Back-to-school challenges in Cuba

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As students return to school in Cuba, it is difficult not to feel compassion for the challenges many children and families face amid ongoing shortages of fuel, electricity, and food.

These hardships stem from several factors. One major contributor is the United States embargo, which has been in place since 1962 and has been tightened at various times by successive U.S. administrations. Cuba has also been affected by the loss of subsidized Venezuelan oil, the COVID-19 pandemic, and global supply chain disruptions.

Despite these difficulties, Cuba continues to endure and is often cited as an example of resilience and creativity under pressure. It is remarkable that, despite the strain caused by the embargo, Cuba maintains one of the highest literacy rates in the world, estimated at between 99.6 and 99.7 per cent of adults.

Cuba is also not the poorest country in the Caribbean. Estimates place its GDP per capita at about US$9,605 nominally, or approximately US$17,690 in purchasing power parity terms. By comparison, Haiti’s GDP per capita is about US$2,667, while Jamaica’s is about US$7,875.

Cuba’s long-term survival under sanctions is worthy of study, particularly its investment in universal education and healthcare.

Michael Spence