Responsibility for Energy Crisis in Cuba Lies Squarely with U.S.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean Pierre made outrageous comments during an October 21 press briefing, in which she denied the responsibility of the United States for the energy crisis in Cuba, feigned concern for the suffering of the Cuban people, and continued U.S. attempts to get the Cuban people to rise up against their government for "mismanagement."

Jean Pierre said that the U.S. is "closely monitoring the blackouts on the island. And so, we are concerned about the potential humanitarian impacts on the Cuban people. [...] And like we have seen over the past few years, Cuba's economic condition stemming from long-term mismanagement of its economic policy and resources has certainly increased the hardship of the people in Cuba. [... We] just want to make clear that [...] the U.S. is not to blame for the blackouts on the island or the overall energy situation in Cuba."

A recent opinion letter published in the Journal de Montréal on October 22, sets the record straight on U.S. and monopoly media disinformation that blames the Cuban people, their leadership and chosen system of governance for the recent massive power outages affecting Cuba.

The letter, written by Manuel Johnson, treasurer of the Quebec-Cuba Solidarity Roundtable, points out that to the contrary, responsibility for the power outages and many other shortages that have violated the human rights of the Cuban people by depriving them of the necessities of life for the past 62 years, lies squarely with the U.S. and its illegal blockade.

The blockade, whose aim is regime change in Cuba, clearly violates international law, which is based on the principles of respect for the sovereignty and the right to self-determination of peoples and nations, and non-interference in their internal affairs.

The letter points out that on October 17, Cuba's electrical grid "collapsed under the increased demand caused by overwhelming heat. While Cuban energy workers and engineers were heroically trying to get the energy system back on its feet, the Cuban people were suffering terribly from the effects of the prolonged and total power outage.

"The mainstream media reported on the suffering of Cubans and the energy crisis, without explaining to the public, with a few exceptions, the cause of this crisis: the cruel blockade by the United States that has lasted for more than 62 years."

Due to the U.S. blockade, which does some U.S.$14 million in damage to Cuba's economy per day, the letter explains that Cuba has great difficulty importing fuel to power its thermoelectric power plants. Furthermore, the blockade also prevents Cuba from importing the equipment and parts needed for the regular maintenance of these plants. Thus, the five-year maintenance cycle for 13 of 15 energy production units has not been completed.

The letter decries the U.S. aim "to punish the Cuban government because Cuba insists on deciding its own future, rather than following Washington's dictates. They hope that by creating misery and suffering for the entire population, the people will revolt against their government."

The letter points out that the U.S. is almost totally isolated in the international community for its inhumane and hostile policy toward Cuba: "Last year, 187 countries voted in the United Nations General Assembly to lift the blockade, for a 32nd consecutive year. Two countries voted against the motion: the United States and Israel."

The letter also decries the spurious designation of Cuba by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terrorism, when, "In reality, it is not Cuba that sends bombs to the four corners of the world, every time a country dares to stand up and claim its right to self-determination; it is the United States. On the contrary, what Cuba sends to the four corners of the world are doctors and nurses, thus demonstrating exemplary internationalist solidarity."

The letter concludes by calling "on our governments, at all levels, to demand an immediate end to the unjust and illegal U.S. blockade, to put an end to the atrocious suffering of the Cuban people caused by this cruel and inhuman policy."

(Quotations from letter translated from original French by TML.)

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This article was published in

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/ITN2024/Articles/TI54414.HTM

    

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