Why Is the Official Press Crying Over the Fall in Oil Prices?

Why Is the Official Press Crying Over the Fall in Oil Prices? /
14ymedio, Eliecer Avila

14ymedio, Eliecer Avila, Havana, 26 April 2016 — All of my life I've
heard from mouth of the main leaders of the country that the high prices
for many of the products sold in Cuba are caused, among other variables,
by the "high cost of fuel on the world market." This, according to them,
raises the price of production processes inside and outside the country,
creating an upward spiral that affects the price of goods and services.

"What small and underdeveloped economy can grow with prices of 126
dollars barrel of oil? Only rich countries can pay that, those who want
the world to continue to be the same so that the South can't develop.
The imperialists are like this, they want to dominate the world
according to their own desires." Phrases like these were heard everyday
on TV programs like The Roundtable.

Today, oil prices have fallen by nearly 75 percent, and the newspaper
Granma acknowledges that this affected the recently announced "price
adjustments" of certain products the government sells in Cuban
convertible pesos (CUC).

Then, I wonder: What are Oliver Zamora Oria and all official Cuban
journalists who speak on the subject doing accusing U.S. and Saudi
Arabia of "not cooperating" with the intention of some OPEC members to
increase prices ? Isn't Cuba, a net importer of fuels, greatly
benefited, like most of the planet, by the current prices?

In my opinion, we should be jumping for joy, because I assume that if we
can afford cheaper crude oil, then the agricultural sectors , transport,
energy, industry etc. will be stimulated… What is the point of the
strange anger of the Cuban Government press about the failure of the
last meeting held in Doha, Qatar?

Many can be the interests that move the editorial decisions of the media
monopoly in Cuba. But, definitely, the general interests of the nation
and a greater benefit for the public are not part of them.

Translated by Alberto

Source: Why Is the Official Press Crying Over the Fall in Oil Prices? /
14ymedio, Eliecer Avila – Translating Cuba -
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