{"id":294009,"date":"2024-01-01T18:22:51","date_gmt":"2024-01-01T23:22:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=294009"},"modified":"2024-01-01T18:22:51","modified_gmt":"2024-01-01T23:22:51","slug":"cuba-in-2023-the-year-that-could-not-be-and-the-year-that-was","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/cuba-in-2023-the-year-that-could-not-be-and-the-year-that-was\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba in 2023: the year that could not be and the year that was"},"content":{"rendered":"

2023 was not the year that we Cubans wanted. Nor the one that, even being very realistic, we expected. The people\u2019s expectations and the authorities\u2019 plans ended up being, at least for the vast majority, far above reality.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the dark times of the pandemic and its consequences in different aspects, unfortunate accidents and natural disasters, and the ineffective application of the <\/span>Monetary Reorganization<\/b><\/a>, this year promised a panorama with fewer dark clouds over our heads. At least, that\u2019s what many of us thought before it began.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, although the epidemiological scenario confirmed the recovery of 2022 and the sociocultural life of the country was revived somewhat, the <\/span>economy<\/b><\/a>\u00a0once again disappointed and we ended the year in the red. All of this had an impact not only on official reports and statistics but, above all, on people\u2019s pockets and tables, despite the sustained increase in new economic actors like the <\/span>MSMEs<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Cuban 2023 was once again marked by the impact of United States sanctions and the stagnation of relations between Washington and Havana. Also by the migratory wave \u2014 although slower than the previous year, thanks to the <\/span>humanitarian parole<\/b><\/a> program \u2014, and the search for new markets and trading partners as a way to alleviate the country\u2019s severe crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n

The fuel deficit \u2014 already common on the island \u2014 was once again one of the faces of the crisis, with endless queues at service stations and significant impacts on transportation, industry and electricity generation. Although blackouts were somewhat moderate in relation to 2022, there was no shortage of dark moments, especially in the interior of the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fuel crisis in Cuba: the long wait<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n