Even though in recent weeks, the complex epidemiological situation has led him to modify part of his agenda and turn to the confrontation with COVID-19, the Government in Cuba is alive, concerned and busy with all the country's affairs.
This was stated by the member of the Political Bureau and Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, during his appearance on the television program Mesa Redonda.
Despite the reinforcement of sanitary measures, after all the provinces passed to the community transmission phase of the disease, he explained that the checking of programs, macro-programs and other prioritized issues has continued. "We are working and looking for solutions," he said.
THE ENERGY SITUATION TRANSITS TOWARDS STABILIZATION
In the first moment of his speech, Marrero Cruz referred to the energy issue, which he assured that it is monitored daily by the Government.
In this regard, he reported that the number one unit of the Felton thermoelectric plant, designed to generate 260 megawatts (MW), carried out its first synchronization after its capital rehabilitation, and is in the testing and adjustment process.
He is already joining the system. The adjustments are expected to be completed this week and to reach full capacity, he said.
On the other hand, he pointed out that this Tuesday he synchronized the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant with the National Electric System (SEN), with a capacity of 280 MW. It started delivering
234 MW, which already has a significant impact on the SEN and puts the country in a more advantageous position.
The Prime Minister added that, in August, it is estimated that unit six of the Máximo Gómez thermoelectric plant in Mariel will be synchronized, which would incorporate an additional 100 MW.
As of the activation of Guiteras and unit one of Felton, the effects on the service due to a deficit in generation capacity are decreasing appreciably, although it warned that they could still occur at certain times.
"This is a process that must go towards a continuous improvement and towards stabilization, but we still cannot say that it is totally solved", he pointed out.
To guarantee that there are no blackouts, a permanent 500 MW reserve is required to provide coverage if one of the large thermoelectric plants should fail at the moment. If it is minor, before any breakdown that exists in the middle of the provision of the service, affectations may begin to arise, he detailed.
For this reason, he expressed that it is necessary to continue arduously with the entire process of repair and start-up of all the equipment that is paralyzed.
Although blackouts still occur, with the entry of the new plants these have decreased significantly, especially at night and early morning.
This trend should continue and even improve as Felton reaches its maximum capacity, said Marrero Cruz.
He reiterated that the Government maintains the policy of avoiding damage to the service to the population. "We will never be satisfied with blackouts."
Other actions to mitigate the situation would be to tighten the communication mechanisms and that in each territory the population is informed of the possible effects that may occur during the day, so that it can organize.
Apart from the large power generating plants, the leader recalled that there is a considerable infrastructure based on the batteries of generator sets. For different reasons, the availability of these equipment has decreased due to breakages and lack of batteries.
In this sense, he assured that an effort has been made to acquire the necessary resources and the reactivation of these groups.
This will also improve the water supply in some communities, because although pumping stations are planned among the prioritized circuits, there are some that are not covered.
In general, we can say that the national energy situation is moving towards stabilization, but there may be effects because we have a generation system that presents vulnerabilities, he added.
Therefore, he stressed the need for savings to contribute to the stability that is sought today.
BY THE END OF AUGUST, 80% OF THE POPULATION WILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE
The Cuban Prime Minister also referred to the vaccination process against COVID-19 that is carried out in several Cuban provinces.
Regarding it, he specified that since May the delivery of doses to the Minsap began. That month it was 3.4 million; in June, 4.8, and in July there should be about six million doses that allow us to advance.
As of June 12, 7,618,028 doses had been applied in total, with which the scheme was completed in 1,926,776 people.
Meanwhile, 2,617,942 have received two doses and 3,073,310 have received one.
Marrero Cruz explained that there have been some potholes from situations that have arisen. "Producing vaccines depends on supplies and there have been suppliers who have delayed the process of delivering some resources," he revealed.
However, he affirmed that Cuba exceeds the world average of the percentage of people who have received at least one dose, despite the difficulties that have arisen.
Coupled with this, the country has the highest rate of people vaccinated daily for every 100 inhabitants. Progress has been marked by the complexity of COVID-19 in certain territories, he said.
Priority decisions have been made, but everyone is going to be vaccinated. At the end of August, he estimated that around 60% of Cubans will be vaccinated with the complete scheme, and 80% of the population will have at least one dose.
Therefore, there should be no difficulty in ratifying the commitment that the inhabitants of Havana are fully immunized with the three doses in the month of July, and that all Cubans are before the end of the year.
