic reforms prioritize support for vulnerable older adults. One listener also pressed the president on Cuba’s ongoing fuel shortages, asking if the government had secured new fuel supply agreements with allied nations.

In his candid response, Díaz-Canel acknowledged the acute severity of the current fuel crisis, confirming that despite exhaustive diplomatic and logistical efforts, no fuel shipments have reached Cuba from global markets in nine months. He placed full blame for this crisis on the extraterritorial energy blockade imposed by the United States, which was expanded under the Trump administration’s second executive order, cutting off Cuba’s access to international fuel markets. The president also outlined the wide-ranging ripple effects of the blockade across the Cuban economy: persistent electricity deficits, interrupted drinking water supplies, widespread flour shortages at bakeries, ongoing shortages of liquefied gas, and systemic disruptions to public transportation. Pushing back against narratives that attribute Cuba’s challenges solely to internal inefficiency or state failure, he described the US blockade as a criminal policy that has crippled the country’s ability to sustain normal economic activity.

A central core of Díaz-Canel’s message during the broadcast was the critical need to rebuild and expand domestic productive capacity. “The country must produce. It cannot keep hoping to solve everything through imports,” he stressed, adding that administrative price controls alone cannot resolve the country’s inflation crisis. Long-term price stability, he argued, can only be achieved by increasing domestic output, growing overall national wealth, and expanding the supply of goods available to the public. The president acknowledged that the Cuban public will judge the government’s ongoing economic and social transformations by their tangible impact on daily life, noting, “Until we see the results of these transformations on the dinner table, at the pharmacy, and in the hospital, there will be no satisfaction.” He summed up the core goals of the current reform process in three simple terms: more production, more jobs, and higher wages.

Addressing widespread public concern that the expansion of market mechanisms and the non-state sector signals a shift away from socialism toward capitalism, Díaz-Canel offered a clear, unambiguous rejection of that idea. “These transformations are neither a turn toward capitalism nor a process of capitalist restoration,” he stated. “They are the updating of our economic and social model within a socialist framework—one that must also be innovative.” The president emphasized firmly that there would be no return to capitalism in Cuba, noting that even with the inclusion of private enterprise, market activity, and foreign investment, ultimate authority remains with the Cuban people through their state and party institutions. “The market is a tool, not a master—as it is in capitalism,” he explained, adding that centralized planning, the leading role of the state and the Communist Party, and popular oversight will continue to govern how these tools are used.

Díaz-Canel also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ongoing grassroots dialogue throughout the reform process, acknowledging that implementation errors are inevitable and that the government will adjust course based on public feedback. “These transformations will truly work if we participate as a people, exercise oversight as a people, make demands as a people, and get involved as a people,” he said. He also emphasized that all reforms must prioritize a strong social dimension to prevent growing inequality, highlighting existing protection measures for retirees and vulnerable groups, including targeted subsidies, special support programs, and a dedicated social development fund.

On the topic of renewable energy transition, the president shared positive progress updates: Cuba has already installed 1,418 megawatts of renewable energy capacity across 144 photovoltaic solar parks, with total capacity expected to cross 1,500 megawatts by the end of 2026. Currently, 21.4% of Cuba’s total electricity generation comes from renewable sources, with solar systems installed in public health facilities including polyclinics, hospitals, maternity wards, and nursing homes. The country is also progressing on a project to decouple water pumping operations from the national electric grid, reducing strain on the system and improving resilience.

Closing out the debut broadcast, Díaz-Canel responded to recent interventionist statements from former US President Donald Trump, describing them as “utterly arrogant, high-handed, and interventionist” that reflect a “genocidal, criminal mindset and the contempt directed toward Cuba.” He accused the United States of deliberately spreading false narratives that Cuba is a failed state to shift blame for the humanitarian harm caused by the decades-long blockade. Closing with a forceful defense of Cuban sovereignty, he declared, “Cuba’s freedom arrived on January 1, 1959, with this Revolution; we are not going to lose that freedom—we are going to defend it.”

