CUBA RECOVERS AFTER THE COVID PANDEMIC

Steve Johnson CUBA

THE YEARS since the start of the COVID pandemic have been difficult for Cuba against the backdrop of the US blockade and Trump's measures which despite some initial hopes Biden has done little to alleviate.

In addition to COVID Cuba has also had to deal with the fall out from the Ukraine war and the impact of Hurricane Ian. There is clearly a hope by US imperialism that the combined effect of this and other natural disasters will lead to growing discontent giving more opportunities for destabilisation.

However as previously in Cuba's history of building Socialism US strategy does not go according to plan. Cuba's first-class medical system has produced vaccines for COVID and in comparison, with the capitalist world has kept deaths to a minimum. Recent visitors to Cuba also report that despite occasional power cuts the impact of the hurricane is now much less noticeable. The introduction of the single Cuban peso also seems to have stabilised the currency exchange rate.

This is all testament to Cuba's participatory democracy but problems still remain and the tourist industry has suffered a blow due to the combined impacts of the pandemic and the general economic crisis in the capitalist world. Campaigning against the blockade is still key and it is necessary to counter the misapprehension many people in the wider labour movement have that the blockade was ended by Obama. The Biden administration has shown little inclination to reverse the policies of Trump in respect of Cuba and has continued Cuba's designation as “a state sponsor of terrorism” an absurd proposition from a country that has backed terrorist attacks on Cuba.

Another example of Cuba's grass roots participatory democracy has been the adoption of the new Family Code enshrining rights for LGBT people despite a campaign against the code by evangelical

Christians. Nor were they prevented from campaigning despite claims in the Western media that religious believers are persecuted in Cuba. But the positive result of the referendum shows how deeply rooted values of equality are amongst the Cuban population.

Cuba has always shown that despite difficulties and attacks it will continue to develop and improve it's Socialist system. We have a responsibility to show solidarity and to continue to oppose the US blockade.

STEVE JOHNSON IS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY AMERICAS GROUP