The Cuban Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, emphasized the need for state media to be more effective and strategic in its mission to promptly communicate the regime's decisions to the people, as well as the actions presumably outlined in its newly announced Government Program.
Meeting this Monday in the halls of the Palace with employees and executives of official media, the Prime Minister presented the annual report of the Institute of Information and Social Communication (IICS) and "emphasized the need for communication assurance for the Government Program and the strengthening of the management function" of the entity created in August 2021, just a month after the historic and massive protests led by hundreds of thousands of Cubans on July 11 of that year (11J).
"It is a two-way street. There is the support that you need, but also those of us making these decisions must consider how to communicate them in a timely manner to achieve that support with media, community, and organizational impact, in all types of physical and digital public spaces," urged Marrero Cruz to the state media.
The Prime Minister emphasized that communication is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban regime and that, despite the institutional access to various digital platforms still being inadequate, efforts must be made in the "media battle," according to a report from the National Television News (NTV).
"We, as an aggrieved country, still have (and I reiterate) grievances. Even despite the level of access that is institutionally available to different platforms, the internet, etc., the fight is still very limited. And not only to fight against an enemy of the revolution, but also to expose and communicate the truth about Cuba", he expressed.
In addition, the prime minister emphasized that although the government faces numerous problems and challenges, it is essential to convey not only the negative aspects but also the regime's efforts to overcome difficulties.
“Indeed, we have many problems, we have many dissatisfactions, but we must also say that we are fighting back, that we are doing different things, identifying the complexities we are facing… And we must also denounce negligence, and call out when things are done poorly, or even when things are neglected that are unrelated to the blockade… the self-blockade itself, which sometimes limits… [It is about], as we have insisted, doing different things, not just a little more of the same, [because] we are living in different times,” concluded the leader.
A context of increased control and informational restrictions
Cuban state media have undergone increasing restructuring in order to reinforce the regime's control over information.
The Institute of Information and Social Communication (IICS) was established in 2021 to replace the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT) and strengthen the state's information hegemony. With the promise of improving communication in state media, in practice the Cuban regime merely consolidated the governmental monopoly over official media.
In this context, the Cuban government has accredited inspectors to control information and verify its alignment with official interests, in an effort to strengthen the oversight of informational content and discipline public officials.
On the other hand, the pressure on official media has also increased, with public acknowledgments from the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel regarding the limitations and errors in the government's communication strategy.
In December 2024, the leader admitted that the official media have failed to connect with the public or generate trust in the regime's management
Meanwhile, the government continues to promote its narrative of resistance against an "external enemy," justifying its internal problems with the argument of the U.S. embargo. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that there is widespread public discontent regarding the lack of transparency and governmental inefficiency, which is reflected in the need to strengthen control over communication and official discourse.
By aligning the total state press with its government program, Marrero Cruz aims not only to improve internal communication but also to fortify the legitimacy of the regime in the face of growing social discontent, ensuring that the people do not question the government of "continuity."
The leap from Projections to the Government Program
Recently announced as an evolution of the 'Government Projections to Correct Distortions and Reinforce the Economy', the so-called "continuity" program was presented this Monday at the Council of Ministers without a detailed plan or concrete measures on the table.
The absence of self-critical analysis, specific data, quantified objectives, or allocated resources turns Díaz-Canel's Government Program into an empty discourse, lacking verifiable information on how economic distortions will be corrected or how the economy will truly be revitalized in 2025.
As analyzed by the Cuban economist Pedro Monreal, instead of acknowledging the failure of its policies and proposing effective solutions, the government clings to propaganda, with speeches designed to simulate control and planning, when in reality the country continues to be in free fall.
"This is not a public economic policy program, but rather 'the discussion of a limited circle of politicians,' removed from the real urgencies of the Cuban economy and the well-being of its population," concluded Monreal.
Filed under:
