Jorge Luis Broche Lorenzo, head of the Productive Economic Department of the Cuban Communist Party’s Central Committee, made headlines during the Economist Association Congress by stating, “The economy cannot continue to be a field of improvisation.” This rare admission highlights systemic failures in planning and strategy, which have long been criticized by experts and citizens alike. Many who were censored or exiled for pointing out these issues now see their concerns echoed by officials. While the U.S. embargo has been a convenient excuse, it does not account for the lack of direction and transparency in economic management. The acknowledgment has sparked both sarcasm and anger among Cubans, who view it as a belated confession of negligence. Memes and humor mask the frustration over decades of mismanagement that have led to scarcity, migration, and despair.
— new from CubitaNOW
