Translating Cuba – Page 12 – English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island

Students at the University of Havana Ask Authorities To Stop the ‘Harassment’

A group called University Reform Action is formed, supportive of dialogue but also of democratizing the University Student Federation (FEU)

Image of students on the steps of the University of Havana, this Monday. / X/@CNN_Oppmann

14ymedio, Madrid, 12 March 2026 — University students have not buried the hatchet as it seemed they might have done on Tuesday, when the students who organized a sit-in the day before on the famous staircase of the University of Havana to make their complaints public agreed to continue meeting behind closed doors with the authorities. Far from that, they have now organized themselves under the name University Reform Action and have presented themselves as a collective in a statement outlining their upcoming plan of action.

The text contains a strong criticism of what happened last Monday, when the police cut off access to the staircase, preventing others from joining the initial group. That day, “one of them was physically subdued, identifications belonging to a group of students inside the university were withheld and taken away, and access to the area was blocked. We consider these actions absurd, unnecessary, and a flagrant violation of the right to peaceful demonstration established in Article 56 of the Constitution,” the manifesto states, calling for an end to any attempt at “deterrence, harassment, co-optation, disqualification, and sabotage.”

University Reform Action also expresses its discomfort with the fact that the meeting scheduled for the following day in Victor Hugo Park was “redirected to a university classroom, which violated the open spirit of this process.” From the very first lines of the statement, the students insist that their willingness to engage in dialogue should not be seen as “a sign of conformity or weakness,” and they warn that if their reform demands are not heard through dialogue they will again call for “alternative and forceful forms” of action. “We reject any act of violence and seek to ensure that none of our members take part in one. We demand the same treatment toward us.”

The collective also stresses from the outset that it represents the interests of students and not those of national or foreign political organizations. “We therefore do not accept the hijacking of our voice and opinion continue reading

by any institution or individual,” they warn.

The rest of the document focuses on the reforms they consider essential after gathering ideas in the meetings that have taken place. The first is the democratization of the University Student Federation (FEU), with candidates to be elected under a new electoral model that allows explanatory campaigning. “The possibility of being elected to a position within the organization should not be tied to academic results or to the candidates’ overall participation in extracurricular activities, but rather to their ability to represent the student body,” they argue. There should also be mechanisms for their removal and replacement if it is felt they are not fulfilling their duties.

“Once these reforms have been established and consulted on, immediate elections must be held under the new conditions to cleanse the organization of those leaders who currently make it up and who have shown themselves not to be reliable in defending the rights of their voters and those they represent,” they add bluntly.

The students also focus on two more practical issues. One is the need for a real solution to the situation created when Etecsa drastically raised its internet tariffs in May 2025. The dialogue that followed the student protests ended up papering over the crisis, since the well-known data package offered to students was already insufficient at the time and is even more so now “given the harsh conditions the country is facing.”

Another issue is the semi-remote format of classes, a measure adopted as part of a fuel-saving plan. The students believe a census should be carried out with “precise data on the availability of technological resources (devices and connectivity), stable access to electricity in students’ homes, and the geographic distance many students—especially those from other provinces—must travel to reach university campuses.” This is essential in order to determine whether conditions exist to maintain the current situation or whether the academic term should be suspended.

The statement also shows the collective’s goodwill toward the authorities by thanking the Minister of Higher Education, Walter Baluja García, for his willingness to listen and address their concerns. They will meet with him next Monday to present demands gathered nationwide, and they are asking other students to contribute. “Everyone’s opinion matters in pushing forward the changes we need so badly,” they conclude.

Translated by GH

______________________

COLLABORATE WITH OUR WORK: The 14ymedio team is committed to practicing serious journalism that reflects Cuba’s reality in all its depth. Thank you for joining us on this long journey. We invite you to continue supporting us by becoming a member of 14ymedio now. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.

Cubans Living Abroad Will Be Allowed to Own Private Businesses on the Island, the Herald Reports

According to the newspaper, the Government will announce it this Monday during a television appearance by Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva.

Empresarios manifiestan interrogantes respecto de las garantías que La Habana estaría dispuesta a ofrecer / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana. March 15, 2026 – “Perhaps the time has come,” says Joe García, former Democratic congressman for Miami and former executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation, quoted by El Nuevo Herald. García is referring to an economic reform that could open the door to one of the most significant changes on the Island in decades: allowing Cubans living abroad, including Cuban Americans, to invest in and own private businesses in the country.

The announcement, according to the media, would come this Monday, the same day a public appearance is expected by Oscar Pérez-Oliva, the great-nephew of Raúl and Fidel Castro and vice prime minister and minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, as previously announced by Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Sources cited by the newspaper say that Cuban authorities have prepared this package of reforms, which would also allow investment capital in the private sector, as a way to attract liquidity, technologies, and international experience that would benefit the Island. Currently, many private businesses in Cuba receive informal financing from relatives abroad, especially from the United States, something the reform would explicitly legalize.

These measures come amid pressure from the Trump administration, including the oil blockade following the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela last January, and at a time when talks between the two countries are taking place, as acknowledged by Díaz-Canel last Friday. continue reading

The president said that a set of measures has been adopted aimed at easing current bureaucratic barriers

During an appearance before state media and international outlets friendly to the Government, when asked about Cuban Americans who allegedly want to invest in the country, the president said that a set of measures has been adopted aimed at easing current bureaucratic barriers. The decisions will be announced Monday in an appearance by Pérez-Oliva on a television program that could be, he said without full certainty, the Mesa Redonda [Round Table] program.

“The return of the Cuban diaspora is imminent,” says a source familiar with the issue interviewed by the Herald, who also raises doubts about how quickly all the measures agreed upon behind closed doors will be implemented. Laws and regulations approved by the Cuban Government have sometimes taken months or even years to be fully developed.

Some entrepreneurs in Miami interviewed by the newspaper expressed questions about the guarantees Havana would be willing to offer to provide legal certainty to investors. Such guarantees would require modifications to Cuban legislation and, ultimately, to the Constitution itself. Without those guarantees, they expect the country to receive few large-scale investments.

On this matter, Sebastián Arcos, who directs the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University, said in an interview with Local 10 News that “obviously, they are more interested in making money than in the freedom of the Cuban people.”

“Obviously, they are more interested in making money than in the freedom of the Cuban people”

The academic, born in Havana and experienced in monitoring human rights violations on the Island, also noted that “there cannot be an economic recovery unless there is first a political reform,” warning that doing business in Cuba “would be too risky” for now.

Carlos Giménez, a U.S. congressman of Cuban origin, also emphasized the importance of a profound change in the country. Through X, he stated that “there will be no investment from the United States unless a major political change takes place on the Island.” He also made it clear that “the regime needs us; the United States does not need them.”

Despite these warnings, some entrepreneurs say they are ready for the new opportunities that could open up in the country. That is the case for a group in Miami’s Little Havana.

“Hopefully now that things are changing very quickly,” says Fidel Asís López, owner of The Havana Collection on Calle Ocho, which specializes in guayabera shirts. When asked whether he would invest in Cuba, Asís López responded: “In a free Cuba, 100% for sure.”

Translated by Regina Anavy

______________________

The Discovery of a Newborn’s Body in a Garbage Dump Shocks Residents of Guanabacoa

The newborn was found inside a box, on Martí Street, between Máximo Gómez and Béquer.

