Not only were they against the rise in telephone rates, but against The power that imposes them. Etecsastate telecommunications company, is controlled by Gaesahe military holding that manages 70 % of the Cuban economy and 90 % of the financial sector. Tourism, construction, trade, currency: Everything goes through your hands. “They own everything that has to do with the entrance of foreign exchange on the island. Not for the Cuban peoplebut for military hierarchs and their conglomerate, “he explains Laura Tedesco, Expert in the political role of the Cuban Armed Forces.
Some media have evidenced that The voracity of conglomerate aggravates the shortage of public resources. He Miami Herald He agreed to financial records of military companies that hid a good part of his income. A filtered document revealed that Seagull – the largest hotel company in the holding – had liquid assets for 4.3 billion dollarswell above 339 million destined annually to pharmacies. The figures contrast with the 129 million to Medical supplies y 250 million for the electricity grid that, according to the Minrex, They have stopped receiving for the embargo. Opacity reaches Gaesa’s internal structure. “At some point everything was directed by Raúl Castro’s son -in -law, General López-Calleja. Now it is not well known who has replaced it “Tedesco adds.
In addition, the Executive dances to the sound of their interests. “It seems that Díaz-Canel It does not control the holding businesses, which is the other way around; Gaesa is independent of the structure of the party. They have business outside the public economic system that maintain an elite, Without real impact on the daily life of Cubans “the expert continues. In this line, a 21st century Cuba Report He affirmed that Etecsa rates were not decided by their direction, but imposed by Gaesa after the decline of income in tourism and remittances.
In free fall
In 2023los Tourism income fell 62% compared to 2019. Seven out of 10 hotel rooms were empty and the 2 million visitors were not reached, far from the 4.2 million in 2018. In 2025 the trend continues: Tourism has fallen by 26% Regarding 2024which was already minimal, with only 1.1 million visitors.
The remittances have not stopped, but their channeling changed. Before they were managed by the International Financial Bankowned by Gaesa and sanctioned by the USA. In response, the holding company created Orbit SA, presented as an independent company, but also included in the list of restricted entities. From 2024around 150 informal banks They have taken almost the entire business. According to Emilio MoralesPresident of Havana Consulting Grouparound the 95 % of remittances no longer pass through the conglomerate. In 2024, Gaesa raised alone 81.6 million dollarshe 4.13 % of the volume of 2023.
Trump no from respite
To the internal crisis is added the traditional hostility of Washington. The “Hard hand policy” promised by him Secretary of State, Marco Rubiois fulfilled to the letter: June 30 was published A new national security memorandum what It hardens the posture towards Havana.
The text aims to “end the economic practices that benefit disproportionately to Government […] At the expense of the Cuban people“. But at the expense of the Cuban people the White House policy also applies. The memorandum reinforces the embargo and the prohibition of tourism, which leave The island drifting and without access to food, medicines and technology. In addition, the Includes a tax on remittances sent abroad, these being – and it should be remembered – the essential pillar for the survival of many Cuban families.
Before, Cuba reinstatement to the list of sponsoring terrorism countries (SSOT) y The inclusion of orbit sa among the restricted entities led to the financial entity Western Union to suspend the sending of remittances to the island. “Cuban families will be affected with suspension […] As a result of the hardening by the US in its irrational line of hard line to the island, “lamented the minrex.
The crisis that wobls to the regime
The Gaesa’s income loss and the American drowning They explain the desperate search for currencies. Etecsa’s increase in rates seeks to capture them from emigrants. For those who stay, however, The new prices are practically unassumable.
He Client and nepotist model which represents Gaesa It is from the original Fidel project. The State suffers a lack of unprecedented financingand society, increasingly aged, an acute demographic fall. “The big question is what will happen when Raul is no longer. Everyone is waiting. In any case, it is difficult and admirable at the same time the will that Cubans have to survive. It’s amazing that they endure so much “Tedesco concludes.
For so many years that experts “predict” a regime change, which seems daring to affirm it now. But the breeding ground is there: the recent student protests, combined with the worst economic crisis in decades, could do That Raúl Castro’s death becomes the spark that, in an already flammable terrain, forever transforms the cuba known so far.
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