Time Has Run Out for Cuba: Saladrigas on the Nation's Crisis

Cuban-American businessman Carlos Saladrigas, who serves as the chairman of the Cuba Study Group, issued a stark warning this Monday while discussing the economic reforms introduced by Miguel Díaz-Canel last Friday: "Time has run out for the country."

In an interview with Tania Costa on CiberCuba, Saladrigas assessed the economic reform package announced by Díaz-Canel on June 12, which proposes increased municipal autonomy, encourages investment from the diaspora, and plans to reduce the number of ministries from 27 to 20.

While Saladrigas acknowledged the potential benefit of allowing Cubans abroad to invest on par with foreign investors, he was sharply critical of the rest of the reform package. He referenced a well-known Wendy's advertisement to express his skepticism: "Where's the beef? When you get the hamburger, where's the beef in it? And the beef is missing."

This skepticism highlights a historical pattern: many of these measures were already outlined in the 2010-2011 Guidelines approved at the Sixth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba but have never been fully implemented. It has been 15 years without genuine follow-through on promises of decentralization by the regime.

Saladrigas called for immediate legislative action: "I don't understand why they can't say: starting tomorrow, the People's Power Assembly will debate this measure and pass that reform."

He also emphasized that every measure must have a strong legal foundation and be consistent with others. "What is the legal basis for each of these reforms? They all have to be consistent with one another. If not, they won't work."

Geopolitical Influences and U.S. Relations

Regarding the geopolitical context, Saladrigas mentioned the upcoming peace agreement between the United States and Iran, scheduled to be signed this Friday, June 19, in Switzerland, as a factor that could expedite changes for Cuba by freeing up Washington's attention. Although he acknowledged that this process might have been a distraction, he stated, "I believe, and am among those who believe, that the administration and the Secretary of State continue to prefer change without the need for military intervention."

However, he warned that U.S. pressure also affects the Cuban populace, making the situation "very critical, very dangerous, and very difficult."

The Need for Precision in Reform Implementation

Saladrigas described the current moment as requiring extreme precision. "We are reaching a point where fine-tuning the volume is necessary, and if it goes a bit overboard, the humanitarian crisis becomes extremely severe, and it's already happening."

Furthermore, he cautioned that implementing future changes in Cuba's transition haphazardly will have serious consequences.

"If we make these changes poorly, it will impact the economy. Foreign investment will be delayed, and we will face 17,000 disputes, 17,000 problems, like the issues of claims on existing properties."

For Saladrigas, the stakes go beyond just the economy; they involve the well-being of an entire population. "Millions of Cubans will face a prolonged humanitarian crisis if rapid economic order and growth are not restored quickly."

He was unequivocal in dismissing the regime's historical strategy of stalling. "Unfortunately, buying time might be a strategy, but it's not a reality, and it doesn't work." His final verdict was clear: the country can no longer afford to waste any more time.