One of the many garbage dumps that fill the streets of Guanabacoa, in Havana / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, March 15, 2026 – Residents of the Havana municipality of Guanabacoa found the body of a newborn baby in a garbage dump on Friday. According to residents of the area who spoke with 14ymedio, the baby was found inside a box on Martí Street, between Máximo Gómez and Béquer, by municipal sanitation workers who were collecting waste at the site.

The discovery occurred during the early hours of the morning, when workers were checking the garbage accumulated at the collection point. Witnesses say the baby still had the placenta when it was discovered, indicating that it had been born shortly before being abandoned.

“It was something very hard to see. Nobody expects to find a baby in the garbage,” said Yaneisy, a resident of the neighborhood who witnessed the aftermath of the discovery.

“It was something very hard to see. Nobody expects to find a baby in the garbage,” said Yaneisy, a resident of the neighborhood who witnessed the moment after the discovery. According to her testimony, several people began calling the authorities and medical services to come to the site. Some neighbors commented that the newborn may have been between eight and nine months gestation and weighed around seven pounds, although these details have not been officially confirmed.

So far, no details have been released about the identity of the mother or the circumstances under which the baby was abandoned. No public information has been provided about the condition of the baby or about the progress continue reading

of a possible investigation related to the case.

Children and elderly people live among garbage scattered throughout the municipality of Guanabacoa, in Havana. / 14ymedio

Similar cases have been reported in recent years in different parts of Havana, such as the case of a baby girl found in June 2025, still with the umbilical cord, in the municipality of Cerro.

Cuba was one of the first countries in Latin America to legalize abortion. However, today many of these procedures are carried out without anesthesia due to a lack of supplies and the precarious conditions of the healthcare system. This is compounded by the well-known shortage of condoms and contraceptive pills.

According to a report from the National Office of Statistics and Information published in May 2024, the capital recorded 27,864 deaths, almost triple the 10,783 births counted during the same period.

Translated by Regina Anavy

______________________

The Collapse of the Electrical System Leaves Much of Cuba Without Power

At the start of Saturday, the system had only 1,120 megawatts of generation available against a demand that reached 2,450.

In total, the limitations on thermal power generation represent approximately 336 MW. / EFE

14ymedio, Barcelona, March 14, 2026 — This Saturday, Cuba’s National Electric Union reported that service will be affected by a 65% drop in demand due to insufficient generation capacity in the national power grid, a situation that has been affecting a large part of the population for months. On March 6, the country reached a record deficit, with 67% of the country’s energy demand falling below peak hours.

At the start of Saturday, the system had only 1,120 megawatts of generation capacity available, compared to a demand of 2,450 megawatts (MW). This shortfall resulted in an immediate outage of 1,326 MW, causing widespread blackouts throughout the early dawn and into the morning, once again highlighting the fragility of an energy infrastructure that has been operating at its limit for years.

According to the official report, the following units are currently out of service due to breakdowns: Unit 5 of the Mariel thermoelectric plant; Units 1 and 2 of the Santa Cruz plant; Unit 2 of the Felton plant; and Units 3 and 6 of the Antonio Maceo plant in Santiago de Cuba. In addition, other units are shut down for maintenance, including Unit 6 of the Mariel plant, Unit 5 of the Nuevitas plant, and Unit 4 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes plant in Cienfuegos, highlighting the high degree of deterioration of the country’s main power plants.

In total, the limitations in thermal generation represent around 336 MW that the system cannot supply, further reducing the country’s capacity to meet electricity demand and maintain service stability.

On Friday, the power outages lasted for 24 hours and peaked at 7:10 p.m.

The previous day also reflected the severity of the energy situation. On Friday, the blackouts lasted 24 hours and reached their peak at continue reading

7:10 p.m., when the outage affected 1,977 megawatts. This figure even exceeded official forecasts due to the late commissioning of a generating unit at the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant, another example of the instability that characterizes the system.

Although the government has repeatedly highlighted the contribution of renewable energy as part of its energy strategy, its impact remains limited compared to the system’s structural deficit. The 51 photovoltaic solar parks installed in the country generated 4,119 MWh during the day and reached a peak capacity of 600 MW at midday, which helped to partially alleviate the power outages during those hours, but was insufficient to compensate for the collapse of thermal power generation.

However, the forecast for Saturday afternoon and evening is even more complex. The National Electric Union estimates that demand could reach 3,130 megawatts during peak hours, between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., while system availability would remain at just 1,120 megawatts. This would imply a deficit of approximately 2,010 megawatts and outages that could reach around 2,040 megawatts, one of the highest levels of service interruptions recorded in recent months.

The authorities, in official media, have attributed part of the blame to “thefts and acts of vandalism” against electrical infrastructure, such as the dielectric oil of transformers, an essential component for the cooling and safe operation of this equipment.

______________________

Varadero, Cuba, a Dead City

The wind and the occasional carriage drivers urging on their horses are the only sounds accompanying the decline of Varadero, once considered the best beach in the Caribbean islands. / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Pablo Padilla Cruz, Varadero (Matanzas), March 15, 2026 – If there are sectors where the deep crisis currently affecting Cuba is most painfully reflected, they are precisely those that were once the backbone of its economy. Tourism, for example, with the suspension of flights due to the lack of fuel, now threatens to become the same kind of corpse that the sugar harvest has turned into.

One of the most affected places has been the Island’s main international destination, Varadero. Over the last decade, the resort area of Matanzas prided itself on receiving more than one million travelers annually, but that figure has dropped drastically. Today, it faces a decline of 70%, a number that many workers in the sector never imagined they would experience.

Hotel Los Delfines, on 32nd Street in Varadero, closed / 14ymedio

“Varadero is in chaos right now,” says a worker at the Hotel Los Delfines, on 32nd Street in the city. “There is no water in this area, the electricity goes out constantly, and that’s why they decided to close the hotel and concentrate the tourists in the Club Tropical hotel.” The closure of accommodations and the “compaction” of visitors in other hotels has been one of the measures taken by the regime following the blockade of all fuel entering the Island after the United States intervention in Venezuela on January 3, and the subsequent threat by Donald Trump to third countries that send oil to Cuba.

The employee’s words reflect the difficult situation the entire sector is experiencing. “At first they brought us to the hotel, and we stayed three days working, then they sent us home for another three days. But soon they started telling us, ‘don’t come anymore.’ That way, a month would go by without them calling me to work again,” he explains. This situation has become common in many hotels, where employees are sent home without prior notice, hoping to be called back when the situation allows.

The uncertainty is palpable. This worker, who prefers not to give his name, says that job options in this context are few. “They offered me jobs in Municipal Services or as a guard at the Matanzas cemetery, but that’s not continue reading

what I studied. It’s a job that not even the unemployed want to take, and the worst thing is that they present it as if it were a solution,” he says with frustration.

Maday, a clerk at a café in central Varadero, also recounts her experience with a mixture of resignation and concern. “Fortunately, I can still work, but the number of customers keeps getting smaller. Cubans, who used to help us on a bad day, hardly come anymore. Besides, I have to spend 200 pesos to get to Varadero from Cárdenas, and another 500 on an electric car to return home in the afternoon,” she says. That means a daily expense of 700 pesos, which is hardly compensated by the tips she receives. The tourists simply are not enough to maintain the flow of income.

