CUBA Has Collapsed

[@tapmarin]

Collapse of the oil furnace after 50 years in not just lack of maintenance. It is just end of life.

[@michaelplunkett8059]

As Thatcher said, Eventually, socialists run out of other people's money to spend.

[@anthonyorafferty5632]

There biggest power plant was hit by a hurricane during COViiD era.

[@maya-xstv]

It’s the end of a lie as well

[@brianw612]

Well, they are still driving 70 year old junker cars. So end of life, not so much.

[@fredeerickbays]

@@brianw612 Junkers many of those cars r still in show room shape b/c not salt on roads to cause rust and they take care of them. Now with the lack of electricity the aver age person will hardly notice in that they used so little of it to begin with. As for food Cuba Can feed itself what else does a person need then food and a dry place to sleep. All the rest of what we do is just fluff. When u r poor roof and food r all u care about anything else means nothing. They have food and roof need nothing else. Now as to their not growing as much sugar. I say good: We do not need refined sugar. It should be totally eliminated in all refined forms be it cane corn veet (say with German accent) what ever. U rich USAer's need to learn that ur way of life has cause the problems our world now has. It is u who have put the most pollutants into Ma Terra with ur big everything. But face it kids all means nothing for by 2050 u will be all gone. Not a one left. Ma Terra will be a very dif planet but She will go on without humans. There is one way to stop this. 1st all war must stop. The we must bring our pop down to less then 1B before 2100. That means that one kid and one kid. No more big families. Ma terra has only just so much to give and when it is gone we will need to get things form else where then this planet. That at this time is not good b/c getting shat into space to get stuff takers so much it will kill u all by the pollution. So kids either clean up ur act and clean it up now or in 125 yr u will be not more. Merry Solstice

[@thinkerly1]

One of Cuba's common lies regards not being able to get spare parts for maintenance of its power plants. The plants were built by the Russians. There is nothing stopping the Russians from selling parts and maintenance services to the Cubas -- except that the Cubans are broke, and they have a history, as you said, of stiffing anyone who gives them a loan.

[@dmitryk2058]

that infrastructure was built by USSR …not “russians” per se. USSR no longer exists And modern russia does NOT produce ANYTHING. They themselves rely on old soviet infrastructure and tech and import everything else. There is absolutely no way modern russia can do what USSR did more than half a century ago

[@Krieghandt]

One mistake, It was the Soviets that made the plants. Russia can't even make parts for their own power infrastructure.

[@ProfessorFickle]

: just like Argentina 🇦🇷 😂 defaults almost every 20 years .

[@kronos7110]

@@neilgodwin6531 Sad but true.

[@GeoEstes]

Not only that, but Cuba is free to trade with any other country it likes. The US doesn't impose secondary sanctions against it.

[@truthbsaid1600]

The Cuban oppressors will never acknowledge the fact that it is their Soviet era economic policies at the root of all the problems.

[@brendanquinn6894]

You make it sound like Communism is a bad idea or something?

[@ksandhoff1]

@@brendanquinn6894 IT IS COMMRAD

[@anthonyorafferty5632]

They are being actively oppressed by the USA.

[@MrRezillo]

@@brendanquinn6894 LOL!

[@philc.9280]

Russia is not in a financial position to bail them out now.

[@lipingrahman6648]

It’s truly a sad day when a peasant born from Bangladesh like me feel sorry for the Cubans.

[@hamishfullerton7309]

$7499 gdp per capita in Cuba and Bangladesh gdp per capita $2499 per capita ,no they should be feeding sorry for you ,but only just ,least cuba they still have really good health compare to similar countries

[@lipingrahman6648]

@ true enough but my people managed to overthrow our authoritarian government whilst the Cubans have had theirs for decades. And for as dirt poor as it is, Bangladesh has had growth while Cuba has either shrunk or stagnated longer than I’ve lived.

[@hamishfullerton7309]

@lipingrahman6648 US sanctions and factors he mentioned have strangled it now and it's a very small country relatively and compared to other similar poor Caribbean nations it is generally been the better or best compared to others in alot of area's compared to Jamaica or Dominic Republic and don't even mention Haiti, now that's a country you should make you feel blessed that you live in Bangladesh, just have look at the figures and History,it makes Cuba looks like a paradise, something the yanks never mention

[@cl5080]

@@hamishfullerton7309 I’ve been to Cuba, and it’s no paradise. In the first place, the US “blockade” is a myth. The Canadian government has been propping up the Cuban economy and infrastructure for years, and yet it’s still crumbling. Havana is in ruins. The government keeps telling people there’s good healthcare, but good luck with the waiting lists because doctors can’t work for free. They also keep saying there’s no poverty, and yet I saw plenty of teenaged prostitutes selling their wares on the streets of Havana. Then there were the homeless people they keep saying don’t exist. I’m still haunted by the sad blue eyes of an elderly woman who was hungry and begging for money in Camaguey. Our bus driver even cried because he was laid off four times in the previous year and couldn’t get enough work to feed his family. The only way that people live that way is by force, and having a gun pointed at them. Blaming the USA doesn’t help. The Batista regime was just as socialist, and so when Castro came to power, nothing at all changed for the better. So sad 😢

[@cl5080]

@@hamishfullerton7309 What matters isn’t how much GDP is per capita. What matters is how much does a pound of butter cost compared to the average wages per capita.

[@captainplatinum]

Such a shame . Cuba is a beautiful place!

[@Singlesix6]

Good people, too.

[@jqight740]

It’s a shame like that rap song from 1994 by Kris Kris’s It’s a Shame lol 😂

[@bubbajones4522]

Unfortunately they weren't smart enough to reject socialist. They now belong to a long list of failed marxist experiments.

[@Curlyblonde]

They are capable of feeding themselves. Just government policies prevent them from doing so. Socialism = theft = laziness.

[@WilliamKiene]

Before Fidel's revolution, Cuba was one of the most popular places to go for the rich Americans.

[@MchaelHowell]

A failed State. No remedy till government changes.

[@michaelplunkett8059]

​@@AlbertHess-xy7kyYes. We change regularly. Just had a spirited election.

[@TruckStopLayby]

If it's such a failed state, why does America still need to apply sanctions? Why wouldn't America just let it fail on its own? Once de-dollarisation takes hold, Cuba will be fine.

[@robgrey6183]

@@AlbertHess-xy7ky LOL all the Cubans are leaving Cuba for the US

[@robgrey6183]

@@TruckStopLayby We'll keep the sanctions because we've got long memories.

