A group of students protested in front of the steps of the University of Havana today, expressing their concerns about their education amid an energy crisis exacerbated by the U.S. oil embargo against the island, which has reduced classes and paralyzed the Caribbean nation.
Power outages and the disruption of public transportation have forced the university to reduce the number of classes or hold them online, although many students also face difficulties with slow and unreliable internet access.
“We are not martyrs of any side; we are university students. Therefore, none of us intended to be here, but there has been no other option,” said one of the protesters, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals from the authorities.
The First Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Modesto Ricardo Gómez, came out to speak with the students. He acknowledged the financial difficulties affecting higher education and stated that they have been aggravated by the current impasse with the administration of President Donald Trump.
Trump has signaled an interest in regime change in Cuba, using strictly economic means (for now) to push towards that goal.
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