Cuban president evaluates recovery of Guantanamo Province

The meeting also analyzed the panic situation created by fake news, referring to an alleged rupture of the dam in the municipality of San Antonio del Sur.
Photo: @PresidenciaCuba

Havana, October 26 (RHC) — The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel, evaluated this Friday the recovery process in the municipalities of Guantanamo affected by Hurricane Oscar.

At the meeting, it was reported that the province will continue to be impacted by ongoing rains in the coming days, for which reason it was indicated to keep the systems on alert, and to evacuate all people in danger zones.

Authorities of the Guantanamo Defense Council reported on the work being undertaken to restore the electrical service, a process also affected by the recent rains.

The meeting also analyzed the panic situation created by false news regarding an alleged rupture of the dam in the municipality of San Antonio del Sur, as reported by the Presidency of the Republic in X.

In this regard, Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman explained that the situation was under control and the Ministry of the Interior is conducting the relevant investigations.

The hydrometeorological phenomenon that crossed the east of the country with a category 1 hurricane, left a balance of seven fatalities and considerable material damage.

It also caused significant rains in the eastern and central provinces for several days.

The day before, the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) brought food and provisions to the territories that are still isolated by land in the easternmost province of Cuba.

Medicines and other supplies were also brought to the territory, with more than 28 thousand inhabitants, in several ongoing operations.  (Source: Prensa Latina)

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Cuban foreign minister pays official visit to Hungary

Photo: @BrunoRguezP

Havana, October 25 (RHC)– Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez met this Friday with his Hungarian counterpart, Péter Szijjártó, in the context of the official visit he is making to that European nation.

In his profile on the social network X, the Cuban foreign minister described the meeting as excellent and fruitful, which he said will contribute to strengthening ties between the two countries and strengthening political-diplomatic dialogue.

He pointed out that the signing of three bilateral agreements shows interest on both sides to continue developing bilateral cooperation.

Rodríguez visits Hungary at the invitation of the Government of that country, president of the European Union, on the 50th anniversary of the presence in this country of Raúl Roa, Foreign Minister of Dignity.

“We hope to continue to deepen the existing ties between both countries and with the European Union,” said the head of Cuban diplomacy when reporting on his stay in Hungary.

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Mexico: Claudia Sheinbaum Confirms the Sending of Technical Help to Overcome Cuban Energy Crisis

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Oct 24, 2024 Photo: EFE

Oct 24 (teleSUR) On Thursday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the sending of technical assistance to Cuba to overcome the country’s energy crisis.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established contact with the Cuban government to have the Federal Commission on Electricity of the Aztec country assist the Cuban technical teams.

Claudia Sheinbaum further stated that the shipment of fuel will be evaluated if necessary.

Mexico’s president assured that her country has always condemned the US blockade against Cuba for decades. «We will always support the Cubans», said the president.

He also reaffirmed the condemnation of Mexico to the US blockade against Cuba, one of the main causes of the energy crisis that the island is facing.

Sheinbaum assured that, in the upcoming vote at the United Nations on this blockade of Cuba, Mexico will ratify its condemnation of this unilateral sanction.

For several months Cuba has faced a deficit of thermoelectric generation, reaching a ceiling last Friday after the national Electro energy system was disconnected due to failures and breaks in the generation plants, which made the country dark.

As the days have gone on, the repair work of the generating plants has advanced, allowing more than 90% of customers in the capital to have electricity without power cuts.

Mexico, the United Nations, ALBA-TCP and other friendly nations in Latin America have shown their support for Cuba in the midst of the energy crisis, aggravated by the passage of Hurricane Oscar.

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Cubans uncover their best side in assisting storm victims

Havana, Oct 24 (Prensa Latina) Cuban organizations and institutions are collecting donations on Thursday, in a bid to help families affected by Tropical Storm Oscar’s passage through Guantanamo province.

Responding to an initiative from the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), several organizations and private citizens have been gathering clothing, toiletries, household items, toys and food, which will later be sent to the country’s easternmost region.

More than 600 youngsters from all over the island have organized into brigades to assist victims in Guantanamo, which is still under cyclone alert due, considering the dangers posed by the floods the storm left behind.

