Miguel Díaz-Canel defended the use of coal, firewood, and makeshift solutions for cooking in Cuba as part of what he called "creative resistance," amid the severe energy and supply crisis affecting the island.
The statements were made during an interview published on YouTube in Pablo Iglesias' program on Canal Red, where the Cuban leader discussed the impact of fuel shortages, blackouts, and the economic difficulties facing the country.
In his address, Díaz-Canel acknowledged the limitations faced by the population, including the lack of liquefied gas and difficulties with electricity, but presented these shortcomings as a scenario in which citizens develop alternatives to sustain their daily lives.
“Now we are missing liquefied gas... people at home are making charcoal ovens, stoves with firewood...” he explained while describing these practices as examples of adaptation in the face of the crisis.
The leader emphasized that these solutions are part of a "creative resistance," a concept that, as he stated, not only involves enduring difficulties but also finding ways to progress despite limitations.
In that regard, he mentioned experiences such as the creation of communal kitchens among neighbors, the shared use of home solar systems, and the transformation of electric tricycles for various services, from transportation to community activities.
Díaz-Canel also acknowledged the direct impact of the crisis on key sectors such as health, where he recognized that over 120,000 people are on waiting lists for surgeries, including thousands of children, due to a lack of supplies and electrical issues in hospitals.
It also outlined the impacts on education, transportation, and access to water, noting that the power outages affect everything from connectivity to the operation of basic services across the country.
Despite this situation, the leader blamed U.S. policy for the worsening of circumstances, arguing that the restrictions have limited access to foreign currency, fuel, and essential resources to sustain the economy.
At the same time, he rejected the idea of a separation between the government and the people, stating that the leaders are part of the same social reality faced by the citizens.
The statements come in the context of a growing deterioration in living conditions in Cuba, where food shortages, prolonged power outages, and a lack of basic services have characterized the daily life of the population.
During that interview, Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that Raúl Castro is leading the dialogue process that the Cuban regime is maintaining with the administration of Donald Trump.
"People have tried to speculate that there are divisions within the leadership of the revolution. In this context, we explain that under the leadership of the Army General, who has earned his position in this country, he is the historical leader of the revolution, even if he has stepped back from his responsibilities. However, the prestige he holds with the people, his history, and his contributions cannot be denied," he stated in an interview at the Palace of the Revolution.
Additionally, he assured that Cuban doctors participating in missions abroad continue to receive “their full salary” corresponding in Cuba for the time they spend outside the country, and defended the position that there is no exploitation in that system.
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