On Sunday, Oct. 20, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel pointed directly at the blockade policy of the United States government as the fundamental cause of the national collapse of the National Electric Power System (SEN) over the past few days. It is not complicated and it is not rhetoric that Cuba’s lack of a stable supply of fuel is because of the threats of fines that the US government through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has levied on banks, shipping companies and any other enterprise attempting to trade with Cuba.
The President of the country and head of the Cuban National Defense Council, on Sunday evening, clarified the situation the country is going through after the disconnection of the national electric system and the impact of hurricane Oscar, which is hitting the eastern part of the island with winds of over 130 kilometers per hour.
The President declared that the country is living an exceptional situation determined by two events of great complexity: national energy emergency and the impact of Hurricane Oscar in the eastern provinces, with its consequences at territorial level hitting the country at the same time.
In the meeting, he explained the actions being taken to face the meteorological event in each one of the provinces and to protect the lives of the population, the first objective of the Civil Defense during the passage of hurricanes, were specified.
The first secretaries of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) and the governors of the eastern provinces took part detailing the measures taken so far.
The head of the nation informed that the country is working in two directions: to stabilize the National Electro-energetic System and to continue the efforts to achieve a stable supply of fuels, which will make it possible to reach a better situation in the next two days.
Regarding specific acts of public disorder that have occurred in the capital, he clarified that there are mechanisms in place to respond to any concerns of the population, but acts of vandalism that disrupts the tranquility of the people will not be allowed, and he did not end his speech without highlighting the understanding and the necessity for the solidarity of the Cuban people to face these situations, as well as the commitment of the workers of the electricity sector who are committed to achieving stability of the service.
As of this post over 60% of Havana has electricity back. During the blackouts hospitals continued to function with power.
Source: Cuba en Resumen