Amid power outages, food shortages, and an economic crisis that particularly affects rural areas, Cuban state television once again presented an optimistic image of the Turquino Plan in Santiago de Cuba. The contrast with the reality faced by thousands of families in those regions is, once again, hard to overlook.
A recent report from Canal Caribe showcased the Mata Hambre People's Council in the municipality of Songo-La Maya as an example of the "reach of social and economic benefit policies" in mountainous areas. According to the official narrative, progress is being made in food production, the export of charcoal and honey, and even in energy solutions.
However, the very language of the report reveals a precarious situation. In a local production unit, a worker admits, “we have to fight and fight to try to bring as much wood forward as possible in order to help the most needy.” The statement, far from conveying progress, reflects a survival economy.
The report also emphasizes the "potential" for exports and the diversification of income, while mentioning actions to "address the impacts" on the energy system. However, it refrains from delving into the structural causes of these impacts, which are part of a sustained national energy crisis.
Another focus of the report is the training of young people to integrate into local productive activities. The proposal is clear: that, after graduating, "their placement precisely aligns with the existing productive forms here." In practice, this reveals the lack of real alternatives for those growing up in these areas, where migrating—either internally or externally—remains one of the few options available.
The case presented as a “positive experience,” that of a producer with pig farming, cattle, and poultry, also raises questions. Although the farmer lists his resources—“I currently have 20 breeding sows, 48 heads of cattle, and around 150 birds”—the emphasis on ensuring animal feed and selling to the state system highlights the limitations of the model, which is more focused on meeting plans than on improving quality of life.
The report concludes by highlighting "transformation" actions in communities like Arahueca, with projected improvements in schools and polyclinics, as well as the role of the Party in the "defense of the homeland." A predictable ending that prioritizes the political narrative over everyday issues.
The Turquino Plan, created decades ago to promote the development of mountainous areas, continues to be presented as a showcase of progress. However, in practice, many of these communities still face isolation, precariousness, and a lack of opportunities, in a context where the national crisis further exacerbates the shortcomings.
While television talks about "potentialities," the inhabitants of these areas continue to struggle with the most basic needs: to produce, resist, and survive.
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