Havana, June 6 (RHC)-- "More than an option, science and innovation are the way to go in the search for alternative solutions to the problems we have in the country," stressed the member of the Political Bureau and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, at a recent meeting of the Council of Ministers.
In the meeting headed by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel, among other topics were discussed. Among them: the national priorities in science, technology and innovation, as well as the forms of their management.
"The formula to get out of the situation we have is by using science, introducing its results, applying technologies, innovating in all aspects," declared the Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, Eduardo Martínez Díaz, when presenting before the highest body of Government in Cuba, a document described as hopeful, aimed at key issues for the development of the country.
The priorities, he said, are concentrated in the most relevant sectors, due to their immediate contribution to the economy and society. They will be managed by Strategic Government Projects that close the cycle, which in a first stage respond to current economic problems.
Martínez Díaz pointed out that priority number one is the increase in foreign currency income, from the export of goods and services.
"All exportable items in the country must have specific projects to solve the problems that affect them today; increase its added value, reduce production costs, improve quality parameters, among others. "Projects to develop new exportable products must be a priority."
The Minister referred to specific lines such as increasing nickel production, making tobacco income profitable, developing innovative biotechnology products, strengthening tourism and creating new products, also developing new exportable medical services, introducing new technologies to increase of sugar production and its derivatives, as well as a financial strategy that supports exports and minimizes the impacts of the blockade imposed by the United States Government.
A second block of priorities is aimed at generating energy from the installation of photovoltaic and wind solar parks to increase the generation capacity in the National Electric System (SEN); to the energy transition in the sugar sector and its contribution to the SEN; and the increase in the extraction of Cuban crude oil and the improvement of its quality. All of this requires a lot of science and the introduction of technologies, added the owner.
A third level of these national priorities is in food, immediately in the introduction of technologies to produce animal feed, which allows the increase of pork and eggs; and for increasing the production of milk and beef.
The Strategic Government Projects that close the cycle, Martínez Díaz specified, will have a national manager defined who, together with the work team, will define the objectives with the goals, indicators, execution schedule and technical-economic feasibility analysis.
The tasks derived from the execution of these projects will be considered a priority for all actors participating at each level – namely oace, ode, companies, science, technology and innovation entities, provinces and municipalities.
To guarantee their control at the highest level, their permanent updating and decision-making, the projects will be evaluated by the National Innovation Council, a body headed by the President of the Republic.
ECONOMY AND STATE BUDGET
The situation of the Cuban economy at the end of April – a period evaluated on this occasion by the Council of Ministers – continues to be very tense, although improvements are seen in certain indicators.
According to the Minister of Economy and Planning, Joaquín Alonso Vázquez, exports of goods have figures that do not meet the current plan, but show growth compared to the same period of the previous year. In the case of nickel, prices in the international market are improving, and this trend is expected to continue.
There are also reserves that we must take advantage of, he said, in the export of coal, given, also, by the rise in its price on the world market. Mechanized tobacco, he added, has been recovering through a strategy to strengthen its workforce.
Medical services maintain good performance, with accumulated overcompliance of 7%. For their part, tourist services in April exceeded the plan by 6% and grew by 11% compared to the same period in 2023.
Regarding the inflationary process that impacts the nation, the Minister of Economy and Planning pointed out that “monthly inflation showed a slight deceleration in April: from 4.07 in March to 2.13. Compared to March 2023, year-on-year inflation, which reached 46.4%, has been slowing down. This result, he clarified, does not mean that prices will drop. They continue to grow, but at a slower rate.
Regarding the new economic actors, he specified that until the end of April 11,140 had been approved; Of them, 10,857 are private MSMEs and 212 are state-owned; while 71 are cooperatives.
During the period, 51,774 people had joined the workforce; 327,476 Cubans in vulnerable situations are protected; and 62,840 mothers with three or more children are served.
Regarding the State Budget, the Minister of Finance and Prices, Vladimir Regueiro Ale, then pointed out that, at the end of March, a favorable execution was achieved with a deficit of 34.12 billion pesos, 62.2% of what was planned. The provinces of Havana, Sancti Spíritus and Matanzas have surplus results.