Regarding the concern that many parents have expressed, he affirmed that in September the mass vaccination of children from three to 18 years will begin.
“Producing vaccines does not mean pushing a button. It is a process. Before you have to buy supplies, raw materials, but we are moving on that path.
MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE DEFICIT OF MEDICINES
Another issue addressed by the Prime Minister in his speech was the shortage of drugs. The basic chart approved by the Minsap is made up of 619 drugs, of which 254 are imported and 365 are produced by the national industry, although this does not mean that they do not require imported raw materials, he explained.
In his opinion, the shortage of foreign exchange has led to a shortage throughout the country's network. The most affected products have been related to antihypertensives, antibiotics, analgesics, anxiolytics, contraceptives, vitamins and dental products, he added.
“This low availability of medicines is directly related to the low availability of financing. But it has not only been this cause.
"There are raw materials that suppliers of many years have told us that, due to the new measures of the United States Government, they are unable to guarantee shipments."
Marrero Cruz pointed out that the actions of the blockade and the need to redirect the acquisition of certain inputs towards other markets, have meant an increase in costs of between 30% and 50%. "And so many insist on trying to sell that matrix of opinion that there is no blockade in Cuba," he said.
The Prime Minister reported that a great effort has been made to acquire a significant level of raw material for the production of medicines.
Supplies have been imported in order to ensure the needs to continue facing COVID-19. The rest of the hospital and pharmacy network with antibiotics, drugs for hemodialysis, hypertensive, diabetic and Oncology patients is also a priority.
«The measures adopted will minimize the impact. We cannot yet say that there will be a stability in the supply of drugs, but we will continue to prioritize this issue, "he summarized.
FOOD, TOILET AND MEDICINES, WITHOUT QUANTITY LIMITS OR CUSTOMS DUTIES
In his appearance at the Round Table, the leader announced the decision to give a new tariff treatment to the importation of food, hygiene and medicines by natural persons.
On the subject, he explained that it is authorized, exceptionally and on a temporary basis, the importation, as accompanying luggage of passengers, of food, hygiene and medicines, without quantity limits and free of payment of tariffs.
“This means that a person can bring the amount of food, hygiene products and medicines that they want. The limit is not set by the country or Customs, but by the airline you are traveling on, "he said.
He also said that to maInitially, the measure - which will come into effect next Monday - will be in force until December 31, and then a new assessment will be made of it.
"The regulations established by the phytosanitary and veterinary authorities are maintained for certain products that may involve risks of introducing diseases that affect the health of people, animals or plants," warned Marrero Cruz.
The new tariff treatment does not include travelers arriving at the Varadero or Cayo Coco airports, who will continue to be subject to the measures recently adopted, related to the health control of COVID-19, and will only be able to carry one suitcase.
ADVERSITIES DO NOT STOP US
The Prime Minister referred to the fact that there are people in the country who reside in provinces other than the place where they are registered and, therefore, do not have a supply book to access the regulated family basket.
"The restrictions that COVID-19 has led to have meant that they now have no mobility, nor the possibility of acquiring these products in other ways."
This is, he said, a considerable number, which may be in the order of 300,000 people.
The governments have respected the right of our citizens to reside where they want, but we also have the duty to organize this process to avoid having adverse consequences that generate problems, such as this case of the acquisition of regulated food, he said.
In this regard, he commented that there is a working group headed by the Vice President of the Republic, to update the regulations in force on emigration within the national territory.
However, to address the situation of those people who today are residing in another province that is not where they are registered, a common solution has been sought.ke use of this
benefit, these products must be differentiated in the luggage. That is, they are not mixed with other belongings.
"We are planning to make an implementation by the governments, in conjunction with the Ministry of Internal Trade, of a provisional mechanism that guarantees that those who are in this situation can purchase the basic basket."
For this, the procedure will be gradually implemented, and will begin with a first step of locating people, seeing where they are registered, making a temporary cancellation of the supply book at the place of origin, and enabling a mechanism to deliver a document. that allows you to acquire the standardized basket.
It is a phenomenon that occurs mainly in Havana, but is also present in several cities, he said.
Marrero Cruz ratified that, despite the fact that the coronavirus has impacted on the Government's agenda, the implementation of the Economic-Social Strategy continues and the development of a group of policies that are responding to all the problems we have in society. "Adversities," he said, "do not stop us."