[@paulkamath3429]

​@@TruckStopLaybyIt will fail on its own. It's allies are Russia, China, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Russia is in no condition to support Cuba thousands of miles away. The Chinese are too mercantile. Venezuela is almost as broke as Cuba. Nicaragua will fold like an umbrella under US pressure. There is no hope for Cuba, unless they open up Chinese style.

[@busboy262]

The Castro brothers took over Cuba, created a communist state, welcomed the USSR and nationalized all US private property on the island. That was NOT the fault of the US. The US sanctions consist of prohibiting US companies from doing business with Cuba. Since there are no secondary sanctions, the entire world is free to support Cuba in any way that they like. Cuba hosts tourists from around the world. In fact, the US allows expatriates in the US to send money back to their families in Cuba and allows US humanitarian agencies to aide Cuban citezens. The Castro brothers along with their friends stole everything that the Cuban nation had to offer and mismanaged the rest. But yeah......blame the US. Afterall, those corrupt despotic thieves are just victims. They can't be blamed. And if a Cuban blames them, they dare not utter the words.

[@elimbatido4036]

BINGO

[@Krieghandt]

nice of you to not mention how the US got all that Cuban property. And make sure you never examine America's role in the Banana Republics. Now, is modern America responsible? No. But is America faultless? Not even a little bit.

[@YouGotOptions2]

The US had done MUCH WORSE to Cuba, the Castro brothers actions where in RESPONSE to the U.S. imperialism. The U.S. is NOT and NEVER HAS BEEN innocent. stop[ the cap

[@shannonnewman3091]

Look at how good communism work's

[@misterserious3522]

The Castro family has done very well for themselves indeed, living like billionaires on the publics thin dimes, theres no question they're not feeling any of the publics' pinches and problems.

[@MrVince8]

The reason that Cuba does not want their citizens to be returned is the Cuban government depends on all the money that their citizens earn in the U.S. and send back to Cuba.

[@yactabay]

And add to that that it means it will have to provide for those returning. Housing is one of those.

[@erlendr4952]

Very astute. For those who want to normalize relations with Cuba, if that happens, Cuban citizens will become North Korean style slaves, paying for the regimes missmanagement.

[@francismarion6400]

They don't want their public to hear about how much freedom their neighbors have 90 miles away.

[@puraLusa]

remitance economy - exactly this

[@stygis5964]

@@francismarion6400 have you been to Cuba? Go there, you'll see a people with great healthcare and education. Compare that with what their nearest neigbours have. As for freedom, what freedom do Americans have? The freedom to be farmed like animals by corporations.

[@georgegould667]

Prayers for Cuba and it’s people

[@WilliamKiene]

Trump will help the Cuban people.

[@theonetruerobb4852]

@@WilliamKiene What a load of crap. Donnie Dickweed helps no one but himself. Never mind the Cubans, he doesn't give a f**k about you. MAGA is treason...

[@Medic397]

When i was a missionary kid in the Caribbean, on the island of Nevis, we had power from generators that came out of US decommissioned submarines. This was in the early 60's. My dad took me to the power station. As a kid, I was excited and impressed.

[@Charles-bp4oc]

Its so pleasant to listen to the facts from a unbiased party . Please keep it up Joe.

[@power2084]

It's* not its.

[@kylemenos]

Everyone has bias. The problems only come from those who claim to have none.

[@macapovilla]

The main reason for why Cuba doesn't want the return of Cuban nationals is due to a loss of free international USD$ coming into Cuba from relatives in the States supporting families in Cuba.

[@jcjcviews]

Venezuelans back home are now immigrants here; some of them, of course, will be sending valuable money back home, which is a good thing, no?

[@AlejandroMartinez-it4qq]

No is not the regime gets free money​@@jcjcviews

[@alejandromaldonado6159]

​@@jcjcviewsOnly for the individual families. Not for America.

[@rmoreland3583]

@@jcjcviews They are sending our tax dollars that democrat officials gave them just for sneaking across the border. Thanks Biden and Harris. Democratic gifts just keep on giving. Thankfully they are gone; almost. Now to get rid of the rest and all of the RINOs.

[@luisacleaves9592]

Cubans abroad have kept the regime financially

[@Oddingen]

If China gives loans, it is usually written in the small print that if the borrower cannot repay, China takes over ownership. Could this mean that China can establish a military base in Cuba?

[@donwinston]

Get real. They just forgave all debt in the entire continent of Africa. Search KZbin for "BRIC Africa Debt"

[@edwinvogel1528]

@@donwinston Do you have a good source for that? Nothing like that comes up when I google for "China Debt Africa". It's mostly about debt trap diplomacy.

[@Oddingen]

@@donwinston There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

[@dragon723.]

@@donwinston All 1,306 loans amounting to $182.28 billion to 49 African governments and seven regional borrowers built up since 2000 forgiven? That's a huge amount of debt for China to just write off for no reason. Its not how any of the major international economies act. I can't find a source for that. They regularly cancel a handful of small interest free loans. It happened again a few months ago, probably in return for under the table concessions and because China knows as well as the western lenders that they are likely never getting that money. For example, a few interest free loans - basically markers - get forgiven and suddenly the government of say Kongo no longer cares that chinese companies are extracting "blood" Cobalt using child labor in "artisanal" mines.

[@francismarion6400]

You can bet they already have.

[@ApparitionElectronic]

Telling the businesses that they are responsible for their own electricity, while saying that they are required to produce 50% of their power by renewables doesn't mean they are moving to capitalism rather they are moving further into dictatorship

[@eskapadela]

Paz y Libertad para El Pueblo Cubano!👍👍👏👏

[@pauldiamond9219]

I read recent articles that said Cuban power plants burn crude oil directly as fuel, ie) not refined into diesel as all the other islands in the Caribbean use. Burning crude directly is both extremely ineffiecient and unbeliebably dirty, given all the by-products of incomplete combustion. This unburnt gunk (tar, sand, soot etc) means the equipment has to be cleaned, maintained and parts replaced far more freq than more modern designs. Given that only the Soviets ever made this sort of gear and the Cubans clearly couldnt keep up with constant maintenance and spare parts, it should come as no surprise that the grid failed and they cant find suitable replacement equipment as they simply havent been manufactured in 40 odd years.

[@georgerivera9318]

When i first started working at a power generating station in the Long Beach area of California 38 years ago, our units would burn oil and not diesel at night. The oil was very thick and had to be heated to flow. Diesel is much more expensive than bunker oil.

[@AlbertHess-xy7ky]

Your ignorance is showing. All the other major islands in the Caribbean use distillate fuel oil and residual fuel (near crude oil), the same fuel that powers most oil tankers and container ships. Heavy fuel generators are widely manufactured out side of Russia.

