Pedro Betancourt can be a surplus municipality.

Among the main dissatisfactions included in the report are the high prices, frequent power cuts and the fuel deficit, which affect the development of the economic, social and political-ideological strategy.

The first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and president of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez exchanged with the directors and businessmen of this municipality as part of his visit to the territory. The Cuban leader was accompanied by the Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the PCC Roberto Morales Ojeda and the main authorities of the province of Matanzas.

In this space was explained to the Cuban leader everything that has been done since the improvement of service units, the creation of a new type of market and the attention to vulnerable people. The rice and tobacco production was also reported and it was explained that the territory has the potential to be surplus.

However, among the main dissatisfactions included in the report are the high prices, frequent power cuts and the fuel deficit, which affect the development of the economic, social and political-ideological strategy.

At the meeting, Roberto Morales Ojeda insisted on the fulfillment of the sowing plans for rustic crops, on the need to diversify and to look for alternatives.

Díaz-Canel explained the purpose of these visits to the territories in the midst of the complex economic situation the country is going through: «This is part of a work system we have, which began this year, to enhance the Party’s priorities and support the government’s management. We proposed to go to the provinces every month and every month, in each province, we visit a different municipality. And we go to good places and bad places. What do we go to the good ones? To see the experiences, the good experiences.

«Because we see that there are groups that with the same limitations of the blockade, with the same restrictions of the blockade that we all live, do things differently and move forward. And then they inspire us, they set a guideline and give us the light that we can overcome this moment. And we go to the bad guys to say to the bad guys, hey, if you have some good guys next to you who are doing well, why don’t you do it? And that allows us to make a matrix of good experiences so that the bad ones get out of that condition and come closer.»

The Cuban leader also talked about bankarization, which is key to facilitate financial operations and income control. In the province, bankarization of state entities and non-state entities is being promoted to improve revenue management and reduce tax evasion. The intention is to promote the use of electronic payments, such as magnetic cards, to improve transparency and reduce the use of cash in transactions, especially in state and non-state markets and in the agricultural sector.

The meeting was informed about the program for the installation of solar parks, of which three are already under implementation and with their start-up will reduce CO2 emissions by 277 tons per year, contributing to the protection of the environment.

Pedro Betancourt is a municipality in the southwest of the province of Matanzas, Cuba, with an area of 387.02 km² and a population of approximately 32 thousand inhabitants.

Founded in 1833 as Corral Falso, it adopted its present name in 1901 in honor of Pedro Betancourt Dávalos, General of the Liberating Army. The local economy is centered on agriculture, especially the cultivation of rice and tobacco. The municipality also has significant educational and cultural infrastructure, although it has faced economic challenges throughout its history.

Written by Yunielys Moliner Isasi.