Gross income, he added, is overfulfilled by 4%, determined by the favorable behavior of business results, the profit tax and the return on state investment, aspects in which there are reserves and many potentialities are still wasted.
He pointed out that there is a recovery of the tax system as the main source of income for the Budget. In this sense, he added that the contributions of non-state forms of management are also growing.
Regarding the Affidavit Campaign, he emphasized that its results are extraordinary compared to previous years, which was achieved through the mobilization of forces from other sectors and the support of Party and Government authorities in the territories.
A level of compliance in the presentation of the Affidavit of the Income Tax of 99.8% of the taxpayers was reached, only 34 entities (legal entities) failed to comply with their presentation; In the case of natural persons, there were 4,000 taxpayers who failed to submit the Personal Income Tax Affidavit. In all cases, the established sanctions are being applied: fines, seizures of bank accounts and closures of establishments.
With the closing of the campaign, a process of auditing the declared income and taxes paid has begun.
In the evaluation of the execution of expenses, the owner drew attention to the non-executions of the investment processes and the need to adjust financial demands to the real capacities of the economy; He at the same time insisted on due control of the contracting and payment processes for the services and goods acquired by the budgeted entities, favoring bidding processes and rationality in prices.
IN COMPLEX TIMES, MORE UNITY
When making an evaluation of the economic situation that the Island is going through, impacted by a worsening of the blockade that reaches all facets of the nation's life, the Prime Minister stressed that "in complex times like this, a lot of unity is required, as he expressed Army General Raúl Castro Ruz in his speech for the 65th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution.
Regardless of the objective situation associated with the lack of fuel and foreign currency, he considered, it is demonstrated that there are reserves that we have not been able to exploit, there are possibilities of doing different things that are not being done.
We are clear, he pointed out, of the objective problems facing the country, which affect the entire business scheme, but we are also aware of the difference between some entities and others. That difference is made by whoever directs that OSDE, that company, not because he is gifted, but because he is a person with the ability to listen to his team and bring together all that creative intelligence.
Every day shows us that we have encouraging experiences, that it really is possible, but they are still exceptions, we have to generalize them, Marrero Cruz stressed.
Furthermore, he called for us to continue standing by the people, addressing the problems, explaining them, without promising things that we are not able to guarantee. Enthusiasm cannot be lacking, with all the objectivity in the world, but convinced that we can solve many things.
In a particular way, he called on the business sector to be more in communication with the people, a responsibility that not only belongs to the authorities of the Party and the Government, but to everyone. This is a time for a lot of communication, it is not an office time, he said.
When making an evaluation of the complex electro-energy situation that the country is going through, the Prime Minister said that "wherever it is possible and controllable, we must go to remote work, teleworking, changing jobs, working in offices." .
Everything that allows us to save hours of energy consumption, without a doubt, will contribute a lot to reducing demand, and thereby increasing generation. The systems of the work centers have been disconnected on Saturdays and Sundays, "this allows us a decrease in demand of about 200 megawatts."
Marrero Cruz referred to measures that must also be taken in the non-state sector to reduce demand. He spoke that high non-state consumers will be identified, they will be visited, the situation will be explained to them and decisions will be made with them. There, he noted, we have an important reserve in energy savings.
The Prime Minister instructed the territorial governments to provide greater support – in food, transportation, all types of care – to the workers of the Electrical Union, groups that are working day, night and early morning, to be able to sustain the system and Look for solutions.
CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH WONDERING BEHAVIOR
After ten years of the policy for the care of people with wandering behavior, the Council of Ministers approved its update, based on the situation that the country is experiencing today.
As explained by the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, wandering behavior is defined as "a multi-causal disorder of human behavior, which constitutes a way of life characterized by instability and insecurity of the place of stay, lack of self-care and economic autonomy" ... as well as a favorable life project. "Usually, there is evidence of transgression of the rules of coexistence and social discipline."
Currently, he said, there are nine Social Protection centers in the provinces of Pinar del Río, Havana, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, Holguín, Granma and Santiago de Cuba, where these people are clinically evaluated, and their issues.
