“This government is alive and we are looking for solutions for the people,” Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, said at the Round Table. “In the meeting with the press that we held this week, I was asked about how the whole situation of covid-19 had impacted on the government agenda and I said that ‘we have continued to check the programs and all the priority issues”.
He reiterated that the implementation of the economic and social strategy is still under way, while responses are being given to the issues and policies that have been implemented.
National Electric System advances towards normalization
The prime minister commented that the number one unit of the Lidio Ramón Pérez (Felton) thermoelectric plant has already carried out its first synchronization and is in the process of testing and adjustment. ?It is estimated to complete its load this week with its final delivery to generate 260 megawatts. In these days of testing, what has been generated is 90 megawatts, which are also incorporated into the national energy system?.
On the other hand, he added, yesterday, after 17 days of uninterrupted work, the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant was synchronized, which generates 280 megawatts, to the national electro-energy system. That plant started with 237 megawatts, which has a significant impact on the entire system.
Marrero Cruz announced that the first synchronization of unit six of the Máximo Gómez thermoelectric plant, located in the Mariel municipality (Artemisa), is expected to be carried out in August.
“As of these last synchronizations in these days, the effects on the service due to generation capacity deficit are decreasing and have decreased in an appreciable way,” he said, clarifying that “it is not yet a fully resolved issue?.
The situation of the national electric power system, he explained, has been reported in several spaces, its complexity, as well as the delayed maintenance due to lack of financing.
Although this situation is much more favorable, effects may occur, said the prime minister, and argued that to guarantee stability in the national electrical energy system, that is, there are no blackouts in a sustainable manner, it is necessary to have a permanent 500 megawatts of electricity reservation.
“If we have a reserve, there should be no blackout, sometimes we have a small reserve of less than 500 but in the event of any failure in the provision of service it must be consumed and therefore, blackouts may begin to arise.”
Why is it necessary to have 500 megawatts? “This reserve is the only one that would allow us to cover if one of the large plants failed at the moment?, he said.
?Today we have a generation capacity above the demand that is already planned and calculated for the day. The reserve is 133 megawatts. With that it is not necessary to give blackouts.
But, ?if one of these large (thermoelectric plants) were to go out, those 133 reserves would have to be used. And if Guiteras comes out, which is generating more than 200, not only would the reserve be used, but blackouts would have to be generated?.
According to the prime minister, in order to have a reserve of 500 megawatts, the entire process of repairing and starting up the machines that are currently paralyzed must be continued arduously.
He recalled that the electricity situation became more complex in the country as of June 21 and in recent days there were blackouts almost all day. “They have been planned to last six hours, but sometimes due to certain difficulties these hours have been exceeded”.
With the entry of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, he said, the effects have decreased, especially at night and at dawn. ?For the next few days this should be maintained and will improve even as Felton stabilizes and manages to generate its maximum capacity.
Regarding the timely communication about the blackouts, Marrero Cruz expressed: ?A blackout is something unwanted. We maintain the policy as a government of not affecting the population and with tremendous effort we fulfilled it until the generation capacity was less than the demand. And blackouts have had to be planned, but we are not satisfied. It was foreseen in one way and in practice it has been in another. We have said, ‘we have to see how we ensure that the population has prior information when necessary.’
He insisted on the need to generate the reserve until having the total guarantee of 500 megawatts.
?When the analysis is done at the national level to see how the availability of generation is with the demand, or if there is a deficit, this deficit is calculated, and it is said: by province, how many megawatts should be saved or disconnected. Each territory with the government and authorities are the ones who have to implement that?.
There is a situation that has made this more complex. ?As COVID cases and isolation centers have increased, a series of circuits have had to be protected. Protected circuits have always existed for hospitals, but they have increased due to the situation of the pandemic. Therefore, there has been a little more frequency of blackouts on a circuit level that has affected the same people?.
Marrero Cruz said that this matter will improve as the confrontation with covid-19 progresses, for now ?it has been a matter of distributing it locally by the governments and that it is achieved early in the day to inform the possible effects to the population so that they can organize and minimize the discomfort that it always causes?.