[@PassivePortfolios]

All that pollution....Yuk! Don't the Cuban commies care about global climate change since they all live on an island?!

[@corbeau-_-]

@@georgerivera9318 there's still a reason you didn't do it all the time and why you have to go back 38 years. Diesel is not the only product coming from that crude oil - you are burning byproduct with less output. That's inefficient, even though it might seem cheaper. It's mostly less of a hassle, even though it needs to be heated to get going. It also shows a problem - there's a reason it was only done at night back then, I don't think they still do it now. Meanwhile Cuba didn't invest to improve there - which is worth it, but also takes effort and a long term vision. I suppose we're all sort of lacking there... It's not just about Russia, you see this with a lot of these situations - government run. It's the biggest weakness of a lack of competition, of 'strong' rule. In the end, you get run over. It doesn't even rely on that completely, on tunnel vision. Japan also went into a dead end street and kept going for far too long. A lot of countries seem to have done so, when you look around. Blind, pety, or betting on the wrong horses. I'd even say the 'recent' focus on Russia, Iran, China, Cuba, whatever collapsing and swinging from left to right politically, like Brexit, Biden/Trump, or going all in, like Israel, Russia is a way to ignore our own burning crude at home. Hopefully some people will come up with something more apt than 'meh'. Even though that could work out for about 40 years.

[@RM-xf9gi]

@@AlbertHess-xy7ky why not switch to solar and wind battery systems?

[@bw1357]

When the government owns everything..... everything breaks

[@TomTomicMic]

Commies always fail!?!

[@michaelellringer5600]

@@TomTomicMic Communist China hasn't failed! And capitalism can fail. Look t the U.S. with $35 trillion in debt. What a failure of a country!

[@MicheleLLOYD-bk2mt]

Bit like the USA then ? And capitalism ?

[@MicheleLLOYD-bk2mt]

@@TomTomicMiclike failed China you mean ? Lol. Whilst it eats your lunch for you.

[@mozzarellamaniac6300]

​@@TomTomicMic shocking, right?

[@georgeearl1250]

Love when u cover countries that no one else does.

[@slappy8941]

You can't just spell "you" like a big boy?

[@ms.5779]

Good reporting,thank you

[@robertreisner8132]

Thank you, Joe. I appreciate your comments.

[@AnthonyMoore-rd7yv]

Russia 🇷🇺 cannot help them no money.

[@Pickn4Gold]

Sadly I think that changes soon, Trump is going to demand we cut sanctions against them...

[@StevenWilkins-y9t]

Why should Russia help Cuba? The Soviets did for geo-political strategic reasons. Putin has difference priorities... Interaction with Cuba would simply escalate tensions with USA - they are bad enough already. Putin's not a fool.

[@dennisestradda9746]

@@StevenWilkins-y9tchyna very little few allies, practically bribed with oil

[@stefano986]

puttler can't even help himself!!

[@TheTomexification]

They can't help them selves, the money run out, what we see now is a façade or is the little money they manage to get.

[@MrRezillo]

I watched an interview last year with Cuba's economic minister. She was a very stylishly dressed and quaffed woman and looked like she'd just been shopping at. Sacks Firth Avenue, definitely not someone who'd been standing in the hot sun in a bread line. Her appearance told me more about Cuba's economic problems than any of the rhetoric she was spouting.

[@thomgizziz]

Stop thinking, just accept the media's explanation that it is the USA's fault for the embargo and the US is the one responsible for the common person being poor.

[@valeriemcclelland8120]

Coiffed, not quaffed☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️

[@brianmcintyre8563]

I have been to Cuba, the shopping their sucks, they probable have special stores for people like her.

[@mitchyoung93]

​@@valeriemcclelland8120 Maybe she had been drinking.

[@davidgross6052]

Saks

[@paulleckner8235]

In a race to the bottom, Haiti is in the lead to Cuba, at a close second.

[@WilliamKiene]

Venezuela is horrific. The CIA will be busy.

[@NormanF62]

The Haitians have freedom, something Cubans lack. They may be poor but there is always hope for the future. In a totalitarian country like Cuba, there is none.

[@frankgbacoa87]

A few years back Cubans used to travel to Haiti to buy food/clothes to bring back to Cuba fyi

[@dksurfer]

Venezuelan is close behind

[@kimmanning4989]

Super informative, thank you!

[@esbuenodun]

Thank you for the Cubs update. 🙌🏾💪🏾🙏🏾

[@geno92308]

When we were in Cuba, we thought it was comical that they blame the US for everything. They are free to buy from whom they choose, but they need hard currency. I was once talking to a cab owner who said is mechanic is a magician. Making all the parts he needed. I quipped back that all our car parts come from China, they can buy whatever they want from China. China also produces most the worlds solar panels.

[@BubuH-cq6km]

it IS the fault of the US due to sanctions that ALWAY hurt the common people the most and this is why BRICS was created is because the US either invades your Country or use sanctions to try to overthrow the Government IF you won't roll over and become a Bitch to the Empire peddling False Democracy just look at LIE after LIE Iraq WMD's Fake Syrian Chemical Weapons and supporting Terrorists calling them "Freedom Fighters" just like Afghanistan back in the 1980's Libya an Ally of the West until they wanted to dump the Petro $$ as well as trying to create an African Union, breaking Minsk 2014 Peace Accord and supporting NAZIS in Ukraine pushing for membership into NATO the US would NEVER allow Russia/China to establish military bases in Canada/Mexico yet expect Russia's Western Border to be surrounded by the US same way the US has surrounded Iran

[@Ukie88]

No , all our car parts do not come from ccpland. Depends what cars you are talking about. Cuban cars seem all American vintage.

[@ChristopherMitchellScammer]

yeah they are free to buy from whoever they want, but the problem is that USA has sanctioned Cuba all over the world so Cuba can not sell anything to whoever it wants... sanctions only hurt the common people and not the government officials...

[@PassivePortfolios]

No money, no investment, Cuba has a broken economy run by an obsolete regime.

[@thomgizziz]

@@ChristopherMitchellScammer Sanctions doesn't hurt the common person the cuban government hurts the common person. It doesn't matter if the US traded with cuba because the government would be sure to keep the people down. You need to start thinking for yourself and not repeating whatever you are told to think like an NPC.

[@gregash7683]

For every failure, it's the 'embargo'. Choosing the wrong type of fuel for generators, it's the embargo, the inability to purchase obsolete and unavailable generation replacements parts from the USA, it's the embargo. No friends willing to provide free fuel and other resources, it's the embargo. The diversion of funds from infrastructure preventative maintenance to proxy military assignments for Moscow, it's the embargo. The Castro regime is like a grown-up child that still relies on their parent's allowance. I've heard all the old, classic arguments about it being a ideological fight between the US and the Soviet Union. That's old and irrelevant news. Bankruptcy is neither a Marxist nor Capitalist problem. Restoring an economy and creating wealth for its citizens comes from a free market economy and no government interference.