The establishment of a new center in the province of Las Tunas is planned for this year. In territories where they have not been created, there are multidisciplinary teams from health institutions.
Of the little more than 3,700 patients who are in these Social Protection centers, 87% are men; 50% are between 41 and 59 years old; 30% are people with disabilities; 24% have some psychiatric disorder; 30% maintain high patterns of alcoholic beverage consumption; and 38% are under 60 years old who have no address to return to, Feitó Cabrera reported.
This new policy approved by the Council of Ministers ratifies the responsibility of the Municipal Administration Councils in prevention, care, control, monitoring and decision-making in relation to care for people with wandering behavior.
It provides that the Government of the provinces that do not have a Social Protection Center must evaluate the relevance of its creation; and proposes to design the action protocol for the detection, information and transfer of people with wandering behavior.
Likewise, it proposes referral to the nearest educational or health center for minors who are detected wandering, to certify their health status, provide the care required and inform the corresponding authorities.
It also instructs the Provincial Government to facilitate, in order to care for people with wandering behavior under 60 years of age without a home to return to, access to rehabilitation for dependence on alcohol consumption and other addictions through a specialized health care, job offers or training courses, and the assignment of temporary living facilities, transit homes, delivery of housing or the approval of a subsidy for its repair or construction, said the Minister.
Deputy Prime Minister Jorge Luis Perdomo Di Lella pointed out that the process of collecting people with these behaviors must be worked comprehensively; Those who go to Social Protection centers are not detained, nor in provisional prison regime, they go to be treated, which is an important concept.
Biotechnology projects, the nickel, tobacco and sugar industries must be prioritized to develop new exportable products. Photo: Ricardo López Hevia
In these centers, he clarified, the problem that the person has is classified, attended to, and a solution is offered. The fundamental objective is to reinsert them with their families, to demand the family responsibility that is often lost; Although, he commented, there are people who are alone and are the responsibility of the State, that is what established institutions are for. These centers are not for them to live there for years, he said.
SIGN LANGUAGE: ON THE PATH OF ITS LEGALIZATION
The Council of Ministers approved in this session the proposal presented by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security on the policy and the Draft Decree Law to establish the legalization of Cuban Sign Language, which "has the full support of our deaf community," said Feitó Cabrera.
Daily practices in Cuba demonstrate the social value, legitimacy and authenticity of Cuban Sign Language, which show it as a public policy that guarantees the inclusion of all deaf people.
The demonstration of the authentic social values of Cuban Sign Language – as the first language and natural language of deaf people in our country – the need and usefulness of its use to access knowledge and integral development, as well as the importance of recognition of their linguistic and cultural values are arguments to establish their status from a legal point of view.
Alejandro Marzo Peña, president of the National Association of the Deaf of Cuba, thanked the Council of Ministers for their sensitivity in approving this proposed Decree Law. This is a very significant norm for the deaf community, by recognizing sign language as our heritage. It will facilitate greater development, from a political and educational point of view, and in all contexts, he considered.
With this important step, the Council of Ministers exercises the legislative initiative and presents to the Council of State the Draft Decree Law to establish the legalization of Cuban Sign Language.
TOPICS ON THE AGENDA
The meeting of the Council of Ministers, which takes place at the end of each month and is hosted by the Palace of the Revolution, also approved on this occasion the policy proposal for the Digital Transformation, the Cuban Digital Agenda, as well as the Strategy for the development and use of artificial intelligence in Cuba.
Likewise, the results of the National Program for the Advancement of Women, three years after its implementation, and the lines of work for the current year were presented here.
The Ministry of Domestic Trade reported on its management to the highest government body, in a complex period due to the shortage of supplies in the state network of businesses, non-compliance with policies and programs, the growing number of actors that carry out activities linked to the sector and the persistence of causes and conditions for criminal acts.
The execution of the transfers in the center and east of the Island was also evaluated, a transcendental hydraulic work that continues its progress, even in the midst of the difficult economic situation that the nation is experiencing. (Source: Prensa Latina)