“The Beatles” Bar in Josone Park in Varadero (Matanzas) / 14ymedio

“If you want to be ‘interrupted’ [work on specific days], the job options they offer are in an organoponic garden or in municipal services,” adds Maday, sadly: “They offer me these positions just to complete the paperwork, but in reality I have no options.”

Meanwhile, buy-and-sell groups on social media in cities like Matanzas and Cárdenas have seen the demand for work multiply. Clerks, cooks, DJs, and artisans are trying to find their way in an oversaturated market, seeking to survive amid the uncertainty of the private sector. However, the situation becomes even more complicated for workers at craft fairs, who historically have depended on tourism to sustain their work.

Raúl, a visual artist who has spent nearly two decades working in crafts, laments the crisis affecting his sector. “I’ve seen good and bad moments over the years, but what we’re living through now is unprecedented,” he says. “With Covid-19, we knew the situation would improve someday, but now we’re facing a crisis with no short-term solution.” Like other workers in the sector, Raúl notes that the Varadero craft fairs, which once received thousands of tourists, are now deserted. “Varadero adapted to receive more than one million foreigners a year, but now not even 250,000 arrive. The few who survive are those who have tables inside the hotels,” he points out.

Competition among artisans has increased significantly, making it even harder to generate sales. “When a tourist shows up, there are so many of us competing that we barely manage to make anything,” Raúl says. And, to make matters worse, the National Fund for Cultural Assets, which manages the spaces for the fairs, demands payments for the use of the space, another burden for the already impoverished workers in the sector.

Beatriz, a Spanish tourist who has been returning to Varadero for ten years, has also witnessed the crisis affecting the Island. “I knew the situation was difficult, but I didn’t think it was this bad,” she comments. Bea, as the workers at the Cuatro Palmas hotel call her, considers herself almost part of the family in Varadero, since she has returned year after year. “This beach is the best in the world, but the situation has become unsustainable. The electricity goes out too often, and I’ve even had to bring eggs from Spain,” she says with frustration.

Hotel Barlovento, in Varadero, also closed / 14ymedio

Beatriz also notes a change in her relationship with Cubans. “They no longer see me here as a foreigner but as an ATM,” she says regretfully. “No matter what I give away, they always want more.” The friendliness and warm atmosphere she once felt on the Island have been overshadowed by the desperation of those who depend on tourism to survive. “I don’t know if I’ll return next year. If I do, it will be for less time, or maybe I’ll change destinations,” she concludes, hinting that the crisis may have marked the end of her relationship with Varadero.

The city, which was once the locomotive of the Cuban economy, now lies almost empty. Buildings are half-repaired, the lack of potable water and electricity is constant, and only a few residents walk through streets once crowded with tourists. Hotels, private hostels, and recreational centers remain mostly closed. The laughter of tourists is gone, and the bustle of workers returning home has faded. Now, the wind and the occasional carriage drivers urging on their horses are the only sounds accompanying the decline of what was once considered the best beach in the Caribbean islands.

Translated by Regina Anavy

______________________

Heavy Police Deployment Throughout Cuba and a Cordon Around the ‘14ymedio’ Newsroom in Havana

The regime is mobilizing all its security forces with the order of “zero impunity” for the demonstrations

Yoani Sánchez, director of ’14ymedio’, with a State Security agent, in the basement of her building in Havana. / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, March 15, 2026 — The regime has gone on high alert and increased its deployments following the intensification of protests in Cuba, especially the massive demonstration in Morón. Police are mobilizing operations throughout the country to prevent the demonstrations that have been taking place for more than a week.

This Sunday, Yoani Sánchez, director of 14ymedio, is surrounded by a State Security police operation that prevents her from leaving her home. In a video she recorded herself, an officer, dressed in civilian clothes and with his face completely covered, explains the prohibition to her without giving a concrete reason.

“Tell me right here in front of the camera,” the journalist snaps, to which the man replies, “Is it necessary?” She continues, “Yes, it is necessary, because you’re violating my rights. I’m a citizen who hasn’t committed any crimes, hasn’t been tried in court, doesn’t have a restraining order or house arrest, so why won’t you let me go out? Taking all tha into account, what’s the reason? Why can’t I leave?” The officer, nervous, responds, “All I can tell you is that you can’t leave.”

When Sánchez asks him if he might be a thug or a criminal, the subject affirms, and to the question who is sending him, he answers: “You know who it is.”

When questioned about his identity, the individual refuses to answer, and when Sánchez asks him if he might be a thug or a criminal, the subject affirms, and to question who is sending him, he answers: “You know who he is.”

President Díaz-Canel’s response to the protests has been to label them “vandalism” for which “there will be no impunity.” Today, the National Police clearly illustrate these intimidating words—they do have electricity, fuel, and resources, as their own publications show—with the arrogant display continue reading

of their operations, which, without euphemism, aim to “maintain public order.”

In Villa Clara, Díaz-Canel’s home province, a “reinforcement group for surveillance and patrols” has been formed to “guarantee order.” The official publication shows that this reinforcement includes the feared ” black berets,” the Interior Ministry’s military units trained for “high-risk” situations, who have been at the forefront of violent repression during civil protests.

Videos circulating on social media show the deployment of police patrols in the streets of Havana and also report Black Berets in Old Havana.

Official institutions are echoing the attempts at intimidation and repeating the president’s threatening rhetoric. The state-run chain Tiendas Caribe (TRD) denounced the attack and vandalism of one of its stores’ windows during Friday’s protests: “Cuban society demands zero impunity for those who threaten public peace and collective property. A severe legal response is essential.”

Despite the deployment of security forces, new demonstrations took place yesterday, Saturday, for the ninth consecutive night.

Despite the deployment of security forces, new demonstrations took place on Saturday, for the ninth consecutive night. This newspaper reports loud pot-banging protests in the Nuevo Vedado neighborhood of Havana during another prolonged blackout. The sounds of similar protests reached the 14ymedio newsroom in Cerro, Playa, and, with greater intensity, in the Boyeros and Tulipán area. Finally, the authorities restored power, possibly fearing that the unrest would escalate, as is happening in the less privileged areas of the island.

In the provinces, where the energy situation is much worse – reaching only a couple of hours of electricity per day – strong protests were reported last night in neighborhoods of Santiago de Cuba and Holguín.

[See a collection of videos here #ProtestasEnCuba ]

The authorities acknowledge that there was an incident between the police and residents of the Micro 9 neighborhood in Santiago de Cuba, although they describe the information disseminated on social media as “manipulation.”

The official statement describes the protest as “a very small group of people” who “decided to gather to express their dissatisfaction with the problems related to the electricity service.” It adds, referring to the police response: “As is completely normal […] law enforcement authorities arrived at the scene, engaged in dialogue with the residents, and the situation was resolved.” However, it continues: “Some chose the path of disobedience, something that will not be tolerated by those responsible for guaranteeing public order and tranquility.”