The Cuban Young Communist League (UJC) First Secretary, Meyvis Estevez, praised on social media actions by young Cubans, who have sent dozens of donations to the organization’s municipal and provincial committees.

Joining in the charitable endeavor, the Central Bank of Cuba has opened several official accounts to receive Cuban Pesos (CUP) for the victims.

These accounts are 0699983004299919 from the Banco de Crédito y Comercio (Bank of Credit and Commerce, BANDEC), 1299731002599715 from the Banco Popular de Ahorro (Peoples’ Savings Bank), and 0598770006615919 from the Banco Metropolitano (Metropolitan Bank S.A.)

Bank remittances can be made through electronic payment channels: ATMs, the Transfermovil app, or by depositing cash at any bank branch.

On Wednesday, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited the communities affected by the floods in San Antonio del Sur, Imias, and Maisi.

Speaking to locals, the head of State underscored that “these are complex times but we will overcome them. Guantanamo must not feel abandoned, it has all the country’s support”.

Diaz-Canel emphasized that “the first thing now is for all of us, with the support of the brigades, to solve the immediate problems -fallen trees, downed power lines, lifting affected houses, and ensuring communications”.

Contingents of power line workers from all provinces have moved eastwards to help restore electric power.

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President Díaz-Canel highlights Cuba’s partnership with the BRICS

Havana, October 25 (RHC) — Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Friday highlighted his country’s incorporation into the BRICS group as an associate member, approved at the XVI Summit of the organization held in Kazan, Russia.

On his profile on the social network X, the head of state assured that “Cuba is honored to enter as a partner country in the BRICS, five letters and a great hope for the countries of the South, on the arduous path towards a more just, democratic, equitable and sustainable international order.”

Likewise, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez reaffirmed Cuba’s interest and commitment to work together with the members of that group in defense of multilateralism, peace, International Law and the construction of a development and cooperation agenda that responds to the priorities of the South.

The Caribbean nation was admitted as an associate member of BRICS along with 12 other countries: Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

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Chinese press denounces US blockade facing Cuba’s energy crisis

Beijing, Oct 23 (Prensa Latina) Chinese media, on Wednesday, condemned the US blockade against Cuba and denounced its responsibility in the energy emergency the Caribbean nation is facing.

The Global Times published an illustration revealing how this commercial, economic, and financial siege is closely linked to the collapse of Cuba’s National Electro-energetic Grid (SEN) by preventing access to oil sources.

Media such as CGTN and Xinhua have also published information on the Caribbean nation’s situation, highlighting the consequences of these sanctions, and Cuba’s inclusion in Washington’s State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list.

Previously, Chinese citizens had expressed support for Havana in the current energy crisis and urged to lift the US blockade.

In statements to Prensa Latina, entrepreneur Huang Qiao Ming (Simon) assured that the US blockade is unfair and represents a big hardship for international trade.

However, he expressed the will to find alternatives to overcome this blockade, which currently represents an economic and financial war against the Caribbean nation.

“Trust, unity, and technology,” Simon advocated, alluding to the importance of working together and being aware that a better future is possible despite this siege.

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Cuba appreciates international aid, demands an end to U.S. blockade

Havana, Oct 23 (Prensa Latina) President Miguel Diaz-Canel affirmed today that about 41 countries and several international organizations have expressed their solidarity with Cuba, which is facing the simultaneous impacts of a cyclone and an energy emergency, with admirable resilience.

In his profile on X social media, the Head of State wrote that in the face of this situation, the United States declared that the Caribbean nation has not asked for help: Here is our demand: Tear Down the Blockade, he stressed in reference to the policy Washington has implemented for more than six decades to choke the island’s economy and cause a change of government.

Cuba is facing an energy contingency caused by the lack of fuel supply and hurdles to the acquisition of technologies and supplies necessary for the modernization and operation of its power generation plants, due to the world-rejected blockade.

At the same time, it is undertaking recovery work for the damages caused by hurricane Oscar through the island’s eastern territory, which left so far seven people dead and considerable economic and infrastructure damage in four municipalities of Guantanamo province.

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President Maduro Holds High-Level Meetings at BRICS Summit

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (L) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R), Oct. 23, 2024. Photo: teleSUR

The economic cooperation bloc has become the epicenter of hope for Global South nations, the Bolivarian leader pointed out.