[@ouimetco]

Ya if you have resources. Which they do not. Tourism so so before Covid. Oil form Venezuela before USA siezed their accounts.

[@dudeiplayhockey]

They made a great sandwich though.

[@gregash7683]

@@dudeiplayhockey I totally agree, but if you want real meat on it, you need to buy it in South Florida.

[@alaeus2310]

Part 1 of the comment, sure. Part 2 led to the Gilded Age, so maybe reconsider that.

[@TomTomicMic]

Commies fail, Russia is, they are to, China next!?!

[@tages_matuna]

“No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable.” - Adam Smith

[@thetextualist]

This is why everyone is popping pills in the western world right ?

[@corbeau-_-]

the importance of that phrase also makes it childish. Of course the body isn't fine when the leg and arm are rotting. But apparently the head in this story thinks he's all that, so he needed this reminder from Adam.

[@TomTomicMic]

​​@@corbeau-_- In the 17th Century he is stating the bleeding obvious which had not been stated or ignored before and it's one quote in the first book about Country Economics, Cuba is ignoring that message choosing to blame others rather than its incompetent leaders, who since Castro always wants something for nowt!?!

[@bubbajones4522]

Yes but the solutions to this wealth inequality is the determining factor of success or collapse. Embracing socialism rather than solving the root cause of a fraudulent fiat currency designed to enslave the people who use it caused Cuba to collapse.

[@NormanF62]

Communism in its true form is about planned and distributed misery. A society where everyone is equal, by definition, is a society that will never be happy.

[@jppalm3944]

American socialist professors embarrassed. Years of championing and lying about Cuban amazing healthcare, education, fair distribution of wealth, successful anti capitalist society

[@chrisfournier6144]

Just last week I talked to Canadians that are currently repairing Cuban power stations. Sure we had a rolling blackout out for part of a day in Havana. Things are definitely tough in Cuba but there is hope there as well.

[@dennisweidner288]

One thing that should be mentioned in any report on Cuba is that Fidel and his successors have never allowed elections.

[@fredycorea4901]

Truth hurts, right?

[@Alba67]

They’ve never had a lying, rapist as head of state either (not since the revolution anyway).

[@anthonyorafferty5632]

@@independent-ts6ys Yes he was talking about Biden

[@kimobrien.]

@@anthonyorafferty5632 They have elections for the national assembly.

[@gaudente1900]

that's because they can't afford the ballot papers 🤣

[@kchristiansen3600]

Thanks!

[@zivkodespotoski7535]

Imagine if Cubans got rid of their government, established a democratic government, and establish a world trade. They would thrive.

[@jimmyconway8025]

But they refuse to rise up Soo..

[@macmcleod1188]

They won't have a chance to establish a democratic government. The US will back someone like Batista... again.

[@reflective5001]

@@jimmyconway8025 They rose up against capitalist corruption. Now the 'funny money' stops again-who knows?

[@wtfdoino605]

East coast power brokers would not have rely on Las Vegas and American laws to get their sin on. Just like the Old Days.

[@TheLibbyjo]

Better yet be like America and form a REPUBLIC. Democracy ushers the bullies.

[@darthgrundle2349]

I'm old enough to remember the coup against the dictatorship of Batista in Cuba with people dancing in the streets. In the end with Fidel Castro and his brother Raul taking power and installing a Communist Government. The Cuban people chose their future, this is what's forgotten. Where's the dancing in the streets now..!?!?!?

[@pauldemos-bb5mk]

Batista was a corrupted power hungry asshole who sold his country to the highest bidder Cant blame the Cubans to get rid off him , just for replacing him with the wrong person

[@williamwallace9564]

are you suggesting bringing back Batista?

[@AlejandroMartinez-it4qq]

Ok no the cheering was only until Fidel decided to kill Camilo and install his dictatorship also the rebolution was backed by the US they placed a embargo on Cuba so Batista would not be able to buy weapons.

[@dennisspackman7147]

So sad. I spent around month last December travelling around Cuba. The people were amazing they deserve better.

[@_Diana_S]

Cubans did not ever maintain manufacturing facilities they got from the Soviet Union. I remember an article of the Russian journalist back in 90-s who visited Cuba and basically said, that everything the Soviets built there is getting rusty, and Cubans just sit around playing domino with their neighbors. Nobody worked, nobody maintained anything since more than 30 years ago.

[@Tugela60]

BS. Everything was getting rusty in Russia as well at that. The 90s was when their economy collapsed.

[@johng4093]

Blame a system with no incentives. Cubans who migrate elsewhere have been very successful.

[@Tegelane5]

@@Tugela60 Maybe rusty yes, but there were loads of metalworkers, welders, turning lathe operators etc who fixed things and kept things running. Things did not look cute but they worked.

[@Tugela60]

@@Tegelane5 Except mostly they didn't.

[@donaldpiper9763]

Nobody cares if the don’t care it’s their own fault.

[@manuelaraica3216]

I lived in Cuba for a few years in Isla Gerona and Havana in the late 70s. This country not only needs a change of leadership, but also humanitarian assistance. The Cuban people are so sweet and need a helping hand, so they can help themselves, but the failed government must go.

[@stygis5964]

interesting that you don't mention the impact of sanctions

[@BackintheUSSR2024]

​@@stygis5964Interesting that you don't mention Russia abandoning and looking away from Cuba in their time of need !!!

[@kirkjohnson6638]

Sweet people don't tolerate communism.

[@stephaniemurria5534]

Right. So they can immigrate to the US and vote for a racist who hates them.

[@camo6344]

@@stygis5964don’t need to they are irrelevant it’s only America sanctions they ca trade with china Russia it’s Cuba has no money to pay

[@CoolbutWarm-xt2jy]

I really feel bad for Cuba .Very nice people.

[@DWbo-r7v]

He keeps calling Cuba a communist country when actual communists believe in a stateless classless society. Cuba is a true state socialist country. There is a difference. Time for intellectuals to stand up for honest integrity

[@Alcatrazrezz]

It's a very nice place, they love Canadians

[@freemason4979]

Nice people, bad government

[@Johnny-bm7ry]

Not really. If they were nice, they would revolt against communism

[@ralfbaechle]

​@@AlcatrazrezzCuban people mostly love Americans. It's the Cuban government which has a bad opinion on the US.

[@johndettmann6785]

Another tragic example of communist success. Unfortunately there is nobody left in Cuba that remembers how successful that Country used to be and when their government tells them the U.S. is responsible for all of their problems, they believe it.