The testimonies also relate that the protesters shouted “Down with the dictatorship!” and “Freedom!”, which the government describes as “dissatisfaction with the electricity service”

The denial refers to a version circulating on social media in which, according to testimonies received from residents involved in the protest, the authorities’ response included a large-scale operation with patrol cars, armored vehicles, plainclothes State Security agents, and officers in black berets with their dogs, who blocked access to the neighborhood. According to these accounts, there were arrests and physical assaults by the authorities, including an assault on a young minor who was beaten while defending her father, and an assault on a pregnant woman.

The testimonies also relate that the protesters shouted “Down with the dictatorship!” and “Freedom!”, which the government describes as “dissatisfaction with the electricity service.”

The official statement concludes with a moral lesson that emphasizes the regime’s stance on public discontent: “We once again denounce the fact that individuals opposed to the values and principles of the Revolution and Cuban society are exploiting incidents like these to sow confusion and hatred through lies and manipulation, in order to foment conflict and undermine the people’s trust in the highest authorities of the country and the Ministry of the Interior.” The statement does not explain what these “values and principles of the Revolution” consist of, nor why they should be shared by all of “Cuban society.”

______________________

COLLABORATE WITH OUR WORK: The 14ymedio team is committed to practicing serious journalism that reflects Cuba’s reality in all its depth. Thank you for joining us on this long journey. We invite you to continue supporting us by becoming a member of 14ymedio now. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.

In Holguín, Cuba, Astonishment Mixes With Certainty That “This Can’t Go on Any Longer”

Gasoline prices exceed 4,000 pesos per liter, driving up reliance on electric tricycles

“You practically don’t see any combustion engine motorcycles or private cars on the street,” says the Holguín resident. / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Holguín, Miguel García, March 12, 2026 — In the streets of Holguín, there’s a strange mix of shock, anxiety, and anticipation. Conversations multiply at the bus stops, in the doorways, and on the electric tricycles that now dominate the urban landscape. While public transportation crumbles and fuel prices break records, many repeat a phrase that has become almost a refrain: “This can’t go on any longer.”

A 14ymedio reader who lives in the city describes a tense atmosphere, filled with comments and speculation. “People are in a kind of stupor, but within that stupor they’re very attentive to everything,” he says. According to his account, people on the street are talking about politics, the economic situation, and also what might happen to bring about change on the island. “There’s a lot of hope, a lot of people are paying attention to what Donald Trump is saying.”

The daily scene, however, is marked by much more immediate problems. Gasoline, which had already been rising in price for months, has surpassed 4,000 pesos per liter on the informal market and, according to several local sources, is approaching 4,500. The result is visible on the avenues of the eastern city.

“You practically don’t see any motorcycles or private cars on the street,” the Holguín resident recounts. “Those you do see are almost all state-owned.” Many owners have opted to leave their vehicles parked in garages because fuel has become unaffordable. continue reading

“Appointments are already being sold for more than 3,000 pesos.”

The absence of these means of transport has opened the door to another key player: electric scooters and tricycles, which now serve as the main alternative for getting around the city. In many neighborhoods, they have become the only way to travel.

The surge in these vehicles has, in turn, provoked renewed tensions with the authorities. At several transport hubs, police presence has intensified, according to numerous residents. Officers are checking documents, detaining drivers, and verifying vehicle registration.

“The police are cracking down on the tricycles,” the reader says. “They’re stopping everyone.”

In the face of the current desperation, authorities have begun issuing temporary permits to transport passengers or cargo, even to drivers who don’t meet all the requirements. But even obtaining a license has become a nearly impossible process.

Traffic offices are overwhelmed by the demand from people wanting to register their electric vehicles. Applicants must go through a queuing system that has become fertile ground for corruption.

“It’s a chain of problems that ends up affecting the entire transportation system.”

“There’s a waiting list for the computer-based knowledge test, and another waiting list for the practical test,” he explains. “And they’re selling for over 3,000 pesos.”

Meanwhile, dozens of tricycles and mopeds remain impounded because their owners haven’t been able to complete the necessary paperwork. The result is a paradox: vehicles that could ease transportation congestion sit idle while bus stops fill up with desperate passengers.

“One thing leads to another,” the Holguín native summarizes. “It’s a chain of problems that ends up affecting the entire transportation system.”

In that scenario, political commentary seeps into everyday conversation. Some citizens openly express their frustration with the government. “You hear phrases like, ‘I hope Trump comes and takes these bastards away,’” the Holguín resident told this newspaper.

Beyond those expectations, the most repeated phrase is something much simpler: “This can’t go on any longer.” The reader assures us that he has heard it in all kinds of circles. “You hear it from anyone: workers, ordinary people, even intellectuals.”

______________________

Oil Surges 37% in Two Weeks Due to the War With Iran and Threatens the Global Economy

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. attack on Iran’s Kharg Island increase oil volatility and threaten more global inflation.

View of an oil tanker that had to divert to avoid passing through the Strait of Hormuz / EFE/Olivier Hoslet

EFE (via 14ymedio), Madrid, March 14, 2026 – The war being waged by the United States and Israel against Iran since February 28 has driven the price of oil up by 37% in just two weeks, with a barrel around 100 dollars and a 64% increase so far this year.

Since the outbreak of the war, the price of Brent crude, the benchmark in Europe, has fluctuated continuously depending on the evolution of tensions in the Middle East and various statements by U.S. President Donald Trump about the duration of the conflict.

Last Monday, Brent climbed 30% and reached 119.50 dollars, which caused stock markets to plunge. However, that same day Trump stated that the war with Iran was practically over and crude began to fall, reaching 90 dollars.

The volatility that day allowed Brent to record, first, the largest increase in its history, of 26.7 dollars, and later also the largest intraday drop.

On Tuesday, Brent continued to retreat and plunged 11.28%, to 87.80 dollars, still influenced by Trump’s claim that the war would be brief. continue reading

The volatility allowed Brent to record, first, the largest increase in its history, of 26.7 dollars, and later also the largest intraday drop

These lows did not last long because a day later, on Wednesday, oil rose again by more than 5% and the barrel approached 93 dollars, despite the fact that the International Energy Agency had announced the release of 400 million barrels, the largest reserve intervention in history.

In the early hours of Thursday, the barrel reached 101.59 dollars, a rise that moderated throughout the morning but gained strength again after Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said that the Strait of Hormuz must remain closed, pushing crude back to 101 dollars.

Alongside Brent, West Texas crude, the benchmark in the United States, has also recorded strong fluctuations and is currently trading around 97 dollars.

Middle Eastern crude exports, which normally depend on the Strait of Hormuz, are approximately 16 million barrels per day.

A prolonged conflict in Iran with extended disruptions in Hormuz would push Brent to 120 dollars

Analysts at XTB have analyzed several possible scenarios for Brent, estimating a 50% chance that it will move around 100–110 dollars in a scenario of containment in Iran, while a ceasefire or political agreement, with a 25% probability, could bring crude down to 80 dollars.

The most unlikely scenario, a prolonged conflict in Iran with the risk of longer disruptions in Hormuz, would place Brent above 120 dollars per barrel.

The near-total slowdown of maritime transport through the Strait of Hormuz has begun to test the resilience of the global economy, with the risk of slower growth accompanied by higher inflation.

