By Michael Spence
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| Michael Spence |
It’s back to school, and as I read in your paper dated September 3, 2026, about the difficulties Cuban children and families are facing right now with oil, electricity, and food shortages. It’s hard not to feel compassion.
These shortages are driven by multiple factors. One major one is the U.S. embargo and blockade, which has been in place for more than 60 years since 1962 and has been tightened at various times by different U.S. administrations. They are also affected by the recent loss of subsidized Venezuelan oil, the pandemic, and global supply disruptions.
Despite all of that, Cuba keeps surviving. It’s often held up as a case study in resilience and creativity under pressure. With all the stress the embargo causes, it’s still remarkable that Cuba maintains one of the highest literacy rates in the world—about 99.6% to 99.7% of adults. For comparison, the U.S. adult literacy rate is around 79%, with 54% reading below a 6th-grade level.
Cuba is also not the poorest in the Caribbean. Estimates put Cuba’s GDP per capita at about $9,605 nominal, or about $17,690 in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms. By comparison, Haiti is around $2,667 nominal, and Jamaica is around $7,875 nominal.
Cuba’s survival strategy under long-term sanctions is worth studying—especially its investment in universal education and health care. That’s also how Cuba has been able to support other countries, including Jamaica.
Cuban medical brigades of doctors and nurses have worked in Jamaica and across the Caribbean for decades. Cuba has helped with education too—like the José Martí Technical High School in St. Catherine near to Kingston.
As a Jamaican, I believe we should honour and respect the Cuban people. No country, no matter how economically or militarily powerful, should pressure us into abandoning Cuba.
Gracias, compañeros y al pueblo cubano.
Michael Spence
Michael Spence is a graduate of Cornwall College and the University of the West Indies. He is a trained teacher, a sociologist, and a writer for Bark Di Trute.
Micspen2@hotmail.com
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My heart goes out for the Cuban people who seem not to be interfering with American interests in the hemisphere or the world.
ReplyDeleteI like the article I join in saying "Gracias Los pueblos de cubano:" pardon my Spanish if not.accurate.
ReplyDeleteBig up Cuba Jamaica relations hope it will return to higher ĺevels.
ReplyDelete