[@MarlinWilliams-ts5ul]

I have a friend who was favorable to Cuba & the Revolution; a few years ago he visited the Island as a tourist. Somehow he got arrested for being a spy and spent about 2 weeks locked up before they released him and sent him home.😮😮😮😮

[@Jigger2361]

....just back. It's been a "mess" for decades, now, it is on the verge of explosion/implosion. The stories that locals shared with me and both horrifying and sad

[@corbeau-_-]

tell me about this 'verge', or a gist of some of the stories. I mean, I'm having trouble seeing everything collapse, day in, day out. Russia collapsed 40 times last decade. I need less drama...

[@corbeau-_-]

I suppose it will be as you say, messy decades, still ongoing. Could be tomorrow, could be next year. But can disaster be avoided? Nearly running down a societal cliff tends to do something with the minds of people. I mean, no one figured Assad would be gone in 2 weeks... Desperation and hope can unite many people. And sometimes there's more than meets the eye - I don't suppose you saw all of Cuba? At any rate, I would still really appreciate any anecdotes, realities, stories, whatever the thing is that made it look implosive/explosive to you.

[@Tn_jed001]

I spent a week in Cuba in September 2022, hurricane Ian hit while I was there. Power was out in Old Havana for 12 hrs but most of the country lost power for days. Amazing people. I met with a few senior government officials who were very open and honest, they admitted to many problems and also said the greatest gift they had was the U.S. embargo which allowed them to blame all their problems on the U.S.

[@Singlesix6]

Nobody believes "senior government officials". Anywhere.

[@brianboye8025]

Who cares who they blame?

[@noneyabeeswax3200]

Brilliant

[@Gwanzan3325]

Glad to have you back, Joe!

[@robb3210]

That'll teach them you don't throw the mafia out of your country without The Mafia taking revenge action.🤣

[@kentkirkland7230]

Thanks, Joe. Nice job.

[@valnauffts9965]

Cuba has cut its own throat ,so sad

[@Peter_S_]

It did indeed, but only after the US held it against the wall at knife point for over a century and a half. You need to look at the whole picture. Have you ever read the Ostend Manifesto?

[@francismarion6400]

The revolutionaries did. Not all Cubans are evil Socialists.

[@buszen]

@@Peter_S_ Wrong, The US did not and has not held it to knife point, for example the US exports 250 million worth of chicken to cuba annually. You are obviously a victim of the leftist propaganda to think it is the US fault.

[@ProfessorFickle]

@@francismarion6400 North Korea 🇰🇵 and Cuba are Communist.

[@Nogoodalvarez]

Cuba does not pay its debt to other countries and those countries are very angry with Cuba because it does not pay those countries, including its own allies and non-aligned countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Spain. Oh please, the US embargo is full of rubbish and useless, but the US government pretends that it is against Cuba but still does some business with them. The other, the US government against Cuba. Even countries around the world, including the United States and the American people and other countries, do not care about Cuba's problems. Most of the US government and both parties, Republicans and Democrats, want to do business with Cuba, but they do not really care about the Cuban people and they do not care about the Chinese people in China or the Vietnamese people in Vietnam either. Cuba has two blockades: one internal, that of the Cuban government against the Cuban people, and the other, that of the US government against Cuba. Most of the American people support lifting the embargo on Cuba, including Republicans in other states and Democrats. The embargo on Cuba does not affect the Cuban government, they have everything. The embargo on Cuba only harms the Cuban people, that is why it would be good if that embargo was lifted so that the life of the Cuban people in Cuba would be a little better. The US embargo is full of rubbish and useless, but the US government pretends that it is against Cuba, but still does a little business with them, that Cuba, including elite Cuban exiles like travel agencies, also do business with Cuba. It has two blockades, one internal by the Cuban government against the Cuban people, the other, the US government against Cuba. Even countries around the world, and also foreign sanctions and other countries involved, influence, etc. It is the problem of the country of Cuba which includes corruption, mismanagement, food and medicine shortages, lack of infrastructure, high crime rates which the Cuban government does not talk about, deny or show data to the UN, other problems are suicide rates, inflation and drug overdoses. The Cuban embargo and sanctions do not affect the Cuban government, the military and the ministers only affect and harm the Cuban people. And also Cuba has three health systems, first is the public health of the Cuban people, the hospitals are in good condition and also the private hospitals for tourists and government officials are in good condition and also the Cuban doctors go to other countries that pay them a little better than in Cuba because doctors in Cuba are paid a pittance and there is also a Cuban hospital in the country in Qatar that looks like a first world hospital and also the vaccines and medicines that Cuban doctors make in Cuba are taken to poor countries in the world except that in their country there is no medicine. The Cuban elites fled in the 60s. They do not care about low-income Cubans and minorities because of the right-wing dictatorship, they also do not care what is happening because of the communist dictatorship, those Cuban elites fled in the 60s, they left like cowards and took all their money. Castro ordered Cienfuegos to be assassinated because the Cubans on the island loved him more than Castro. Remember their history. Cuba has two blockades: one internal, by the Cuban government against the Cuban people, and the other, by the United States government against Cuba. The majority of the American people support the lifting of the embargo on Cuba, including Republicans in other states and Democrats. The embargo on Cuba does not affect the Cuban government, they have everything. The embargo on Cuba only harms the Cuban people, so it would be good to lift that embargo so that the life of the Cuban people in Cuba would be a little better. The United States and its people do not care about Israel, Palestine or Iran either.This why those countries including Bolivia,Honduras,Nicaragua,Peru and Venezuela are brink of collapse including Cuba Owes a lot of debt to a lot of countries, including their allies. Cuba is destroyed thanks to the former presidents of Cuba, Batista, Castro, Brothers, and Diaz Canal have destroyed Cuba.

[@chavian0]

It could all end if they just held free and fair elections. Sooo simple! Don't blame the US, blame the Cuban government for clinging to power. The US may do business with whomever they choose as their right. What ridiculous entitlement! Manage your own house before you blame the outer world! Posting this as a Cuban born, living in Miami.

[@ProfessorFickle]

#1 revenue for Cubas regime is Remittances from Florida …then Cubans in Florida vote for politicians to put more sanctions on your extended family in Cuba . 👹 That’s a crazy cycle .