UBP’s Director of Information Systems and its Head of Advisory and Asset Allocation, Michael Lok and Nicolás Laroche, respectively, have highlighted that Europe and Asia are more affected by the conflict in Iran because they are net energy importers, in contrast to the United States, which is a net exporter and the largest oil producer in the world.

The Iranian Army said it will destroy “all oil, economic and energy infrastructure related to the United States” if there is aggression against its own energy facilities

The Iranian Army said this Saturday that it will destroy “all oil, economic and energy infrastructure related to the United States” in the Middle East if there is aggression against its own energy facilities, following the U.S. attack on Iran’s Kharg Island, the heart of the Islamic Republic’s oil industry.

“If there is an attack on the oil, economic and energy infrastructure of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as we have already warned, all oil, economic and energy infrastructure belonging to oil companies in the region that have U.S. shares or cooperate with the United States will be destroyed and turned into a pile of ashes,” said a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

The statement, in response to “the declarations of the aggressive and terrorist president of the United States,” came after U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that his armed forces carried out one of the “most powerful” bombings in the history of the Middle East against “military targets” on Kharg Island, where 90% of the oil the country exports to the world is stored.

Trump said he had chosen “not to destroy the island’s oil infrastructure,” a decision he may reconsider if the blockade in the Persian Gulf continues.

“If Iran, or anyone else, does anything that interferes with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” he warned on his Truth Social account.

Kharg, located 25 kilometers off the Iranian coast, is described as a vital point for Iran because it concentrates the country’s main oil terminal and is the largest crude loading point for oil tankers.

According to local media, the island is also known for having large oil storage tanks used to distribute crude to the international market.

Translated by Regina Anavy

______________________

Protesters Take Over Cuba’s Communist Party Headquarters in Morón and Try To Set It on Fire

Shouting “Freedom!” dozens of residents of the city in Ciego de Ávila protest against the endless blackouts and clash with the police. There are at least five detainees.

The protesters took chairs, tables and propaganda posters from inside the building and piled them up in the street to set them on fire. / Screenshot

14ymedio, Havana, March 14, 2026 – “Freedom!” That was the cry that echoed on Friday night in the streets of Morón, in the province of Ciego de Ávila, when dozens of residents went out to protest against the blackouts that are suffocating the country. The march passed through different areas of the city to the rhythm of pot-banging, reached a police unit, and ended in front of the headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), where protesters burst into the building, threw furniture and banners into the street and built a bonfire in the middle of the road.

Videos shared on social media show groups of people moving through the streets of the municipality in Ciego de Ávila while demanding an end to the blackouts that are hitting the entire Island, which are usually longer in towns and cities in the interior. According to several testimonies, when the march arrived in front of the police unit the protesters were met with threats and officers armed even with machetes.

The protest continued to the municipal headquarters of the PCC. In some images, protesters can be seen taking chairs, tables and propaganda posters from inside the building and piling them up in the street to set them on fire. It can also be seen how they attempted to set fire to the building, a symbol of the regime’s continue reading

political control in the territory.

The official government press speaks of “acts of vandalism” carried out by “a group of people” from the El Vaquerito neighborhood council

The scene contrasts with the version published by the official government newspaper Invasor, which described what happened as “acts of vandalism” carried out by “a group of people” from the El Vaquerito neighborhood council. According to the state media outlet, what began as a peaceful protest over the electrical situation and food shortages “turned into acts of vandalism against the headquarters of the Municipal Party Committee,” where a small group allegedly threw stones at the entrance of the building and started a fire with furniture from the reception area.

Images shared by residents tell a more complex story. In several videos, dozens of people can be seen walking through the city, banging pots and chanting slogans. Some witnesses say the march advanced without incident for a long stretch, until it gathered in front of the PCC headquarters, where tensions with security forces finally erupted.

One of the most serious moments of the night was captured in a recording circulating on social media: a young man is carried in the arms of several protesters after receiving a gunshot wound to the thigh. According to testimonies shared by residents of the area, the shot was fired by
a police officer who was trying to disperse the crowd gathered in front of the Party building.

In the images, several people can be seen carrying the wounded man while trying to move him away from the area to give him first aid. The government newspaper denies the shooting and claims that the injured person was “in a state of drunkenness” and “suffered a fall.” It also states that the person is being “treated at the Roberto Rodríguez General Hospital.”

The official publication also mentions supposed damage to other establishments

Other reports speak of violent repression by special forces from the Ministry of the Interior, including black-beret units and officers with dogs. Witnesses claim the forces released the animals against the protesters and carried out arrests, five according to the newspaper Invasor.

The official publication also mentions supposed damage to other establishments, including a pharmacy and a sales point belonging to the Tiendas Caribe chain, although it offers no details about the damage or about the real scale of the protest.

What does seem clear is the origin of the outbreak: it is the energy collapse the country is experiencing, which in recent weeks has caused prolonged blackouts across the Island. In Morón, as in much of Ciego de Ávila, electricity cuts have stretched for hours amid food shortages and the general deterioration of basic services.

Ciego de Ávila is under the provincial political leadership of Julio Heriberto Gómez Casanova, first secretary of the PCC in the territory. Gómez replaced Liván Izquierdo Alonso in 2024. Despite corruption scandals surrounding Izquierdo in the province, he ended up being appointed first secretary of the Party in Havana. Gómez Casanova’s account on X remains restricted.

The events in Morón also occurred on the same day that Díaz-Canel appeared before the government press to confirm that the Government is holding talks with the United States

Direct political and administrative responsibility for Morón rests with three key figures in the state and party apparatus: Alberto Echemendía Manzanares, first secretary of the PCC in the municipality; Celia María López Reyes, president of the Municipal Assembly of People’s Power; and Yorqui Navarro Pérez, mayor. In a system where the Party dominates all state structures, the three concentrate the political and governmental leadership of the territory and are therefore the main officials responsible for local management amid the crisis that triggered the protests.

The events in Morón also occurred on the same day that the country’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, appeared before the official press to confirm that the Government is holding conversations with the United States, after repeatedly denying those contacts. His speech, which once again repeated the usual narrative without offering concrete solutions to the crisis, generated widespread rejection both among critics of the regime and within sectors traditionally aligned with the Government.

In reaction to the events, the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) said this Saturday that the protests reflect the growing social exhaustion on the Island. In a statement released from Madrid, the organization said that only hours after the televised appearance of Miguel Díaz-Canel, “the people took to the streets demanding freedom and a change of system.” The OCDH also asked countries such as the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Sweden to promote actions to protect protesters and opposition members, and reiterated that in the face of the regime’s economic and social collapse, the only way forward for Cuba is a peaceful transition to democracy.

Translated by Regina Anavy

______________________

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, the Failed Statesman of a Dictatorship in its Terminal Phase

Lacking charisma, authority, and with a penchant for repression, the Cuban leader embodies the political exhaustion of Castroism. He is, without a doubt, the failed statesman of a dictatorship in its death throes.

Attributing his disastrous management solely to bad luck would be an oversimplification. / EFE

14ymedio, Yunior García Aguilera, Madrid, 13 March 2026 — There are leaders who, even in authoritarian systems, manage to project a certain aura of command. A tone of voice that commands respect. A gesture that conveys confidence. A phrase that, even if it’s propaganda, seeks to remain in the memory. Miguel Díaz-Canel does not belong to that category.

