Cuban-American entrepreneur Iván Herrera, founder and CEO of Univista Insurance, released a video this Friday, vehemently opposing the 176 economic measures announced by the Cuban regime on Thursday, June 18. He criticized these measures as overdue, insufficient, and forced upon the regime by pressure from Washington. Herrera firmly stated that as long as communists remain in power, he will not invest any money in Cuba.
"These measures have arrived far too late. It's disrespectful and outrageous that at this point, they're implementing these actions, which are anything but voluntary. They are compelled by the pressure exerted by our Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and President Donald Trump on Cuba's dictatorship," Herrera declared in his video.
Born in Alquízar, Artemisa in 1973, Herrera expressed regret that the regime did not take these steps decades ago. "It would have been wonderful if they had done this 30 years ago. I wouldn't have had to emigrate. We could have avoided many deaths."
Historical Opportunities Squandered by the Regime
In his video, Herrera highlighted the historical opportunities the regime missed for reform: the Camarioca and Mariel exoduses, Fidel Castro's death, and the July 11, 2021 protests, when the dictatorship chose repression over opening up. "They chose to give it away to the Chinese, chose exploitation, chose to mistreat and humiliate that people, creating the UMAP, doing all they did," he accused.
When it comes to calls for investment in the island, Herrera was unequivocal: "At least for me, while you're there, I won't invest a penny. It doesn't matter who talks to me, no matter how they try to clean you up."
Call for Power to Return to the People
Herrera also accused the regime's leaders of having "their hands, bodies, feet, and faces stained with the Cuban people's blood" and demanded they leave power: "Get out of there," he urged directly.
Instead of seeking foreign or diaspora capital, Herrera proposed that the regime hand over power directly to those working the land. "People my age, the farmers from my hometown, from Alquízar, from Güira, from San Antonio de los Baños, want to farm their land and can't because of you," he stated.
Herrera also condemned the regime for hoarding resources that are not used for the people. "Those individuals should take the 18 billion, the ones discovered, because there are over 500 billion dollars you have scattered across banks. Go to where those farmers are and hand over power to them."
Skepticism Amid Announcements of Reform
Herrera's rejection of the measures comes amid deep skepticism. Following the announcement of the reform package—the largest since the Special Period, which for the first time since 1959 includes the authorization of private banking and exchange houses—the informal market responded with further depreciation of the peso: the dollar climbed to 690 CUP this Friday.
This is not the first time Herrera has taken such a stance. In March 2026, he had already declared that there would be no business investment in Cuba until the Cuban people are free, and that same month he traveled to Washington to seek support from the Trump administration before Congress.
The entrepreneur concluded his message with a warning to the regime and a promise to the Cuban people: "Freedom is coming to Cuba soon because you don't know how to produce. You only know how to steal what others produce. Get out and let us do it, and you'll see a happy, prosperous people with education, schools, hospitals, and everything," he concluded.
Understanding Iván Herrera's Stance on Cuban Reforms
Why does Iván Herrera reject the economic measures announced by the Cuban regime?
Iván Herrera criticizes the measures as being overdue, insufficient, and forced by external pressure from the United States, rather than voluntary reforms by the Cuban government.
What historical events does Iván Herrera mention as missed opportunities for reform?
Herrera refers to the exoduses of Camarioca and Mariel, the death of Fidel Castro, and the protests of July 11, 2021, as opportunities where the regime could have chosen to reform but instead opted for repression.
What does Iván Herrera propose as an alternative to foreign investment in Cuba?
Herrera suggests that the regime should hand over power to those who work the land, allowing local farmers to cultivate and prosper without the regime's interference.