Havana, February 8, 1953 — Five days have passed since an unprovoked, brutal raid on the Havana art studios of Cuban sculptor José Manuel Fidalgo Rodríguez, and the sitting Batista administration has yet to issue any public explanation for the attack. What is more troubling: the sculptor himself has not been seen since the incident, leaving the Cuban public growing more alarmed by the hour over his fate. This scathing public denunciation, originally penned by Fidel Castro Ruz for publication in *Bohemia* magazine, lays bare the full details of the regime’s crackdown on dissident expression through art.

On Thursday, September 18, 2026, Cuba’s top leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez — who holds the dual positions of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic — embarked on a day-long inspection tour of high-priority public works, sports and sustainable infrastructure projects across Artemisa province and the capital city of Havana.

The first stop on the president’s itinerary was the Ariguanabo water supply facility, located in Bauta municipality of Artemisa. This site is a critical component of western Havana’s water distribution network, providing clean drinking water to more than 23 percent of the capital’s total population, covering the densely populated municipalities of La Lisa, Playa, and Marianao. The visit was part of ongoing oversight for the national Comprehensive Program to Guarantee Stable Water Access for Havana’s residents. During the inspection, Díaz-Canel received a full briefing on the facility’s current operations and upcoming upgrades from senior government officials, including Minister of Energy and Mines Vicente de la O Levy, National Institute of Hydraulic Resources President Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez, Havana Provincial Communist Party Committee First Secretary Liván Izquierdo Alonso, and Havana Governor Yanet Hernández Pérez.

Briefers updated the president on progress across the full water program, noting that new generator sets are already being deployed at key pumping stations across the system to improve reliability. Teams are also advancing site preparation for new photovoltaic solar farms and grid-scale energy storage facilities, designed to cut the system’s carbon footprint and reduce vulnerability to power disruptions. Discussions during the briefing also touched on water security efforts across the country, including ongoing work to stabilize supplies for communities in Santiago de Cuba province, covering the provincial capital and the municipalities of Guamá, San Luis, Contramaestre, and Songo-La Maya.

Following the inspection of the Ariguanabo facility, the president traveled back to Havana for his second stop: La Polar Stadium, Cuba’s first sports venue to install synthetic playing turf back in 2017. The stadium already leverages photovoltaic solar panels to power lighting for evening matches, fitting into Cuba’s broader push for renewable energy adoption across public infrastructure. During the visit, Díaz-Canel was briefed on plans for the venue’s third phase of modernization, which includes expanding spectator seating and upgrading on-site facilities with cutting-edge sports technology.

The president used the visit to emphasize the central role of grassroots sports in Cuban communities, calling for expanded access to neighborhood athletic activities and stronger collaboration between local schools and community groups to grow popular sports including soccer. He noted that competitive sports do more than develop athletic talent and boost personal self-esteem; they also serve as a unifying force that brings together players’ families and entire local neighborhoods.

The third and final stop on Thursday’s itinerary was a newly developed solar-powered charging station located at the intersection of 23rd and J Streets in Havana’s historic Vedado district. The facility boasts 18 individual charging points, purpose-built to power the fleet of electric tricycles that now handle solid waste collection for the surrounding Rampa neighborhood. After touring the station, Pedro Lizardo Garcés Escalona, president of the Rampa People’s Council, shared details of the new waste collection model with the Cuban presidency’s press team.

Lizardo explained that 15 solar-powered tricycles now serve the 15 electoral districts that make up the Rampa People’s Council. The project has introduced coordinated collection schedules: residents are asked to place their waste bags outside their buildings by 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily, with some areas adjusted to a 6 p.m. evening collection to improve efficiency. He reported that the community-focused initiative has already delivered dramatic, positive results for local residents, with more than 20 large illegal open dump sites completely eliminated across the district.