Since assuming the presidency of Cuba, his figure has been marked by a deficiency that is difficult to conceal: the complete absence of ashé. In the island’s popular culture, this word encapsulates the feeling that someone possesses a special force, an energy that commands respect, influence, and effectiveness. Díaz-Canel, on the other hand, seems to have come to power accompanied by an almost uninterrupted string of calamities.

During his presidency, tragedies have occurred, including the 2018 plane crash, the devastating tornado that struck Havana a year later, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the massive fire at the Matanzas supertanker base. To this succession of disasters was added a geopolitical blow of enormous magnitude: the loss of control of Caracas following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

That operation not only exposed the fragility of the Cuban security apparatus but also deprived Havana of its main oil benefactor. For the Cuban regime, losing Venezuela to the United States has been a blow similar, in contemporary terms, to what losing Cuba meant for Spain in 1898.

But attributing his disastrous administration solely to bad luck would be an oversimplification. The worst catastrophe of his term has not been chance, but political obstinacy. Decisions such as the poorly designed continue reading

Tarea Ordenamiento an economic ‘reordering’ plan, the persistence with an unproductive economic model, and the inability to reform structures that no longer function have pushed the country into an ever-deepening crisis.

Díaz-Canel completely lacks a sense of humor, a fundamental political tool in Cuban culture

On the communication front, the sub-dictator also fails to compensate for his lack of leadership with style. He completely lacks a sense of humor, a fundamental political tool in Cuban culture, where irony and double entendre are part of everyday language. His public appearances tend to be delivered in a rigid, almost schoolboyish register, incapable of connecting with the people. This is compounded by unnatural diction, with forced pronunciation, irregular cadence, and sentences strung together in a monotonous tone that conveys more weariness than conviction.

In terms of body language, his stage presence doesn’t help either. He frequently appears before the cameras with a tense, almost disgusted expression that hardens his face and makes him seem less approachable. While speaking, his body sways slightly from side to side, a repetitive movement that betrays nervousness and a lack of stage presence. Instead of projecting confidence, these gestures reinforce the impression of a leader uncomfortable in his role, as if each public appearance were a chore he must complete rather than a moment of leadership.

His ascent was not the product of genuine competition within the power structure. On the contrary. When Raúl Castro announced his appointment, he let slip a revealing phrase: Díaz-Canel was the sole survivor of an initial list of twelve potential candidates.

The statement, far from reinforcing his authority, exposed the method by which the system chooses its leaders. It is not about selecting the best, but the most manageable, the least dangerous, someone who won’t overshadow those who truly control the power.

He did not have his own political base nor did he have a strong international profile

For decades, the Cuban political apparatus has demonstrated a remarkable ability to neutralize its own members when they begin to stand out too much. The system does not reward boldness or initiative. It rewards obedience. The ideal leader is not the one who proposes changes, but the one who guarantees continuity.

In this context, Díaz-Canel was a perfect choice. He lacked his own political base and a strong international profile. Nor did he possess a heroic biography that could compete with the revolutionary mythology of the old guard. He was, essentially, a disciplined cadre who had climbed the ranks within the Party without causing too much turmoil. Mediocrity, in that sense, served as an advantage.

Those who designed the succession probably sought precisely that: a lackluster leader, incapable of challenging the real power structures. A bureaucrat who would manage day-to-day operations without altering the system’s architecture. The problem is that this formula might work for a while, but not in the midst of a complex crisis.

In a country mired in the worst economic collapse in its history, the leader who formally occupies the pinnacle of power seems incapable of connecting with the reality of the people. Under his mandate, Cuba has experienced accelerated deterioration, unprecedented protests, and a migratory exodus that has reached historic figures. Agricultural production is plummeting while food prices are skyrocketing. The national currency has become a mere accounting fiction. And the state, trapped in its own inefficient structure, seems unable to offer real solutions, only timid and belated reforms.

The phrase that remained etched in the collective memory: “The combat order is given”

This political weakness is compounded by another trait that has come to define his presidency: internal repression. The clearest example came during the Island-wide protests of 11 July 2021, when he uttered the phrase that has become etched in the collective memory: “the combat order is given.” That call to confront the protesters marked a point of no return. Hundreds of young people ended up in prison with disproportionate sentences, thousands were arrested, and the repressive apparatus was deployed with an intensity unseen for decades.

Since then, many Cubans have begun referring to him by a nickname that was already circulating in rap lyrics or whispered about: El Singao.* In the island’s popular slang, the term describes someone abusive, vile, or morally despicable. It is the verdict of a citizenry that perceives its president not only as an incompetent leader, but as a thug willing to maintain power at the cost of punishment and bloodshed.

He is, without a doubt, the failed statesman of a dictatorship in its death throes.

The average Cuban does not need economic reports to perceive the system’s collapse. They simply have to step outside. After Díaz-Canel’s pointless public appearance this Friday, the desire for his disappearance from the national scene has resurfaced on social media: some fantasize about him being abducted by Trump or aliens; others, that he’ll voluntarily pack his bags and vanish into some psychiatric clinic in Siberia. He is, without a doubt, the failed statesman of a dictatorship in its death throes.

*Translator’s note: Diaz-Canel and ‘Singao’ rhyme. The latter is variously translated as motherfucker, bastard and similar epithets.
______________________

A Detainee From the Havana Protests Is Accused of Crimes Against State Security

Chillón Paizán, known for his activism in favor of constitutional changes, has been transferred to Villa Marista.

Juan Carlos Chillón Paizán is accused of having spoken out against Díaz-Canel during the protests. / Facebook

14ymedio, Havana, March 13, 2026 – “I am accusing the president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, of violating what the Constitution says,” was the phrase spoken by Juan Carlos Chillón Paizán that led to his arrest last Wednesday during protests in the Havana neighborhood of Lawton.

Chillón Paizán was detained in an operation that included four police patrol cars, according to the detainee’s mother, María Cristina Paizán, a retired doctor, who spoke to Martí Noticias. Videos shared by users on Chillón Paizán’s own profile show the arrest, which neighbors tried to resist while shouting at the police “Abusers!” “Shameless!” and “Down with the dictatorship!”

The activist was transferred to the headquarters of State Security, known as Villa Marista, where he remains under investigation for alleged crimes against State Security. These carry penalties ranging from 10 to 30 years in prison and can even lead to life imprisonment or the death continue reading

penalty, according to the current Cuban Penal Code (Law 151 of 2022).

Paizán’s mother said that a police investigator at Villa Marista received her and informed her that her son was under investigation for violating constitutional provisions. “He says that my son led the public demonstration and explained to me that they recognize the right to freedom of expression and the right to protest, but that it has a limit. What he could not explain to me was what limit my son crossed,” the mother said.

“He explained to me that they recognize the right to freedom of expression and the right to protest, but that it has a limit. What he could not explain to me was what limit my son crossed.”

Juan Carlos Chillón Paizán is an activist who has participated in civic movements seeking democratic reforms in Cuba. He has been president of the M-SURD movement, dedicated to promoting constitutional changes and respect for citizens’ rights, and he has a history of arrests for his activism in Havana, including during the Island-wide 11 July 2021 [’11J’] protests.

His mother says that Paizán had already filed a complaint days earlier with the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Havana, when he submitted a document stating that several rights recognized in the Constitution are not respected in practice.

