"An Island on a Continent"

By: María Josefina Arce.

Havana, Jan 4 (RHC). – A difficult year for the world has come to an end due to the incidence of COVID 19 and the economic crisis generated, which deepened existing inequalities, increased hunger, poverty and unemployment.

Cuba did not escape this complex situation, aggravated by destabilizing actions promoted by the United States and the reinforcement of the Washington blockade that imposed greater limitations on the confrontation with the disease caused by the new coronavirus, which hit us hard in 2021.

But it has also been a year of effort and results, in which, thanks to the vaccination campaign with our own vaccines, the number of deaths and infections was significantly reduced. Cuba also became the first country to begin immunizing its children and adolescents.

At present, in addition, a booster dose is applied to increase the protection of citizens, before the appearance of Ómicron, a new variant of COVID 19 that has increased the number of cases in the world and that has already been detected in the Caribbean Island.

And although the economy faced a complex panorama, steps continued to be taken to revitalize it. Given the improvement in the epidemiological situation, borders were opened, a measure aimed at reactivating tourism, one of the sectors most affected by the pandemic in the world and which is a driving force behind the Cuban economy.

Progress was also made in the necessary and profound transformations to increase agricultural production, still deficient, to give greater autonomy to the state company and the expansion of non-state economic actors.

This is how micro small and medium-sized companies were created, with legal personality to participate in the economic and productive transformations of the nation.

They also worked for the improvement of society and its institutional framework. The National Assembly of People’s Power (ANPP-Parliament) approved in 2021 several laws aimed at providing greater strength and modernity to the judicial system.

The inclusive Family Code project stands out, recognizing the plurality of families and protecting the rights of all in this area. Sanctioned by Parliament, it will be submitted to popular consultation from February to April.

In 2021, direct attention to communities and people in vulnerable situations was intensified to improve the living conditions of citizens. Throughout the months, constructive actions and rehabilitation of housing, public services and state institutions took place.

The year that ended was undoubtedly intense in terms of international solidarity. Once again it was demonstrated that Cuba is not alone in its long struggle to end the cruel US blockade.

The UN General Assembly condemned for the twenty-ninth time that hostile Washington policy, at the same time that numerous solidarity actions took place in the world in favor of the Cuban people.

Valuable was the help of governments, peoples and organizations around the world. Donations of medical supplies and food arrived from various countries to the largest of the Antilles to face the difficult situation created by the pandemic and the North American blockade.

Cuba already has its sights on this new year 2022, which will be one of intense work, with new challenges, aspirations to grow and continue advancing in the improvement of our society in order to improve the living conditions of its people.