Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment—and a great-nephew of both Fidel and Raúl Castro—emphasized during the official broadcast of Mesa Redonda that the Cuban government did not appear on the television show to offer excuses.
During the same broadcast, he stated, "We refuse to blame the embargo; there are a number of internal shortcomings."
The minister highlighted that the newly introduced measures aim to "reduce the impact on the Cuban population" amidst the "severe fuel shortages" currently affecting the nation.
Pérez-Oliva pointed out that "now is the time" to implement a "set of measures," asserting that electricity generation is being sustained with domestic crude oil, alongside maintaining services in hospitals.
In his address, he urged municipalities to "produce," emphasizing the necessity of boosting local capabilities in response to current challenges.
Moreover, the official mentioned that the country continues to prioritize defense preparedness and the protection of foreign currency-generating economic activities, aligning with the current strategic priorities.
Following the Mesa Redonda presentation, the leaders planned to engage with the public to explain the measures implemented under the government's plan to address the fuel crisis.
Understanding Cuba's Current Economic Strategies
What measures is Cuba taking to address fuel shortages?
Cuba is implementing measures to minimize the impact on its population by sustaining electricity generation with domestic crude oil and focusing on local production capabilities.
How is the Cuban government communicating its plans to the public?
The government plans to engage with the public through direct communication following the Mesa Redonda broadcast to explain the steps being taken to address the current crisis.