The Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, admitted during an extraordinary meeting of the Provincial Government Council in Ciego de Ávila that the country is facing “practically a wartime economy.”
His diagnosis reflects the severity of the national crisis. He urged municipalities to stop being “passive links” and to become protagonists of their own development.
Marrero insisted that communities are the "battleground" where people directly experience the effects of the crisis and where productive efforts must be focused.
"The safest approach to sustainability is what each municipality can contribute from its endogenous resources, through collective effort," he stated.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the current economic situation in Cuba, characterized by a lack of resources, inflation, and a decline in national production, requires a "radical change of mindset" and concrete actions, not speeches.
The term "war economy" is not just a metaphor. Marrero used this expression to describe a scenario in which the country must survive with minimal resources, implement emergency measures, and prioritize essential sectors such as food and basic services.
He continued his usual line of blaming the "U.S. blockade" and the "hostility of the U.S. government" for the serious situation on the island. Moreover, he reiterated the need to correct "internal distortions" and eliminate bureaucratic obstacles that hinder production.
The leader urged communist militants to strengthen municipal autonomy and make the most of local potential to face the crisis, but he did not provide them with tools or financial resources to accomplish the titanic tasks demanded by the PCC leadership.
Ciego de Ávila was cited as an example of a territory with great agricultural capacity, with about 35,000 hectares of diverse crops. However, the Government acknowledged that they do not fully utilize all productive possibilities or available human resources.
Marrero insists that 2026 will be a year of decisions. "If we want to make progress, we must do things differently and not be afraid of change," he concluded.
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