She has not been able to see him since his arrest and says that at Villa Marista she was prevented from delivering medication, even though Chillón Paizán suffers from epilepsy and needs treatment with carbamazepine. “I went to bring the medicines, but they would not accept them because I had to bring a medical certificate explaining why he takes carbamazepine,” she said.

The family says they do not have the resources to hire a lawyer who could clarify the legal process the detainee is facing.

On social media, users have expressed solidarity with Chillón Paizán, demanding his immediate release. The messages ask for a “proof of life” and hold the authorities responsible for his physical safety.

“I went to bring the medicines, but they would not accept them because I had to bring a medical certificate explaining why he takes carbamazepine.”

His case adds to the wave of arrests that has occurred during the recent protests against blackouts. The independent legal organization Cubalex has documented at least 14 detentions related to demonstrations recorded since March 6 in Havana. Of those arrests, the identities of only eight people have been confirmed.

In its February report, the organization Prisoners Defenders reported a new record number of political prisoners in Cuba: 1,214, including 131 women and 31 detainees who were minors at the time of their arrest.

Meanwhile, political prisoner Roilán Álvarez Rensoler, a member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu), has been on a hunger strike for nearly 40 days and is hospitalized in serious condition.

Álvarez Rensoler was arrested on January 30 of this year for alleged anti-government graffiti in several municipalities of Holguín and began his hunger strike while detained at the Pedernales police operation center.

His sister reported that authorities have conditioned his release on the family guaranteeing his immediate departure from the country. “They asked whether we had a way to get him out of here immediately, even tomorrow. If there was any certainty about something, it was that they would take him out of the situation he is in,” she explained.

Álvarez Rensoler is currently in intermediate care with severe kidney damage because he is consuming only minimal amounts of water.

Translated by Regina Anavy

______________________

Prisoners Defenders Confirms the Release of at Least Ten Political Prisoners in Cuba

The NGO regrets that those released will have to serve their sentences under a form of house arrest and could be returned to prison.

The sentences of these five individuals remain in force, and their release takes place under a particularly restrictive parole regime. / EFE

14ymedio, Havana, March 13, 2026 – The Spanish NGO Prisoners Defenders confirmed this Friday the release of at least ten political prisoners in Cuba following the government’s announcement of the release of 51 inmates. They also report that the group of beneficiaries may include common prisoners, as already happened in January 2025. So far, two releases of inmates convicted of crimes unrelated to political motives have been verified.

Among those released are Ibrahín Ariel González Hodelin (26 years old, sentenced to 9 years, imprisoned in Mar Verde Prison); Ariel Pérez Montesino (52 years old, sentenced to 10 years, Guanajay Prison); Juan Pablo Martínez Monterrey (32 years old, sentenced to 11 years, Ceiba 5 Forced Labor Prison); Ronald García Sánchez (33 years old, sentenced to 14 years, Toledo 2 Forced Labor Prison); and Adael Jesús Leivas Díaz (29 years old, sentenced to 13 years, Zona 0 Forced Labor Prison, Combinado del Este).

Prisoners Defenders specified that the sentences of these individuals remain in force and that their release occurs under a particularly restrictive parole regime known as a “conditional parole regime.” This means they remain subject to strict controls and continue reading

conditions while serving the rest of their sentences outside prison, and any violation could result in their return to a penitentiary facility. This model of conditional release has previously occurred in other cases of negotiated releases.

The decision applies to those who have served a significant portion of their sentence and have shown good behavior during their time in prison.

Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the decision applies to those who have served a large part of their sentence and demonstrated good conduct while imprisoned. The government described the measure as sovereign, although it noted that contacts were maintained with the Vatican, in line with the tradition of dialogue on prisoner release processes. In its statement it also linked the measure to the “proximity of the celebrations of Holy Week.”

Amnesty International and Justicia 11J criticized the lack of transparency in the process, since the complete list of those released has not been published and the conditions of their release have not been detailed. Amnesty International also denounced the use of prisoners as “bargaining chips in a political game” and reiterated its demand for the “immediate and unconditional” release of those it considers unjustly imprisoned in Cuba.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez met on February 28 at the Vatican with Pope Leo XIV and the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to discuss dialogue and mediation on prisoner issues. In addition, the U.S. ambassador to Cuba, Mike Hammer, met days earlier with Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for Relations with States.

In 2026, Cuba reached a historic record of political prisoners with a total of 1,214, according to the latest report by Prisoners Defenders published at the end of last February.

Translated by Regina Anavy
______________________

Cuban Exiles React to Díaz-Canel’s Remarks: “What Planet Does This Individual Live On?”

Political representatives from Florida remain silent in the first hours after news of the talks with Cuba became known.

Silence appears to be the rule among Florida congressmembers at this time. / EFE

14ymedio, Madrid, March 13, 2026 – José Daniel Ferrer was paying close attention this morning to the remarks of Miguel Díaz-Canel who, shortly before his announced press conference, confirmed through the official press that the regime is holding talks with the United States. “I am listening to the dictator Díaz-Canel. What planet does this individual live on? Does he not understand that the terrible reality Cuba is experiencing because of them demands their prompt downfall, through flight, capture, or elimination?” the opposition figure said from Miami.

The leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba, now in exile, commented in several messages on social media about the appearance, skeptical of the president’s words. “Díaz-Canel compares the current talks with the United States to those that took place more than 10 years ago between Obama and Raúl Castro. This guy seems not to understand what is happening and what will happen if they do not leave power,” he added. “Nothing will happen. The plan of the United States is to keep them there,” one user replied.

Silence appears to be the guideline among Florida congressmembers at this time. María Elvira Salazar, Carlos Gimenez, and Mario Díaz-Balart have posted on their X accounts, but nothing related to Miguel Díaz-Canel’s statements. The latter two did repost a video from Thursday in which Díaz-Balart told journalist Mario J. Pentón that the only conversations taking place with Raúl Castro’s inner circle were aimed at bringing the regime continue reading

to an end.

“Any negotiation that preserves a one-party communist dictatorship while ignoring the fundamental requirements of the Libertad Act (Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996) is unacceptable.”

In the interview, however, he compared that dialogue with those that took place in Iran or “with the Maduro regime,” he emphasized. A phrase that offers little reassurance to those who fear something remotely similar could happen that would allow high officials of the current Cuban government to remain in power, as has happened in Venezuela.

That concern is reflected in the statement by Miami-Dade County commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis, who considered that “any negotiation that preserves a one-party communist dictatorship while ignoring the fundamental requirements of the LIBERTAD Act is unacceptable.” For now, she is the only one to specifically refer to Díaz-Canel’s announcement. “Today’s announcement (…) highlights the desperation of a regime facing an increasingly deep economic and political crisis,” she said.

Although she believes that Trump “deserves recognition” for the pressure exerted on the Island, “the law of the United States is clear. Sanctions can only be lifted when Cuba begins an irreversible transition toward a multiparty democracy, fully respects basic human rights and civil liberties, and takes concrete steps to return or compensate for the properties confiscated from Cuban and Cuban-American families,” she argued.

Milian Orbis stressed that the pressure must lead to “real changes” and that the United States “must not legitimize or finance their oppression.” “The Cuban people deserve freedom, not another agreement that keeps a communist dictatorship in power,” she added.