The initiative also includes restoration work for street corners that were damaged by heavy waste collection equipment used in previous collection models, improving the overall quality of public space in the neighborhood. Lizardo acknowledged that organizational and cultural challenges remain, noting that low civic compliance in some areas continues to slow progress toward the clean, vibrant neighborhood residents expect. Even so, the successful pilot in Rampa is already being scaled to other People’s Councils across the Plaza de la Revolución municipality.

Looking forward, the project aligns with Cuba’s long-term goals to transition toward a circular economy that prioritizes raw material recovery and waste reduction. The ultimate aim, Lizardo explained, is to fully revitalize sidewalks, community gardens, and public parks, creating a cleaner, more attractive environment for both local residents and visitors who pass through the iconic Vedado district.

Cuban President and First Party Secretary Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez has announced the upcoming launch of his new radio talk program, *Criterio Compartido* (Shared Views), set to air on Cuba’s iconic Radio Rebelde starting next week. The program, co-hosted by 2026 National Radio Award-winning journalist Bárbara Betancourt Abreu, draws inspiration from respected media figure Dr. Zeneida Costales, and is built around five core missions that center direct engagement between the island nation’s leader and its citizens.

Unlike traditional top-down political broadcasts, *Criterio Compartido* is designed as an open, inclusive space focused on participatory governance and transparency. Its core mandate is to candidly address the everyday challenges, pressing concerns, and collective aspirations of Cuban people, creating a structured forum for ongoing social dialogue that acts as a direct, unfiltered bridge between the presidency and the general public. Betancourt Abreu emphasized this core mission in her remarks, noting that the program will prioritize genuine listening: “Yes, he listens to me. He is the president who listens to what I think.”

A key defining feature of the new show is its commitment to centering ordinary Cubans as the main protagonists of the conversation. Everyday working people, often referred to as the unsung heroes who build the nation through their daily labor, will be given regular airtime to share their experiences and perspectives. The program will also serve as a formal platform for accountability, creating space for citizen oversight of government work and helping build public consensus around key policy issues, grounded in systematic public opinion research and direct public participation.

In his announcement shared September 17, 2026, Díaz-Canel reflected on his long personal and professional connection to radio broadcasting, stretching back to his childhood days participating in a children’s program in Santa Clara, to his earlier experience hosting versions of *Criterio Compartido* and another program called *Alta Tensión* in Holguín. “The best way to learn is to listen to the people,” the president stated, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to ongoing, open dialogue with the Cuban public.

The program will carry a deeply personal touch for the Cuban leader: its opening theme is the well-known track *Canto Arena* by iconic Cuban musician Silvio Rodríguez, performed by Díaz-Canel’s own children, Miguel and Jenny, who are members of the popular Cuban folk group De Cuba. Starting next week, the program will be available to all Cuban radio listeners, with organizers framing it as a promising new effort to foster open, transformative public conversation across the country.

On September 15, 2026, Cuban President and First Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez convened a high-profile meeting with agricultural and livestock sector representatives at Havana’s Convention Center. The gathering centered on advancing the implementation of the country’s sweeping 176-point national economic and social transformation program, with a sharp focus on unlocking growth in Cuba’s critical food production sector. Senior party and government officials, including Political Bureau member Roberto Morales Ojeda, Central Committee Agri-food Department head José Ramón Monteagudo Ruiz, and Deputy Prime Minister Jorge Luis Tapia Fonseca, joined the discussion to align on priorities for the sector.

During the meeting, stakeholders shared on-the-ground experiences, highlighting both early wins from the reforms and ongoing barriers to full implementation. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Telce Abdel González Morera outlined that 162 of the 176 national transformation measures directly impact Cuba’s agricultural and livestock industry. These changes include an overhaul of 20 existing legal frameworks, creating a cohesive regulatory structure that covers every segment of production: from land access and genetic development to plant and animal health, technology, input supply, and marketing. González Morera emphasized that the updated regulatory landscape now delivers far greater legal certainty for producers across all ownership models.

