Amid one of the worst economic crises Cuba has faced in decades and an unfavorable international scenario for the island, the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel once again appealed to a change in mindset as a way to overcome the impasse.
This time, the call came from the extraordinary plenums of the Communist Party in Granma and Holguín, where the leader urged to move away from the “import mentality” and to focus on producing within the country what, according to him, Cuba can do for itself.
During the meeting in Granma, characterized by food shortages and ongoing failures in agriculture, Díaz-Canel acknowledged serious deficiencies in the planting of root vegetables, the collection of milk, and contracts with producers—issues that directly impact the tables of Cubans.
In light of this situation, he emphasized that the country cannot continue to allocate foreign currency to import finished products that could be produced locally, while the population faces empty markets and unaffordable prices.
The repeated discourse over the years contrasts sharply with the daily reality of millions of families who see no concrete improvements in their access to basic food. While the government talks about stimulating domestic production and granting greater powers to state-owned enterprises, shortages, blackouts, and salaries that are insufficient for survival continue to prevail on the streets.
In Granma, party authorities also acknowledged shortcomings in commercial circulation, fiscal control, and the failure to meet production targets, although they reiterated their promise that the situation can be reversed by 2026.
Similar promises were heard in Holguín, where the Party reiterated its priorities of increasing agri-food production, boosting exports, and strengthening ideological control, with special attention to the youth.
Beyond the diagnoses and slogans, the official emphasis on "thinking differently" leaves a key question for many Cubans in the background: how does this shift in mindset translate into food on the table, electrical stability, and real economic relief?
While the political discourse oscillates between calls for unity, references to external threats, and appeals for sacrifice, daily life remains marked by uncertainty and survival.
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