“Mexico will always promote peace and diplomatic dialogue, particularly in the face of this injustice that has been committed for many years against the Cuban people through the blockade.”

From Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum welcomed the dialogue, something she had proposed mediating many times. “That’s good,” the president said during a press conference in Colima (western Mexico) when asked about the talks.

“Mexico will always promote peace and diplomatic dialogue, particularly in the face of this injustice that has been committed for many years against the Cuban people through the blockade* that has generated various problems. Therefore, it is essential that this dialogue take place,” the president declared.

Sheinbaum also reiterated Mexico’s support for the Cuban people, both for humanitarian reasons and because of the country’s foreign policy principles. “Mexico will continue supporting the Cuban people through all possible channels, not only as a matter of humanitarian aid but also because our Constitution establishes the self-determination of peoples and solidarity in the search for peace,” she stated.

*Translator’s note: There is, in fact, no US ‘blockade’ on Cuba, but this continues to be the term the Cuban government prefers to apply to the ongoing US embargo. During the Cuban Missile Crisis the US ordered a Naval blockade (which it called a ‘quarantine’) on Cuba in 1962, between 22 October and 20 November of that year. The blockade was lifted when Russia agreed to remove its nuclear missiles from the Island. The embargo had been imposed earlier in February of the same year, and although modified from time to time, it is still in force.

Translated by Regina Anavy
______________________

Havana’s Iberostar Hotel in the Torre K Closes “Due to the Country’s Situation”

There are no flags on the flagpoles at the main entrance, which indicates a decision beyond something temporary.

14ymedio, Havana, Juan Diego Rodríguez, March 13, 2026 –The Iberostar Selection La Habana hotel, which occupies the skyscraper located on the central 23rd Avenue known as Torre K and was inaugurated only last year, has closed its doors, and no one knows when it will reopen. At its main entrance, there are not even flags on the flagpoles, which indicates a decision that goes beyond something temporary.

Asked about it, the guard at the site, without a uniform, responds that he does not know and that the closure is “because of the country’s situation.” The Avenida 23 cafeteria, located on the ground floor with views of K Street, which provides service to the public and not only to hotel guests, is also closed. “The only thing still open inside the hotel is the bank, until noon,” the guard also says.

The man does not specify which institution he is referring to, and on the official website of the accommodation no bank branch appears among its services.

Just two days ago, sources familiar with the matter revealed to 14ymedio that, due to the lack of electricity, Aguas de La Habana would stop pumping the water supply to the capital for at least 48 hours. “Anything that runs on motors, including Torre K, is pointless,” said an employee of the state company.

“The only thing still open inside the hotel is the bank, until noon,” the guard also says.

The hotel has its own generators, which have provided it with electricity even during the worst blackouts, including complete collapses of the national power system. These require fuel oil, and after more than two months without a tanker arriving in Cuba, fuel is scarcer than ever.

According to posts on social media, tourists who were staying at the facility have been transferred to the Hotel Packard, located on Paseo del Prado, but in truth there is no confirmation that there were even guests there. Torre K had been almost a ghost hotel since continue reading

its opening due to the lack of customers. This newspaper confirmed it during a visit three months after its inauguration.

Not even the building’s main attraction, the observation deck on the 41st floor, drew enough visitors. From up there, the highest point in Havana, the city could be seen as never before, and only the ocean seemed free from decay.

The iconic buildings Focsa and Habana Libre, which were once the tallest in the capital, appeared diminished and deteriorated. Trying to identify the Castillo del Morro, the Hotel Nacional, the José Martí Memorial, or the dozen buildings erected in the 1950s before the Revolution swept away modernity produced only discouragement. From Torre K, misery was evident on every rooftop.

The Avenida 23 cafeteria, on the ground floor and overlooking K Street, which serves the public and not only hotel guests, is also closed. / 14ymedio

“They told us it was paid for with government money, that it cost I don’t know how many millions of dollars and was handed over to Iberostar to manage. But from the outside it looked closed; we didn’t see much activity,” a Spanish tourist told 14ymedio last October. She had vacationed on the Island the previous month and said her travel agency had “deceived” them by hiding the country’s real situation.

Controversy surrounded the building from the moment its construction was announced in 2018. The structure, first popularly called the “López-Calleja Tower” (before the death of the head of the military conglomerate Gaesa, which owns the facilities through one of its subsidiaries, the Gaviota Group) and later Torre K, represented from the outset a waste of resources in an impoverished country.

As construction progressed and tourism numbers kept falling, technical criticism also began. Several architects pointed out the project’s “mistakes,” including its “pretentious gigantism,” the “insulated glass” that is blinding in a tropical country, and the poor orientation of the hotel, which lacks views to the north, the best side for orienting rooms so they do not suffer from “that Caribbean sun that costs a lot of energy and money to cool.”

The opening of a luxury Iberostar inside the massive structure added further controversy and was not without setbacks. Its inauguration was delayed several times after it had been announced. Initially, Havanatur said it would open on January 15, 2025, but that did not happen. Days later, the company enabled reservations starting February 1, but it was still not ready by then.

When reservations finally opened to the general public in March 2025, after the rooms had briefly been used to house visitors to the Habano Festival, a source linked to Iberostar, the second Spanish hotel company with the largest presence in Cuba after Meliá, admitted that management was concerned about the negative image the hotel had already acquired among citizens.

“People are going to associate the hotel with an increase in misery,” the source told 14ymedio.

Translated by Regina Anavy

______________________

Even Guarapo – Raw Sugarcane Juice – Has Become a Luxury in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba

The most affordable drink for Cubans has gone from 30 to 70 pesos amid the general rise in prices in the province.

Now the choice is to go back home or continue on the road with the same thirst and frustration. / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Sancti Spíritus, Mercedes García, March 13, 2026 – In Sancti Spíritus, the price of even the most humble items has begun to rise. In just a couple of days, guarapo — raw sugarcane juice — went from 30 to 70 pesos.

What for decades had been the most affordable drink to relieve the heat or recover strength in the middle of the day has suddenly become a small luxury that more than one person now hesitates to indulge in. Now the choice is to return home or continue on the road with the same thirst and frustration, saving every last peso.

Guarapo, extracted from sugarcane, has historically been a refreshing comfort against the exhaustion of the difficult daily life of Cubans, regardless of the customer’s social level or purchasing power. The drink’s low price, stimulating properties, and quick preparation have always been the main factors that attracted people to this juice.

The cost of the most basic products continues to rise in Sancti Spíritus amid a particularly harsh situation.

Although the presence of these guarapo stands has been declining in recent years due to the collapse of the sugar sector, along with difficulties obtaining ice or even sugarcane, as well as the blackouts that paralyze the presses, some still remained in Sancti Spíritus.

Meanwhile, the cost of the most basic products continues to rise in the province amid a particularly harsh situation caused by prolonged blackouts, which at times have lasted more than a full day without electricity. The energy crisis forces many families to cook with charcoal due to the lack of gas or kerosene, while food spoils because it cannot be refrigerated. The fuel shortage and the difficulties in maintaining basic services have left the population dealing with improvised solutions and growing frustration over the deterioration of living conditions.

Translated by Regina Anavy

______________________