Multiple producers shared tangible success stories that demonstrate the impact of the reforms. Yoandris Beltrán Pérez, president of the Poultry Business Group, reported that organizational restructuring, which cut central headquarters staff by spinning off new micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to handle specialized services, has reversed financial fortunes. After projecting 2 billion pesos in losses in 2025, the group has already accumulated 56 million pesos in profit in 2026. Additional reforms have guided the group toward integrated national and regional value chains, a shift to renewable energy, improved poultry genetic stock, and expanded breeding stock marketing, with workers reporting higher motivation amid the changes.

Dianelis Saborido Pérez, General Director of the Emilio Córdova Agro-industrial Grain Enterprise in Villa Clara, highlighted how combining longstanding agricultural policy measures with the new transformation framework has driven rapid expansion. The enterprise has grown rice cultivation by more than 2,000 hectares, with 2026 planting hitting 11,068 hectares—exceeding the 10,880 hectare target. Notably, nearly 1,000 hectares are managed by a non-state MSME, which has achieved an average yield of 4.5 tons of wet paddy per hectare. Under the new model, non-state entities handle not just cultivation but also milling and drying operations, creating a mutually beneficial cooperative cycle that generates new jobs and supports local community and social initiatives.

Smaller and independent producers also detailed progress. Yoisel Pereda Milián, president of Artemisa-based MSME Don Pereda, outlined a new partnership with the Artemisa Swine Enterprise to supply weaned piglets for fattening, with operations leveraging artificial insemination and renewable energy to boost efficiency. Even producers initially skeptical of change have seen benefits: Fernando Ravelo Hernández, president of the Cuba-México Agricultural Production Cooperative in Artemisa, shared that he once opposed partnering with external land usufructuaries, but has since adopted a flexible approach that now sees the cooperative providing irrigation and machinery services to neighboring producers, lifting output for all parties.

While celebrating early progress, producers also flagged ongoing challenges. Abelardo Álvarez Silva, president of the Antero Regalado Credit and Services Cooperative in Güira de Melena, called for expanded training programs, noting that many smallholder farmers still do not fully understand the new rules and opportunities available to them. He also urged continued regular dialogue between national leadership and producers to identify bottlenecks and track implementation progress.

Opening the discussion, Díaz-Canel reaffirmed his confidence that the agricultural and livestock sector is positioned to deliver immediate, tangible results for the Cuban people, noting that the reforms have expanded opportunities for producers to improve performance. In closing, he acknowledged that while the meeting showcased promising success stories, implementation remains uneven across the country, with many projects still stalled. He noted that many producers achieved strong results even during periods of greater economic difficulty, thanks to adaptive management, integration of science and innovation, and worker-centered organization.

Díaz-Canel stressed that the core challenge now is scaling these proven successful models nationwide. He outlined the key pillars of the agricultural transformation: updated land use frameworks, formal recognition of cross-sector alliances between state, private, mixed, and individual entities, expanded cooperative autonomy including new rights to import inputs and export products, decentralization of the Agricultural Development Fund to local levels, the creation of a dedicated agricultural development bank, and new incentives for domestic and foreign investment—including investment from Cubans living abroad.

The President emphasized that the 176 transformations represent far more than a regulatory update: they are a fundamental shift in operating logic, moving producers from being mere executors of central plans to active managers of Cuba’s food production destiny. He called on sector stakeholders to embrace their role as owners of the reform process, noting that successful implementation will deliver a new era of agricultural development and long-term food sovereignty for Cuba. Echoing the core principle that “the country is built from the furrow, not from a desk,” Díaz-Canel underscored that the sector’s contribution to national progress is decisive. He closed by noting that while new laws have opened unprecedented opportunities for producers, success depends on on-the-ground action, urging the sector to meet the challenge and deliver increased food output that meets the needs of Cuban families, improves purchasing power, and lowers food prices across the country.