Although, he stressed, the most important thing is how to continue moving forward to prevent blackouts precisely, and added that apart from the large power generators there are a series of generator sets, whose availability has been decreasing for different reasons, including breakages and lack of batteries power.
As explained by the Prime Minister, there are about 12,000 generator sets owned by economic establishments and entities, which have a higher level of availability (around 80%) and which are also working on their sustainability.
Marrero Cruz commented that a group of decisions have been made to acquire batteries that are special and put a part into operation, with which the water problem in some communities will be solved.
?Although all the most important water pumping stations are planned within the prioritized circuits, there are some that are not covered. It is very hard when the electricity goes out for several hours that to top it off the water also goes out. The issue of generators is precisely aimed at finding a solution to this matter “.
The national energy situation is moving towards stabilization, he assured. “With the entry of Felton and Guiteras we are in better conditions, in the next few days no blackouts are expected and generation capacity is expected to increase, but there may be effects because we are on a generation system that has vulnerabilities?.
He insisted on the need to save as much as we can save, “with this we are contributing to that stability and normality where it is not necessary to plan any blackout.”
The prime minister reiterated the difficult situation in the country when it comes to acquiring fuel and the parts necessary for the maintenance and repair of the entire electrical energy system. “It is a daily battle that is made with an enormous effort to make the country function even with these limitations, with so many measures applied that prevent fuel and spare parts from entering.”
By the end of August, almost 60% of the population will be fully vaccinated
The prime minister also updated on the health intervention in the country. “We have been analyzing how we recover and accelerate this process.”
?There have been some bumps from the same situation. Producing vaccines depends on imports. There has been a priority in the financial resources to acquire these products, but sometimes there is a supplier that has delayed the process of delivering resources?.
Since May – he recalled – the delivery of doses of vaccine candidates by BioCubaFarma providers began to the Ministry of Public Health of 3.4 million and in June there were 4.8 million. “This month we are already talking about almost six million doses.”
Data presented by the prime minister indicate that 7,618,028 doses have been applied until July 12. There are 1,926,776 vaccinated in the country with three doses and 2,617,942 with two doses and 3,073 310 with at least one dose.
He recalled that in December vaccination began in some countries of the world and currently with these figures, Cuba exceeds the world average for the percentage of people who have received at least one dose. A figure greater than 25% of its population.
Cuba has the highest rate of people vaccinated daily for every 100 inhabitants with a figure of 0.99 at the end of July 11.
He commented that in the midst of this situation the news of the efficacy of the Abdala vaccine (92.28%) was known, which places it among the most effective in the world.
Marrero Cruz added that on the Isle of Youth the vaccination process for those over 19 years of age was completed, a process that has been extended to Havana, Matanzas, Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba, Ciego de Ávila, Mayabeque, Holguín, Artemisa, according to the established schedule.
“This will be extended and between August and September it is expected that everyone will have a dose and we will move forward to conclude this process in the year.”
He stated that the progress of this process has been nuanced in certain territories by the complexity of the covid-19. “Decisions have been made and prioritized areas with high rates of contagion.”
He referred to the clinical trials in the pediatric population that began successfully. “Once they are completed in September, mass vaccination will begin for all children from 3 to 18 years old.”
?Producing vaccines is a complex process. Before you have to buy supplies and raw materials, but we move forward, “she said.
?By the end of August, almost 60% of the population will be fully vaccinated and 80% will have at least one dose. There is no difficulty in confirming that the population of Havana aged 19 and over will be fully immunized with the three doses this July. The entire Cuban population will do so before the end of 2021?.
The prime minister alluded to the shortage of medicines both in hospital institutions and in pharmacies. He recalled that the basic table is 619 medicines, of which 365 are produced by the national industry of BioCubaFarma, “which does not mean that it does not carry foreign currency because raw materials have to be imported.” In addition, 254 are totally imported by the Minsap.
He said that the current supply situation, due to the shortage of foreign exchange, has caused a shortage of medicines throughout the country’s network. “What they call the card, there have even been key drugs that have been missing.”
He mentioned that the most affected products are related to anti-hypertensives, antibiotics, analgesics, contraceptives, vitamins and dental products, among others.
