The renowned Cuban musician Cándido Fabré has once again voiced his concerns over the economic crisis suffocating the island's population. This time, his message intertwines nostalgia, criticism, and frustration over the nation's current predicament.
In a Facebook post, Fabré reminisced about the era when Lázaro Expósito led the province of Santiago de Cuba. He advocated for the return of state-run markets with fair prices in the national currency, which he believes should compete with the private sector.
"Just like in the days of Lázaro Expósito Canto, we need state markets in national currency with prices lower than private ones to compete with them," he stated.
He emphasized, "Fines and prohibitions solve nothing; they merely drive away private vendors and negatively impact the people."
Fabré, known for his loyalty to the government, reflects a growing dissatisfaction even among those close to the regime: the government's failure to provide real solutions amidst a crisis that has surpassed all boundaries.
Widespread Economic Hardships
Amid rampant inflation, endless blackouts, and widespread food shortages, the singer's call for "state markets with fair prices" echoes a past that some remember fondly. However, that period was also marked by strict state control, with previous government attempts to "cap prices" resulting in disastrous shortages and corruption.
The Whereabouts of Lázaro Expósito
Lázaro Expósito served as the first secretary of the Communist Party in Santiago de Cuba for 12 years, from 2009 to 2021, when he was removed from his position. Official statements did not disclose the reasons for his dismissal, only indicating that he would be assigned other responsibilities.
The language of the announcement and the praise from the country's leadership suggested a replacement to grant him new duties. Sources in Santiago de Cuba cited rumors of health issues.
In December of last year, the regime excluded Expósito from the Party's Central Committee, yet again without explanation. In October, after a long absence from public view, the former official reemerged in Bayamo at the Fiesta de la Cubanía, where he was honored and praised. Photos circulated showed him much thinner and aged, reinforcing theories of health problems.
Struggling to Afford Basic Necessities
Fabré's recent message adds to another he posted on Thursday, criticizing the price gouging by private vendors and transporters. "Private sellers are exploiting the people's pain and need... prices rise by the minute, they don't accept transfers, magnetic cards are useless, poor retirees and workers without a dime in cash," he expressed indignantly.
His words capture the sentiment of millions of Cubans caught between the lack of state support and the unregulated private market in an economy where the state no longer protects its citizens.
While leaders continue to deliver speeches about "resilience and faith," the people struggle to survive in a country where the average salary doesn't cover even a week's worth of food.
In this context, Fabré's nostalgia for a past when state markets allegedly offered more accessible prices is also a rebuke to a government that has lost control and the people's trust.
He concluded his post saying, "I always criticize, but never against. With revolution, yes we can, with strength, love, and faith."
Yet, even among those who still cling to faith and love, believing in a revolution that fails to feed, light, or protect its people grows increasingly difficult.
A Nation in Freefall
Cuba's economic reality has reached a critical point. Prices rise daily, wages are worth increasingly less, and the Cuban peso continues to plummet against the dollar in the informal market.
The scarcity of food, fuel, and medicine worsens weekly, and officials merely blame private vendors or impose control measures that impact the populace more than speculators.
In the country's interior cities, especially in the east, the situation has become unsustainable following Hurricane Melissa, which destroyed thousands of homes, wiped out crops, and left entire communities underwater.
Although the government promised aid and "recovery efforts," the reality is that most affected individuals have yet to receive assistance, and families who lost everything barely survive amidst hunger, mud, and darkness.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Crisis
Why is Cándido Fabré calling for state markets with fair prices?
Fabré is advocating for state-run markets with fair prices to provide affordable options for the Cuban people and to compete with the private sector, which he believes is exploiting the population's needs.
What was Lázaro Expósito's role in Santiago de Cuba?
Lázaro Expósito served as the first secretary of the Communist Party in Santiago de Cuba from 2009 to 2021. He was known for his leadership in the province before being removed from his position for unspecified reasons.
What challenges are Cubans facing due to the economic crisis?
Cubans are enduring rampant inflation, food and medicine shortages, power outages, and an unstable currency, all exacerbated by ineffective government policies and natural disasters like Hurricane Melissa.