[@Nogoodalvarez]

Cuba does not pay its debt to other countries and those countries are very angry with Cuba because it does not pay those countries, including its own allies and non-aligned countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Spain. Oh please, the US embargo is full of rubbish and useless, but the US government pretends that it is against Cuba but still does some business with them. The other, the US government against Cuba. Even countries around the world, including the United States and the American people and other countries, do not care about Cuba's problems. Most of the US government and both parties, Republicans and Democrats, want to do business with Cuba, but they do not really care about the Cuban people and they do not care about the Chinese people in China or the Vietnamese people in Vietnam either. Cuba has two blockades: one internal, that of the Cuban government against the Cuban people, and the other, that of the US government against Cuba. Most of the American people support lifting the embargo on Cuba, including Republicans in other states and Democrats. The embargo on Cuba does not affect the Cuban government, they have everything. The embargo on Cuba only harms the Cuban people, that is why it would be good if that embargo was lifted so that the life of the Cuban people in Cuba would be a little better. The US embargo is full of rubbish and useless, but the US government pretends that it is against Cuba, but still does a little business with them, that Cuba, including elite Cuban exiles like travel agencies, also do business with Cuba. It has two blockades, one internal by the Cuban government against the Cuban people, the other, the US government against Cuba. Even countries around the world, and also foreign sanctions and other countries involved, influence, etc. It is the problem of the country of Cuba which includes corruption, mismanagement, food and medicine shortages, lack of infrastructure, high crime rates which the Cuban government does not talk about, deny or show data to the UN, other problems are suicide rates, inflation and drug overdoses. The Cuban embargo and sanctions do not affect the Cuban government, the military and the ministers only affect and harm the Cuban people. And also Cuba has three health systems, first is the public health of the Cuban people, the hospitals are in good condition and also the private hospitals for tourists and government officials are in good condition and also the Cuban doctors go to other countries that pay them a little better than in Cuba because doctors in Cuba are paid a pittance and there is also a Cuban hospital in the country in Qatar that looks like a first world hospital and also the vaccines and medicines that Cuban doctors make in Cuba are taken to poor countries in the world except that in their country there is no medicine. The Cuban elites fled in the 60s. They do not care about low-income Cubans and minorities because of the right-wing dictatorship, they also do not care what is happening because of the communist dictatorship, those Cuban elites fled in the 60s, they left like cowards and took all their money. Castro ordered Cienfuegos to be assassinated because the Cubans on the island loved him more than Castro. Remember their history. Cuba has two blockades: one internal, by the Cuban government against the Cuban people, and the other, by the United States government against Cuba. The majority of the American people support the lifting of the embargo on Cuba, including Republicans in other states and Democrats. The embargo on Cuba does not affect the Cuban government, they have everything. The embargo on Cuba only harms the Cuban people, so it would be good to lift that embargo so that the life of the Cuban people in Cuba would be a little better. The United States and its people do not care about Israel, Palestine or Iran either.This why those countries including Bolivia,Honduras,Nicaragua,Peru and Venezuela are brink of collapse including Cuba Owes a lot of debt to a lot of countries, including their allies. Cuba is destroyed thanks to the former presidents of Cuba, Batista, Castro, Brothers, and Diaz Canal have destroyed Cuba.

[@thebomber7641]

Soviet union and its proxies keeps blaming the abstract "west" for all of their problems for the last 70 years. Jokes aside the propaganda havent changed since then

[@Vodki7777]

What an uneducated comment… 🤦‍♂️ The global financial system is heavily tied to the U.S. dollar and American banks. Most international trade happens in U.S. dollars, which means that transactions, even between two foreign companies, often pass through U.S. banks. These banks are required to enforce U.S. sanctions, meaning they will block or freeze payments involving Cuba. On top of that, the SWIFT system, which handles international financial messaging, is influenced by U.S. policies. If SWIFT or its member banks defy U.S. sanctions, they risk losing access to the U.S. financial system entirely. So foreign businesses avoid trading with Cuba, even if they want to, because they fear losing access to the U.S. market or banking networks. Basically, this is the USA telling the world that they’re free to trade with Cuba, but that they will break their fingers if they do. I hope you learned something today.

[@chavian0]

@Vodki7777 I stand by my statement. All fixed as easily as having fair and free elections. Global trade is a privilege, not a right. Who created SWIFT? If you wanna play with the rest of the free world, there is a price to pay. Not oppressing your people seems like a small demand for participation in civilized global affairs, dontcha think? You are getting lost in semantics at the expense of ethics. By your "educated logic" we should also let Putin's banks back into SWIFT so that he could inflict more pain on Ukraine. 🙄

[@thecostaview]

Great the business owner invests their resources to establish a power source, only for the government to seize it once it's finished.

[@anthonyorafferty5632]

The USA super power basically took over & made the Cubans 2nd class in there own country

[@istandcorrrected2661]

There are no “legal” independent businesses in Cuba. The communist party owns everything.

[@foxlake6750]

In Canada travel companies are still offering trips to resorts in Cuba.

[@deadturret4049]

Yep. My parents went a few years back. Canadians tend to recieve much more positive reception in Cuba because we didn't have the same back and forth as they did with the US in the Cold War. My parents are convinced that them overpaying for stuff was helping the locals, and they werent happy that I pointed out that they were perpetuating the system that keeps cubans in poverty.

[@paullarsen4987]

The Trudeau family loves Cuba

[@GloriaHoulihan]

Thank you Joe. Very interesting and informative and usual .

[@nco_gets_it]

So, Cuba is in a dire position? Meanwhile, the Castro family does not suffer. Cuba violated rule one of operational management-the 6 Ps. After all, while no plan is perfect, failing to plan is planning to fail.

[@jameswalker7899]

An excellent, interesting overview. Warmest compliments. Thank you, sir.

[@Nebarus]

Joe, remember to keep a copy of all your videos offline (NAS) Good to have you back here :)

[@prieten49]

You got your channel back! Hooray!

[@RobLawrenceTeam]

Love to see freedom for the Cuban people, they could be prospering

[@jamesarmes3098]

They were very prosperous before Castro. A dream for tourists to visit, a jewel in the middle of the ocean. It could be that again with the right government.

[@einmensch4040]

You did not mention tobacco and tourism, in which Cuba really invests a lot, but to little effect. When I spoke with a waitress in a restaurant in Mantanzas the lights went out several times and I felt how those shortages of electricity destroy these small buisinesses.

[@arthurswart4436]

Cuba object to Cubans being sent back from the USA, because these migrants send USD to their relatives in Cuba. Without these checks, many Cubans would not be able to survive. When the USA sends these migrants back, Cuba loses the funds and it has to deal with people that are seen as a threat to society while the skills they have often are not in high demand.

[@jimjones9239]

Cuba objects to Cubans to be repatriated because they will be a greater burden of more people to feed in a place where jobs are inexistent, the same reason Mexico do not want Mexicans to be deported as the flow of foreign currency via monthly moneygrams into their country will stop.