“This low availability of medicines not only has to do with the lack of financing, sometimes suppliers of many years that have not had availability of raw materials due to the growing demand in the world due to the situation of covid-19”.
Likewise, “we have suppliers that, due to pressure and new measures from the United States government, are unable to guarantee shipments.”
“The whole issue of the blockade has meant for us an increase in the costs of acquisition and supplies of between 30 and 50% of many products.”
Marrero Cruz said that from this complex situation they have been able to acquire some resources to see how to increase the production of medicines.
Today we have a significant level of raw materials available in the country and a drug production process is being developed with significant levels. Many of the medicines for more complex and critical diseases are produced in Cuba and we are already in a position to advance with raw materials?.
He stressed that the production of drugs to combat the Covid-19 and the hospital network, for hemodialysis, hypertensive, antibiotics, diabetics and oncology patients, as well as for isolation centers and the pharmacy network, is a priority.
“The measures that were taken are going to help minimize the impact, but we still cannot say that there will be stability in the supply of medicines,” he said.
Marrero Cruz also spoke about the tariff treatment for the importation of food, toilet articles and medicines to natural persons, and recalled the provisions on hygiene articles and food that can be imported within sundries, as long as the importation by passengers of the so-called ?1 000 points?.
“The quantities by type of allowed article are defined today in resolution. There are also resolutions for certain products that may be susceptible to constitute risks for people and the country?.
With regard to medicines, he specified that customs duties are exempt from payment and their non-commercial importation is authorized up to 10 kilograms, except those whose import is prohibited.
What has been approved? “Exceptionally and temporarily authorize the importation via passenger with accompanying luggage, food, toilet and medicines without import value limit and free of payment of tariffs until December 31, 2021. The limits are set by the airline.”
These products must be differentiated from the rest of the personal luggage; and in the case of food products, comply with phytosanitary measures.
In the case of travelers arriving through Cayo Coco and Varadero, the maximum is one suitcase, in accordance with the hygienic-sanitary measures in force by the covid-19.
Marrero Cruz announced that these measures will take effect as of next Monday, July 19; “It was a claim made by many travelers and it was necessary to make that decision.”
He informed that next week there will be a Round Table to expand this information.
New prerogatives for the distribution of regulated food
On the other hand, the prime minister referred to those people who have settled in other provinces, still without legal address, and still do not have a supply book in the place where they reside, which in the midst of the pandemic has impacted that population.
“Work is being done to update the regulations, respecting the right of the population to decide where they want to live, but in an organized manner.”
He pointed out that in the search for a solution, it has been decided to implement by governments together with the internal trade system, a provisional mechanism for people who are in this situation to acquire the basic basket in the place where they reside.
?It is about 300,000 people, mostly in the capital, although it happens in other territories. This will be implemented gradually. The first step is to locate people, see where they are registered, make a cancellation in the eastern place, and create a mechanism for them to purchase their products in the place where they live.
?It is not about giving them the book in an official way, but about implementing a mechanism so that they can acquire every month what is delivered by the basic basket. In the same way, next week this matter will be expanded in the Round Table Program?.
The prime minister also commented on the measures taken in the agricultural sector that have allowed increasing planting plans and have created the basis for moving forward.
Likewise, he said that on the monetary system, decisions are still being made regarding issues that arose during its implementation.
“We continue working. This government is still alive?, he concluded.
The obligation to use the salary scale for salary payment is eliminated
When intervening in the television space, Cuban Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Planning, Alejandro Gil Fernández, recalled that on May 26, in a session of the Council of Ministers, the process of improvement of economic actors was approved, which includes the non-state sector and state. “We have always raised the state company as the main subject of our economic model, and the importance of adopting decisions and measures that promote greater efficiency in the state company and allow it to be given greater autonomy in its management?, he said.
The owner referred to two fundamental measures already approved, for their implementation in the state company. On the other hand, he made an update on the state of the process of elaboration of legal norms on micro, small and medium enterprises, self-employment and non-agricultural cooperatives.
Gil Fernández recalled that the report of the Army General, Raúl Castro, in the 8th Congress of the Party, raised the need to remove the socialist state enterprise and that it make itself felt in the economy for what it is, its main subject.
