Alex Saab hails Venezuela on its Independence Letter to President Maduro and Venezuelan people: “only great managers demonstrate their ability when there is no liquidity, as our President Nicolas Maduro and his government have done, surviving these sanctions in an exemplary manner… This [US] big stick and its unbridled intervention in the affairs of other countries has America today in its worst inflationary crisis in decades. By imposing excessive sanctions on Russia, thinking to cause damage that would provoke a change of heart, as always without thinking about the suffering of the people, it came back to it this time as a great accumulated karma hitting the economy of the American people who do not deserve to suffer either.
Cuba
PeoplesWorld: Thanks to U.S. blockade, Cuba’s economic situation more desperate than ever The harsh details of the current situation testify to potential destabilization in Cuba, danger to Cuba’s socialist project, and the nefarious role of the blockade. The US blockade constitutes the main impediment to Cuba’s industrial production and overall economic development. In 2019, 44,000 homes were built; in 2000, 32,000 homes; and in 2021,18,000. Astoundingly, Cuba’s infant mortality rate in 2021 was 7.6 infant deaths per 1000 births, up from 4.9 in 2000 and 5.0 in 2019. Cuba’s 2021 rate of mothers dying from pregnancy and childbirth difficulties was 176.6 out of 100,000 mothers giving birth, up from 40.0 mothers in 2000 and 37.4 in 2019. At an annual cost of $2 billion, Cuba’s government still imports 60-70% of the food consumed in Cuba. Prices, rising for two years, are up now by 70% and more.
TeleSur: Cuban Economy Sees Rising Tensions in 2022 First Half The Cuban economy continues to be gripped by rising tensions amid the tightened US embargo and the gradual resumption of economic activity following the relaxation of covid rules. “During the first four months of the year, the country’s incomes did not go to plan and food prices went up,” said Cuban Economy Minister Alejandro Gil. Cuba could not fulfill rice, egg and beef production. Only 52% of sugar production commitments were met due to a lack of funding and oil supply, low plantation yields and the US economic sanctions.
Resumen Latinoamericano: article on Cuba’s severe economic difficulties and the US blockade The country’s total foreign currency income for first quarter 2022 exceeded $493 million, similar to the same period of the previous year, but much lower than before March 2020. However, imports of goods amounted to more than $2 billion, $688 million higher than in the same period of 2021. The price of oil in June 2021 was $71 a barrel, today it exceeds $118. In June 2020 it was around $38. In just two years, the country has to spend $80 more for each barrel of oil. We are not talking about transportation costs or the permanent harassment by the US against shipping companies that risk transporting fuel to Cuba.
The country needs about 700,000 tons of rice for consumption, most of which is imported. The trend of rice prices in the world market has been upward in the last five months and already exceeds $430 per ton. Prices are expected to rise due to increased demand, in the face of insufficient supply and high prices of other basic foodstuffs. The value of many food commodities, from wheat and other grains to meat and oils, has soared. Each day of blockade costs the country about 12 million dollars at current prices.
Venezuela
Orinoco Tribune: President Maduro at Venezuela’s Independence Day Parade: As Long as Empires Exist We Will Continue to Fight “As long as empires exist, we will continue to fight battles…That is why I ask the FANB to always remain alert against the curse of Santander, the same oligarchy that assassinated Sucre and that will end up in the dustbin of history.” Maduro expressed his confidence that the military forces defending the Venezuelan people would act with commitment and loyalty, while highlighting the military’s ability to merge its interests with those of the people. “It is your turn to be the Bolivarian officers of the Bicentennial era of 2022-2030, and arrive undefeated on that December 17, 2030,” the bicentennial of the death of Simón Bolívar. “This July 5 we are here, the children of independence, in perfect civic-military union, willing centuries later to continue giving birth to an independent homeland. Long live the courage of the founding fathers.”
Orinoco Tribune: Venezuela Denounces New Attack on Its Electrical Grid The failure was due to the explosion of a power transformer which had a bullet impact, which proves the sabotage and the ongoing war on the electrical grid. The latest sabotage is part of a series of attacks on the national electrical grid and other public services such as the water supply system and the oil sector infrastructure, which is an aspect of the hybrid war designed to affect Venezuelan citizens so as to generate discontent and bring about a change of government. Venezuelan government and state institutions remain on timely alert to deal with any such instances of sabotage and to protect people from such type of attacks.
Bolivia
Breakthrough News: Andrónico Rodríguez – Fought Bolivia’s Coup, Now He Leads Its Senate: Socialist Youth Leader Andrónico Rodríguez is President of Bolivia’s Senate, a youth leader of Evo Morales’s Movement to Socialism, and Vice-President of the Six Federations of the Tropic of Cochabamba. He greeted the People’s Summit of Americas in Los Angeles, held to counter Biden’s exclusionary Summit of the Americas, and then sat down with Eugene Puryear for an interview.
Nicaragua
Dissident Voice: Open Letter to the BBC: Please Stop Your Disinformation Campaign on Nicaragua You have only to visit Nicaragua to experience the amazing investment in everything that makes life better: universal health care and education, housing programs, every aspect of infrastructure to make the country run smoothly, best roads in the region by far, government loans and training for small producers and small enterprisers, 90% food sovereignty, 99.2% of the population now has electricity, more than 90% have running water in their homes, electricity is now primarily generated by renewable sources, great investment in sports, recreation and parks and so much more.
In 2020 Nicaragua followed the US lead and created a Foreign Agents requiring NGOs to share information on foreign money received and how the money is used. Since 2007 many non-profits acted as channeling vessels for funds from the National Endowment for Democracy, International Republican Institute, International Democratic Institute, Freedom House and especially USAID; and also for money from foundations that work closely with the US like Soros, the Foundation to Promote Open Society and others.
Events, Campaigns and Webinars
Wednesdays: WTF is Going on in Latin America & The Caribbean with Teri Mattson
July 14: US/Canada Hands Off Venezuela! Free Alex Saab!
July 26: Los Angeles Medical Aid for Cuba Fundraiser
If you have events to publicize or find helpful articles for readers on the ALBA countries you can post them on Facebook here: Venezuela or Venezuela; Nicaragua; Bolivia; Latin America in general (here or here) Or send them to [email protected]