Oct 23 (teleSUR) On Wednesday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro maintained an intense schedule of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS summit being held in Kazan.

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Just a few hours after his arrival in this Russian city, the Bolivarian leader met with Presidents Alexandr Lukashenko (Belarus), Mahmoud Abbas (Palestine), and Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Türkiye). He also had a meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

“I am very glad to have met you today. I have only seen you on television in recent years. You spoke of a future victory. If we look at it in global terms, you have already won more than once,” President Lukashenko said in support and appreciation for the Bolivarian leader.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Venezuelan president is scheduled to meet with the host of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, Yuri Ushakov, noted that Putin and Maduro will discuss bilateral issues and cooperation within the framework of BRICS. “There are a million issues” to address, Ushakov stated on the eve of the Russian-Venezuelan negotiations.

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Cuban government prioritizes attention to Guantanamo province, hit by Hurricane Oscar

Photo: Prensa Latina

Havana, October 23 (RHC)– The Cuban government is carrying out a series of actions to support the eastern province of Guantanamo, which continues today in a cyclone alert phase as a result of the flooding left by tropical storm Oscar.

According to the first colonel, Luis Ángel Macareño, of the Civil Defense Organ, in the municipalities of San Antonio el Sur and Imías, rescue and salvage work continues, given the severity of the flooding caused by the meteor.

On Tuesday, during an extraordinary session of the National Defense Council, Macareño warned about the saturation of the soil in these territories and the need to immediately carry out a process of evaluation of the damages and needs.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture, Ydael Pérez, reported that work is being done on four main lines: supplying food to those affected, to people who perform support work, completing the standard family basket, with emphasis on the population of Imías and San Antonio del Sur, and other additional products for consumption.

For the entire province, located in the eastern end of the country, inputs such as flour for making bread are prioritized, and the strategy includes direct attention to the most vulnerable family nuclei.

By order of the country’s top leadership, a Government work group is located in Guantánamo that will remain for a long time to accompany the recovery efforts, together with the authorities of the territory.

According to preliminary figures, the damage to the housing stock is quantified at 1,282 houses, of which 1,183 are due to total roof collapses, 1,048 partial roof collapses, and 51 total collapses.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces have carried out 493 rescues so far, which has prevented the loss of human lives in flooded areas, reported the second in command of the Department of Operations of the National Civil Defense Staff, Eduardo Cross.

Speaking on the Mesa Redonda program, Cross explained that 4,865 people are protected in evacuation centers, while another 443 remain sheltered in the homes of relatives, friends and neighbors.    (Source: Prensa Latina)

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BRICS Summit Statement Speaks Out Strongly Against Unilateral Sanctions

Flags of the BRICS countries. X/ @pueblopatriota

The BRICS countries also endorsed the use of national currencies so as to reduce their dependence on the U.S. dollar.

Oct 23 (teleSUR) On Wednesday, the 16th BRICS summit concluded its plenary meeting with the release of a joint declaration consisting of 134 points, highlighting proposals to reform the United Nations Security Council in order to make the institution more inclusive and representative of developing countries.

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President Maduro Holds High-Level Meetings at BRICS Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that the document also reflects the bloc’s concerns about the impact of unilateral sanctions on the global economy. The BRICS members also endorsed the use of national currencies so as to reduce their dependence on the U.S. dollar. The following are some key points from the final BRICS declaration resulting from the Kazan Summit:

– The BRICS consider it important to expand their strategic partnership based on shared interests.

– The BRICS call for strengthening the non-proliferation regime and recognize its role in global stability.

– The BRICS are concerned about the negative impact of illegitimate sanctions on the world economy.

– The BRICS urged for greater participation of least-developed countries in global processes. The group welcomes the interest of Global South countries in unification.

– The BRICS expressed concern over the escalation of violence and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, calling for a ceasefire.

– The BRICS called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages who are being illegally held in the region. The BRICS countries support Palestine’s adoption as a full member of the United Nations.

– The BRICS reject the political use of cooperation in the fight against transnational crime.

– The BRICS called for the implementation of the United Nations resolution that urges states to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists.

– The BRICS are considering mediation proposals to resolve the conflict in Ukraine through dialogue.

– The BRICS reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism and the preservation of the central role of the United Nations in the international system.

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