In this sense, a first measure adopted, he said, is the improvement of the remuneration system for the work contributed, that is, how the salary is charged in the socialist state enterprise.
In this regard, he mentioned that steps had already been taken with the modification of payment systems and the incorporation of profit distribution as mobile income for workers. ?We removed the limits on the amount of wages to be distributed, the link with compliance with the directive indicators of the economy plan was eliminated and the entire profit distribution process became more flexible to enhance a greater link between the result of work, the wealth created and the work received by the workers?.
?Progress has been made in line with these objectives and we have reached a consensus in the government precisely to take a step for which we have no precedent in the country, which is why it is gradual: it is the measure of eliminating the obligation to use the salary scale for the payment of salaries in state-owned companies.
?It is a measure of great depth and depth, which gives autonomy to the management of the state company and a great deal of responsibility. The payment of salary on a scale that, in practical terms, is already approved by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security is not the same as the fact that you have an approved salary fund and have the autonomy to distribute that fund in correspondence with the different positions, activities, professions of the personnel who have in the company?, explained the head of the branch.
He said that this measure has been evaluated over time, has been reviewed with the academy and debated in working groups, as well as its risks have been considered.
?We believe that it should have a very favorable impact on the state business sector. We have to go little by little; it is not a measure that all companies in the country implement from a certain date, but one that will begin gradually, starting with a group of companies, and for which conditions must be created.
?They have to be companies that have accounting, organization, development in human resource management, adequate internal control, which allows us to test and generalize this measure to the rest of the economy until reaching all state-owned companies. It is not something to do against the clock, in a month or two, but we are going to start that process with those companies that have better preparation?.
He specified that this measure is not made so that from the day the company enters the system all workers earn more. It is not about ?salary is free, we can earn whatever it is, but there is a salary fund, a commitment to the owner and a utility to fulfill, so the same principle is followed that more is earned while more wealth it is generated, the more efficient it is and the more it contributes to the State. All this, under a standard of reasonableness, with economic sense and taking into account the way in which our economy operates?.
It’s a bold transformation, he appreciated. “When we have been talking about the improvement of work in the non-state sector, the indication of our government has always been not to neglect the state company from the point of view of the economy, but that we must march in parallel.”
?In the non-state sector there is certain freedom to set the amount of money paid to the workers, which we are incorporating into the operation and management of the socialist state enterprise. Risks exist; we have to manage them, because shaking the state company is doing different things that have an impact. We are confident that this measure can boost the company and put it in better condition?.
They make operations of the micro, small and medium state-owned company more flexible
Gil Fernández pointed out that a second measure evaluated is related to the way of functioning and operating of the micro, small and medium state enterprise, as part of the strengthening of the socialist state enterprise itself.
“Although the micro, small and medium private company has an owner who is a natural person, in the case of the micro, small and medium state company, the owner is the State, which is represented through a legal person” he explained.
Among the alternatives evaluated, he said, are the budgeted units, companies or Higher Organizations of Business Management and also scientific centers and universities that can act as partners or owners of micro, small and medium-sized state companies.
“It is a channel to be able to use this structure (micro, small and medium-sized state companies) with a greater capacity for adaptation and flexibility that allows even incorporating the results of scientific research and promoting innovation”.
?Our conception of the micro, small and medium-sized company is not one of subsistence, but rather a company that really has high added value and professional potential. We conceive the state sector under these premises?.
Gil Fernández explained that when identifying an owner of the micro, small and medium state-owned company, a conception is being put into practice, which is the separation of functions between ownership and management.
Cuban president describes the current situation as complex and challenging.
The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and Cuban president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, began his speech by assessing, “from the point of view of emotions and convictions,” the current situation in the country, which he described as complex and challenging.
“Complex because of the contextual and challenging elements because it demands a capacity from us to overcome adversities, situations and to face all that defamation that exists in the enormous and brutal media campaign that is exercised over our country.”