[@glenngrowe7105]

Once upon a time, Cubans were in the streets shouting "Cuba Si, Yankee No." Left-wing Americans traveled to Cuba to assist the sugar cane harvests. Incredible that today Cuba is a sugar importer and production levels are at late 19th century levels.

[@johnl5316]

correct......the US leftist supported the Cuban government putting gay men into concentration camps

[@Peter_S_]

Please read the Ostend Manifesto from 1854 to begin the process of understanding more than you do. The US has been trying to take over Cuba since 1848 and before that the British occupied Havana in 1762 with the help of military officers including George Washington himself. It's all rather complex when you don't purposefully dumb the situation down to trying to blame left leaning people for everything.

Not at all shocking. Communism is amazing at destroying production. Marx failed.

​@@Peter_S_The US could easily take it if we chose.

[@davidlloyd1526]

@@Peter_S_ Cuba's Government is 100% responsible for what happens in Cuba. Cuba is not some special case among countries in the region... and it's definitely not complex.

[@raedgaj3878]

Cuban Cigars have also been decreasing since 2000, with most retailers mostly stocking New World instead. I hear questions like: is Cuba producing less tobacco, or are there issues with exporting? [We know USA has restrictions, but not the rest of the world]

[@traddtv]

I just got back from Cuba a few days ago spoke to hundreds of Cubans in different parts of the country. The reason that no one is planting and harvesting sugarcane or many other crops is because the government takes 90% of the crops and the farmer simply cannot survive on just 10% . Also , I could not find a single Cuban that agreed with the government. There is so much reason Cuba is failing, but basically it is 100% the government’s fault. Almost every single Cuban agrees with this. The Government keeps blaming the USA, but the people do not buy into it. They giving people are willing to work and they are hard-working people and want to get things done, but they simply cannot because almost everything is State ran and does not incentivize the Cuban people to do anything positive. These are some of the greatest people you will ever meet in your life. I brought tons of supplies for the people and they were hugging me and telling me how thankful they were. It was amazing to see how strong they are.

[@DavidFMayerPhD]

Until the current government is DISSOLVED, CUBA has NOT collapsed.

[@SailingSwallowtail]

Tell that to the power grid.

[@DavidFMayerPhD]

@@SailingSwallowtail Huh??

[@Singlesix6]

@@DavidFMayerPhD It was a very clear statement. Cuba is like a car with a blown engine being pushed down the road by a group of people. It's still moving, but it's dead and all but useless.

[@halholland1637]

90-year-old sugar mills being run by 50 and 60-year-olds. No wonder their sugar production is down.

[@SailingSwallowtail]

Those guys are just producing home brew rum.

[@mark9058]

Sugar beets are more economically effective to produce than sugar cane, so who needs Cuban cane sugar when you can get sugar beets sugar locally and cheaper? Cuba is like the Muslim nations, time has passed them by.

[@anthonyorafferty5632]

They used to sell all there sugar to the USSR until the Burlln wall came down & it stopped over night

[@Jay_in_Japan]

​@@SailingSwallowtail source: trust me bro

[@Jay_in_Japan]

​@@mark9058 sugar beets grow in colder climates

[@EscepticoHumanistaUU]

One of the things that is new regarding Cuba is its more recent association with Mexico. I hope you will explore in the future the effects of this relationship on Cuba's economy.

[@celestecarrera2963]

Mexico is headed in the same direction as Cuba, the president is socialist one step to communism.

[@marktoogood3718]

Great job Joe!

[@CaroleP-nt9og]

I feel sad for the ordinary Cuban people

[@marcobonesi6794]

well,soon cuba will be inhabited only by old people. More than 1/10 of its population (mostly young people) has left the country in the last 3 years. It willnot only collapse,but cease to exist at this rate.

[@Mr-Zen-Zen]

Uncle sam about to move in.

[@williamcarrington61]

Time for Trump to consider the advantages of the Cuban Link ?

[@michaelellringer5600]

@@Mr-Zen-Zen We passed up an opportunity to buy Cuba for $10 million after the Spanish-American war, and instead, we bought the Philippines from Spain for $18 million.

[@michaelellringer5600]

@@williamcarrington61 He's too much in bed with the Florida/Miami Cubans.

[@PashaSlavaUkraine]

Will like and comment so the channel take off again, and watch full video, very interesting video.

[@Joaodocaminhao0234]

Thank you👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Miami.grackle]

1:51 Wait a minute. Cuba has been hit by two hurricanes this year. Raphael was a Cat 3 when it made landfall in western Cuba in November. In October, Oscar came in near Baracoa, as a extremely small Cat 1, possibly 2. Debby crossed the south coast as a minimal tropical storm in August. All other storms (regardless of strength) passed far enough offshore to cause negligible damage. The video should be clear in its depiction of Cuba's catastrophic electrical grid failure. Severe disruptions have plagued the nation for years, even during the 6 month period of ideal weather it receives each year, such as in February and March this year. In fact, only the outage in November was weather related.

[@bumpusjones.1978]

How is it possible that a workers paradise with the greatest healthcare system in the Americas could fall.

[@lissyniña]

Proof socialism doesn't work..and that "best health care system in the world " is a farce..only for tourists and communist government cronies.

[@verttikoo2052]

So Ruzzia cant take care of the oil supplies to Cuba? Syria fell and now Cuba. Situation is that bad in Ruzzia.

[@ksandhoff1]

POOTLER IS NEXT

[@borghorsa1902]

@@ksandhoff1 lol!

[@BobAbc0815]

And Venezuela cant help them to.

[@terrafound]

Idealism meets reality

[@konsul2006]

Cuba could have been a paradise. Bad choices of their own doing got them where they are!

[@stygis5964]

@@konsul2006 not really, sanctions destroyed their economy.

[@oldernu1250]

Not idealism. Communism is merely aggressive socialism. Only works until assets can be confiscated. Afterwards, initiative dies and production falls--why bother when the state can take anything? So the smart leave and never return.

[@aoeuuaoaou]

This is all driven by South Florida politics, US doesn’t suffer large economic pain from beating up Cuba, so all ex-Pat hatred gets indulged in policies

[@andmos1001]

@@konsul2006 Frankly i blame it on USA politics in the last 60 years

[@artmccarthy3268]

Cuba needs a new government. They are amazing, it's their government that is broken.

[@jeremyashford2145]

The western world should be looking at what's happening in Cuba to see what they will be facing very soon. The more information you can provide the better.

[@casualcarver4887]

GREAT NEWS!

[@leewise2011]

Solar farms in a country regularly hit by major hurricanes. Sounds like an excellent idea.

