A Cuban questioned Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz for asserting that the economic measures adopted by the Government place the country in a position to begin appreciating their results. In a Facebook post, the citizen demanded the resignation of the leaders he holds responsible for the economic decline and reviewed several years of official promises that, in his opinion, have not translated into improvements for the population.
The author of the message argued that officials who are unable to ensure the well-being of citizens should step down from their responsibilities. To support his criticism, he contrasted the economic announcements made since 2021 with the situation he observed during a recent visit to Cuba.
His reflection started from a statement by Marrero in the official program Desde la Presidencia, aired on October 2, where the prime minister asserted that "what has been done puts us in a position to begin to appreciate those results," while addressing the government's economic and social transformations. The statement can be heard in the audio of the program broadcast by Radio Rebelde.
A return to Havana marked by deterioration
The Cuban reported that he recently returned to the island and found a desolate landscape. In his message, he described neighborhoods with fewer residents, a notable absence of young people, and streets where, according to his account, trash and debris are accumulating uncontrollably.
As an example, he cited the surroundings of the polyclinic in Luyanó, Havana. He explained that these scenes reflect the deterioration of daily life, although his main criticism was aimed at the prime minister’s new assertions regarding the results of the economic reforms.
The author found it contradictory that Marrero maintains an optimistic discourse while numerous families continue to face shortages, inflation, and difficulties in meeting their basic needs. To respond to him, he decided to reference the announcements made over the years by the regime's own officials.
From the 63 agricultural measures to the promises of economic recovery
His account begins in 2021, when the Government announced 63 measures to increase food production. The package, presented at that time by Deputy Prime Minister Jorge Luis Tapia Fonseca, aimed to address organizational, production, and structural difficulties in agriculture.
The citizen argues that those provisions did not yield the promised results and recalls the optimism that continued to characterize official forecasts. In December 2022, the then Minister of Economy Alejandro Gil Fernández announced that the gross domestic product would grow by 3% in 2023, based on the recovery of productive activities and the increase in foreign currency income.
But the economy did not meet that forecast: according to data later acknowledged by the authorities themselves, GDP fell by 1.9% in 2023 and contracted again by 1.1% in 2024.
In his publication, the author also referenced statements and assessments from leaders in 2024 and 2025 that portrayed the adopted measures as progress. His argument is that the succession of positive forecasts and assessments has not translated into a noticeable improvement for Cuban families.
The Cuban lamented that the repeated official promises have ultimately weakened the hopes of those still waiting for an economic recovery. He pointed out the scarcity of food, the rising prices, and the reduction of subsidized products as some of the most painful manifestations of the crisis.
The new reforms and the responsibility of those in power
The controversy arises after the regime approved a package of 176 economic and social transformations in June 2026. In a recent television appearance, Marrero defended the administrative progress in its implementation, although he also acknowledged the population's dissatisfaction since they still do not perceive sufficient improvement in their daily lives.
The prime minister expressed confidence that the effects would be more visible in 2027. This new promise has generated further public criticism from Cubans who question why the authorities continue to ask for patience after successive economic programs.
For the author of the testimony, the central issue is the political responsibility of those who remain in power despite the accumulated deterioration. In their view, it is the prime minister's duty to ensure a progress plan whose results are reflected in the well-being of the citizenry, not just in new announcements.
The citizen argued that those responsible for a government that has failed to improve living conditions for years should face the political consequences of their management. Therefore, he demanded the resignation of leaders he deems unable to fulfill their duties, instead of continuing to announce results that the population has yet to perceive.
Related videos:
Filed under: