标签： Cuba

In a recent broadcast on the Razones de Cuba (Reasons of Cuba) program, the Cuban government leveled serious allegations against what it described as a coordinated scheme of currency trafficking and tax evasion. The operation, allegedly orchestrated by Cuban-born individuals based in the United States and other countries, is said to be funded by US taxpayer money. The accusations specifically targeted El Toque, a digital media outlet that claims independence and provides economic, legal, and public service information to Cuban communities. The program highlighted the allocation of funds to Media Plux Experience and Mas Voces Foundations, companies registered under the name of El Toque’s director, Jose Jasan Nieves. These funds are reportedly used to promote non-state economic actors and facilitate illegal currency trafficking in Cuba. The broadcast also presented evidence of actions taken in 2024 by Xavier Billingsley, Deputy Chief of Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Havana, and implicated several individuals in operations aimed at exacerbating Cuba’s inflationary crisis. Cuban officials asserted that these allegations corroborate Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez’s October 2023 statement, which detailed Cuba’s investigation into the national inflationary phenomenon and its ties to a broader US-led economic warfare campaign. Razones de Cuba, a web platform established 15 years ago, continues to challenge narratives propagated by hegemonic media, positioning itself as a counterpoint to mainstream discourse.

The 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, held in the historic city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, witnessed the election of three new members to the Governing Council of the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC). Among the elected representatives were Cuba’s Maria Victoria Villavicencio, Uruguay’s Jose Maria Passarini, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Janeil Henry-Rose. These individuals will serve on the Council from 2025 to 2029, joining specialists from Brazil, Grenada, and Venezuela to form a regionally balanced team dedicated to academic collaboration and educational excellence. Cuba’s re-election to the Council underscores its enduring commitment to higher education, regional integration, and international cooperation. IESALC, the sole UNESCO Category I institute focused on higher education, plays a pivotal role in advancing inclusive, accessible, and quality education in Latin America and the Caribbean, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Cuba’s leadership in regional higher education is further highlighted by its early ratification of the Global Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications and its participation in the Regional Convention for Latin America and the Caribbean. This election reaffirms Cuba’s influential role in fostering South-South cooperation and sustainable development in the region.

In a significant diplomatic gathering, Ambassador Gonzalez emphasized ASEAN’s unwavering support for Cuba’s annual resolution at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which calls for the termination of the United States’ economic, financial, and commercial blockade. The ambassador’s remarks were delivered during a meeting with ASEAN member country representatives, attended by Deputy Secretary-General Nararya Soepaptro, at Jakarta’s Ciputra Hotel. This event coincided with the 5th anniversary of Cuba’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). Gonzalez highlighted that November 10 marked a pivotal moment in Cuba’s diplomatic history, symbolizing a new era of relations with ASEAN based on mutual respect, solidarity, and peaceful cooperation. She stressed that the TAC signing was not merely symbolic but a robust affirmation of principles, making Cuba the first Caribbean nation and the fifth in Latin America to join the treaty. This move, she noted, reinforced Cuba’s dedication to multilateralism, non-intervention, and conflict resolution. Gonzalez also pointed out that the treaty’s signing during the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated Cuba’s commitment to addressing shared global challenges such as public health, climate change, and natural disasters.

In a decisive move to address economic challenges, the Cuban Party leadership has announced a nationwide study and analysis of the Government Program aimed at correcting distortions and revitalizing the economy. The initiative, spanning from November 15 to December 30, will engage grassroots organizations, including the UJC, CTC, ANAP, and FEU, as well as intermediate leadership structures of the FMC and CDR. Municipal Assemblies of People’s Power and management councils at national, provincial, and municipal levels will also participate. A preparatory seminar was conducted via videoconference, excluding provinces impacted by Hurricane Melissa. This effort underscores the Party’s commitment to participatory democracy, encouraging collective input to refine the Program and identify actionable strategies for its implementation. The process aligns with the broader goal of preparing for the 9th Party Congress, ensuring all leadership bodies and citizens are equipped to contribute to reversing the nation’s economic difficulties. As Army General Raúl Castro Ruz affirmed, ‘We will overcome these challenges, as we have always done, by fighting!’ The Program is accessible on the Presidency’s website: www.presidencia.gob.cu.

Since its implementation in May of last year, a comprehensive anti-corruption mechanism has been actively addressing numerous complaints across various sectors. Out of the cases reviewed, 242 (approximately 67.6 percent) are currently under investigation, 63 have been dismissed, 18 have been archived, four have been resolved through discretionary prosecution, one has an active arrest warrant, and another is in the sentencing phase. The complaints span multiple areas, including the administrative sector (131), health (59), infrastructure (45), security (43), labor (16), and education and social development (14). In response to allegations of a cover-up attempt by a Member of Parliament and inquiries from the local press, President Bernardo Arevalo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that no case goes unaddressed or unpunished. He emphasized that tackling corruption is a collective responsibility, requiring consistent and coordinated efforts from all government agencies. ‘We are confronting a deeply entrenched issue that has persisted for over two decades due to power abuses. It is our duty to dismantle this corrupt structure that has severely harmed our institutions,’ stated the president. Arevalo further explained that each complaint undergoes meticulous scrutiny and is translated into actionable measures to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent future irregularities.

The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) has resubmitted a crucial bill concerning subnational elections to the Plurinational Legislative Assembly (ALP), emphasizing the urgency of its approval. TSE member Gustavo Avila highlighted the tight timeline, noting that the electoral process must be completed by the first or second Sunday of March 2026. ‘We are resubmitting the bill and urging the new authorities to expedite its approval, as elections must be called before November 19,’ Avila stated during a press conference.