The president commented that this complex situation was fueled by the concentrated riots on Sunday, with fewer incidences on Monday 12, and that almost no events occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“All this responds to a deliberate plan that is in process, for that reason the revolutionary vigilance and the actions of the institutions,” he pointed out and expressed that this responds to the precepts of unconventional warfare and the well-known manual for the citizen coup.
He assured that several factors have coincided: the same blockade of 60 years ago, exacerbated even more by the 243 restrictive measures of the Trump administration, which have also been sustained, as well as the pandemic peak that we have experienced in recent weeks.
One element that cannot be ignored, he said, ?is that in the midst of the epidemiological situation that Cuba was experiencing, the results of Abdala appear that recognize it as the first vaccine in Latin America and that then allows us to take a further step in the successful confrontation with the pandemic, which is one of the hopes we have to, in the shortest possible time, limit the effects of this pandemic peak?.
On the other hand, he continued, “they had begun to speak and there were some signs and intentions of the current administration of the United States to review some points of the policy towards Cuba.”
In addition, “the electro-energetic situation and a whole group of deficiencies, dissatisfactions and accumulated problems had an impact”.
The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and Cuban president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, began his speech by assessing, “from the point of view of emotions and convictions,” the current situation in the country, which he described as complex and challenging.
“Complex because of the contextual and challenging elements because it demands a capacity from us to overcome adversities, situations and to face all that defamation that exists in the enormous and brutal media campaign that is exercised over our country.”
The president commented that this complex situation was fueled by the concentrated riots on Sunday, with less incidence on Monday 12, and that almost no events occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“All this responds to a deliberate plan that is in process, for that reason the revolutionary vigilance and the actions of the institutions,” he pointed out and expressed that this responds to the precepts of unconventional warfare and the well-known manual for the citizen coup.
He assured that several factors have coincided: the same blockade of 60 years ago, exacerbated even more by the 243 restrictive measures of the Trump administration, which have also been sustained, as well as the pandemic peak that we have experienced in recent weeks.
One element that cannot be ignored, he said, ?is that in the midst of the epidemiological situation that Cuba was experiencing, the results of Abdala appear that recognize it as the first vaccine in Latin America and that then allows us to take a further step in the successful confrontation with the pandemic, which is one of the hopes we have to, in the shortest possible time, limit the effects of this pandemic peak?.
On the other hand, he continued, “they had begun to speak and there were some signs and intentions of the current administration of the United States to review some points of the policy towards Cuba.”
In addition, “the electro-energetic situation and a whole group of deficiencies, dissatisfactions and accumulated problems had an impact”.
According to Díaz-Canel, the previous situation, analyzed by ?those who do not want the Cuban Revolution, by those who do not aspire to a civilized relationship and respect with the United States and by those who have other intentions, was taken advantage of by that sector so conservator, which is the Cuban-American mafia, to try to provoke a policy of soft coup in these difficult moments against our country?.
Regarding the blockade and the new restriction measures, he explained that there is a difference in context. ?We have always been blocked. We are from the generation that was born, grown up and lived during a blockade, which have constantly participated in a group of programs to prevent the country from falling behind with the blockade or not being able to overcome the blockade; but, the current conditions are not the same as we had in the Special Period.
?When that we were practically without many possibilities due to all the dependence we had on the Socialist Field; But, in these times and after the lessons we had from the Special Period and the way it was dealt with, we developed oil production programs and, therefore, there is a basic part of the electricity generation that consumes the national crude. We are capable of self-sufficiency and our fuel consumption today is tighter than at that time, where more than 13 billion tons of fuel was wasted per year?.
The president asserted that every week an analysis must be made of what is entering the country, what is owed and what is needed. “This balance is always very unfavorable, there is a huge list of what the country needs, another of the commitments that must be honored and a small inflow of foreign currency.”
?Examples like these there are many. We have made progress in the maintenance of our main power plants. Today we are entering the three blocks with a tremendous effort, which give stability to the country, but we have a base of generator sets in Moa, which has been the largest, which today, being able to contribute to the national energy system, cannot work because we have a ship retained with fuel. That has already been solved, but now there is bad weather and due to the swells we have not been able to arrive with a transporter and bring it. Those are things that happen in Cuba and that are closely related to the blockade?.