[@wheezysqueezebox7651]

The Chinese erected a lot of wind turbines, in an area regularly hit by tornadoes; not surprising that they all were blown down, this summer! Way to stick it to Mother Nature! ( Not) 🥴😂😂😂

[@boomergames8094]

There are ways to engineer protection for the panels. Might lose a few, but most of them work independently from each other. Some protection is 24/7 but cuts down on efficiency, and other protection is placed when the hurricane/storm is approaching and doesn't really affect efficiency except during the storm. They could do nuclear if they had the means.

[@GaryLee-qh4ho]

Cuba has been a wreck ever since the cold War in the 60s!!! If the people would just come to their senses, and remove the corruption government, they could well become good friends of USA and the Western World, which would be only too happy to help Cuba modernise, virtually overnight!!!

[@AlejandroMartinez-it4qq]

They did during 2021 but the US decided to ignore them while the military masacre the protesters

[@uktopcat]

Everyone give it a like. We need to get Joe back on the right algorithm

[@paleobuzz]

Seriously!? Everything JB and his admin touches turns to sh*t. Keep that clown in the basement eating ice cream for the remainder of his term.

[@robocoe]

Cuba's long lost son Justin Castro should return home and save Cuba . After all Canada doesn't want him anymore!

[@mariusverwey2125]

Joe is back! The whole good old Joe with the full package in his delivery. "Give you an update on what's happening in the economy of......(put your country here)" 😄

[@ssesf]

Cuba didn't get free oil from USSR. They had to provide soldiers at hotspots around the world. I met a woman in Angola, who only knew about her dad that he was a Cuban soldier.

[@lienlael3196]

I'm a naturalized Cuban living in the U.S. PLEASE, try understanding the scinicism of communists. Thank you❤

[@stygis5964]

try reading a book.

[@thebomber7641]

@@stygis5964 said the ruzzian terror supporter

[@ak_raijin]

Cuba is a sad topic but Im glad to see Joe smile again. :)

[@hermannalberts6038]

Cuba - Gibson Brothers : a legend never dies!

[@snoreberry1786]

I remember when they said sanctions don't work.

[@meglukes]

Cuba is worried about losing the remittances of the Cuban illegal immigrants.

[@j3lny425]

There have been special arrangements for Cuban migrants for ages. The Cubans are NOT illegals.

[@boomergames8094]

@@j3lny425 Prior to 2017, yes. Ones that have arrived since 2017, have to have documentation and approval.

[@Jay_in_Japan]

​@@CABRON3S85 are they not asylum seekers? political refugees?

[@SuzieD-uq9gn]

Sad what governments due to their own people and countries when left unchecked 😪

[@SailingSwallowtail]

Coming to a country near you.

[@Kr0N05]

LOL America had it's chance to get rid of Trump, but now they have given the criminal and wanna be dictator total free rein. Remember all those election promises he made? Well one by one he is stepping away from them. Kiss goodbye to your Social Security and Medicare. Way to go America.

[@bagboy1942]

Solar panels don't do well in in Hurricanes.

[@thomasd9424]

It would not surprise me if remitance from relatives living in the Usa is a significant percentage of gdp.

[@Rio.Motel.84]

A taste of Kremlin based living

[@misterserious3522]

The kremlin Kritters live like kings as well. Marxism seems to have a pattern of enslaving the public so that the elites and their vassals can plunder the public to live in wild luxury shouldered by slaves living in poverty and forced sacrifice.

[@Kr0N05]

Soon Pootin's lapdog Trump will give Americans the same taste - corruption will go absolutely rampant in the US now; a known criminal is now in charge once again, and he wont make the same mistakes like last time - he will replace everybody with 'yes men', including generals.

[@PalisAiruta]

thanks for the Cuba education ... everyday a school day .. very interesting the next few years

[@Kr0N05]

Yes ... "interesting" While people fight for democracy around the world, America has just given up on it's democracy. We are now living in bizzarro world.

[@daviddelgado6090]

Small economies need godfathers. The electric grid in Puerto Rico was completely destroyed by hurricane Maria. The US has helped its Caribbean colony. Cuba lost its patron and cannot make it without one. They don't like it, but that's the imperial rules.

[@boomergames8094]

All economies need them. The US is 56 small economies that all contribute. Ok, some of those 56 are quite large... but still need helped out.

[@glenncordova4027]

Cuba was a wealthy country until 1959. It has been a long, slow decline ever since.

[@daviddelgado6090]

@glenncordova4027 It had the patronage of the US then. Their new godfather, Russia, didn't have enough money.

[@arthur-ri4zo]

Toooooooooooooo Baaaaaaaaaaaaad. To bad.

[@kayvassiliou5746]

I feel for the Cubans - we also had regular power outages in South Africa due to coal shortage (we export a high percent of our coal to neighboring countries). It seems it's been rectified - no "loadshedding" since a month ago. It did cripple our struggling business sector again after trying to get over the covid episode.

[@frankintx699]

Thanks, Joe! I follow numerous Cuban KZbinrs. One has purchased his own portable generator because he lives in a village outside Havana. He uses it to charge his electric motorbike and run his home appliances. He is lucky if he has power from the grid for an hour a day. It is also difficult to upload his videos. Due to sanctions, they have to have contacts outside of Cuba for the monetization of their channels.

[@bittripper3530]

Solar panels and hurricanes don't go well together unless you have a mountain of cash to replace all the smashed ones

[@thearpox7873]

It can be fine if you've set them up to be easily liftable, so you can carry them to a shelter. In other words, can work for personal use depending on the setup, less so for giant farms.

[@CombatMosquitoTrainer]

That's not correct. If a decent quality panel is installed to code, they're normally fine, requiring removal of debris and a wash.

[@thearpox7873]

@@CombatMosquitoTrainer Whoa whoa there, let's not assume miracles here.

[@boomergames8094]

There are ways to engineer protection for the panels. Might lose a few, but most of them work independently from each other. Some protection is 24/7 but cuts down on efficiency, and other protection is placed when the hurricane/storm is approaching and doesn't really affect efficiency except during the storm. They could do nuclear if they had the means.

[@charlesrovira5707]

There are three *Cuban* expats in my condo building. Yeah. the situation in *Cuba* is pretty dire.

[@ah244895]

It was worth watching to the end.

[@maureenball6733]

Didn't know any of this till now.

[@efragar2003]

As a Cuban growing up in Cuba and born under socialism I will tell you the Cuba economy crashed since 1959 and Cuban government never updated and expanded money in anything to fixed everything they confiscated,hospitals are failing,schools are failing and the only thing they maintain is the military and in so how they can buy new police cars and equipment but they don’t have money to buy anything