(RepublicanPress.org) – Cuba has remained under harsh communist control for far longer than most of its citizens have been alive. It has suffered trade embargoes, a corrupt government, the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a sitting government incapable of providing for its citizens’ basic needs. Finally, last weekend, the Cuban people had enough and started holding nationwide protests, the largest ones Cuba has experienced in decades.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stepped up for the first time during a televised address on July 14. He appeared to accept at least some of the blame for the government’s failures to provide adequate supplies and service for the Cuban people.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has acknowledged shortcomings in his government’s handling of shortages and of neglecting certain sectors, but he is urging Cubans to not act with hate — a reference to violence during recent street protests. https://t.co/VnSFehH2rt
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 15, 2021
Up until this speech, the government had attempted to blame the United States and social media platforms for the riots. It was ignoring protesters’ calls for more food supplies, lower prices, better electrical services and infrastructure, and more personal freedom, to name a few of their many grievances.
Admitting there’s a problem is a great first step, and it’s great President Diaz-Canel finally seems open to accepting some responsibility for its failures. The remaining question is whether the current protests and the president’s admission will ultimately lead to any positive changes for the island nation.
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