AGP Executive Report

Cuba’s School Year Under Strain: With classes set to start Sept. 1, Cuba faces a teacher shortfall and energy chaos, including reports of families unable to attend after long blackouts and shortages of basics. Local Governance & Public Health: Guantánamo’s authorities are scrambling over micro and mega landfills as dengue spreads, warning dumps near schools and daycares. Energy Infrastructure Stress: A pipeline break feeding the Guiteras thermoelectric plant in Matanzas was sealed after an oil spill, underscoring how aging Soviet-era rules leave Cuba vulnerable. Domestic Trade Rules: Cuba’s official gazette updates the legal framework for domestic commerce, including changes to the Central Commercial Registry and new compliance requirements for traders. U.S.-Cuba Pressure & Activism: In Massachusetts, protesters put up “No to war against Cuba” banners, citing intensified U.S. pressure and higher confrontation risks. Digital Influence Concerns: X says it found a suspected Chinese bot farm targeting U.S. debates on AI and energy policy—an echo of how information battles spill across borders. ICE & Cuban Deportation Anxiety: A Cuban man with a prior child sexual assault conviction was arrested in Texas, while another Cuban Latin Grammy winner was detained in Miami, fueling fears of deportation. 9/11 Legal Fallout: A U.S. military judge threw out Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s FBI confession over alleged CIA coercion, setting up further delays and uncertainty.

Cuban Education Under Strain: Cuba’s Education Minister Naima Trujillo says only 73% of teaching posts are filled and uniforms won’t cover all students, while authorities still push for a September 1 school restart amid power and supply shortages. Grid Instability in the East: Another SEN disturbance split eastern provinces from the national system, knocking out major units and triggering hours-long restoration efforts—another reminder of how fragile Cuba’s electricity network has become. Food Security Meets “Agriculture 4.0”: Díaz-Canel touts drone-and-robot “precision agriculture” at ICIMAF, but social media backlash highlights hunger fears and Cuba’s heavy food import dependence. Havana’s Sewage and Health Risks: Residents and writers report overflowing sewage and wastewater mixing with potable supplies, with streets effectively “disappearing” under stagnant, debris-filled water. Local Accountability, Slow Repairs: A Camagüey journalist says she’s been bounced between hotlines after 48 hours without electricity, with complaints still “pending.” US-Cuba Legal/Geopolitical Echo: A US military judge ruled Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s 2007 Guantánamo confessions inadmissible, while his June 2028 trial date remains—another high-profile case tied to the base in Cuba. Cuban Business Friction: Swiss firms say they “almost never” get paid when trading with Cuba, pointing to collection problems beyond Washington. Informal Market Pressure: The dollar and euro rose in Cuba’s informal market, underscoring ongoing currency scarcity and daily cost pressures.

Cuba’s Defense Posture: Cienfuegos marked National Defense Day with territorial-force drills and activated reservist alert schedules, framing the exercise as preparation for possible external aggression. Healthcare Supply Relief: UNICEF delivered 213,000 prenatal supplement bottles to Cuba via air logistics through Panama-Havana, targeting pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers amid medicine and supply shortages. Education Under Strain: Cuba’s school year starts Sept. 1 with flexibility on attendance, schedules, and uniforms, as MINED cites teacher and operational adjustments for about 1.4 million students. Energy Crisis Update: Cuba’s National Electric System saw eastern provinces disconnected after transmission fluctuations, with outages disrupting hospitals and pumping systems and blamed on the U.S. blockade’s impact on fuel and grid components. Local Social Support: A Santa Clara bakery project (“Pan pa’ti”) is expanding monthly free food packages and daily bread for vulnerable families, including elderly residents living alone. Cuban Economy Rules: MINCIN issued a new retail establishment typology, grouping businesses by quality and comfort into three levels and defining seven activity types. Immigration Legal Fight (U.S.-Ecuador): Attorney Willy Allen III argues the Ecuador deportation agreement’s title may limit its scope to Central America, potentially opening a legal path for Cubans. Guantánamo Cultural Life: Guantánamo launched Rumba Route Timbalaye 2026 with events tied to Cimarronaje and “Living Cultural Heritage” recognition for local artists.

Havana Water Crisis: President Díaz-Canel toured the Paso Seco supply source in Boyeros as a major pipe break left multiple Havana municipalities without water, with residents turning to buckets, water trucks, rain capture, and manual pumps while authorities move generators to keep pumping. School Year Under Strain: Cuba says the school year will start on schedule despite electricity and transport disruptions, teacher shortages, and uniform supply problems, with Education Minister Naima Trujillo citing about 1.4 million students returning and promising flexibility for attendance. U.S. Medicine Restrictions: Cuba denounced renewed U.S. limits on access to medicines, medical supplies, and biopharma raw materials, pointing to the 2C12 cancer treatment as an example of scientific progress blocked by sanctions. Food Production Propaganda: Cuban state TV highlighted a young UJC leader in Guantánamo tending a family plot, underscoring the gap between official “self-sufficiency” messaging and reported food access pressures. ICE Pressure on Cuban Families: In Florida, ICE detained Latin Grammy-winning Cuban-born musician Degnis Bofill Miranda after a Miami arrival, while another Cuban deportation case saw a long-delayed removal order finally executed. Solar Energy Loss: Cuban solar pioneer Luis Bérriz Pérez, founder of Cubasolar, died, a reminder of how energy innovation is being tested by the island’s ongoing crisis.

Cuban Tourism Under Sanctions Pressure: Major hotel chains are pulling out of Cuba, with Meliá, Iberostar and Barceló citing intensified U.S. extraterritorial financial sanctions and secondary-sanctions threats tied to GAESA, leaving the sector facing its worst crisis in decades. U.S. Immigration Crackdown Hits Cubans: Border Patrol arrested a Cuban man in Texas previously convicted of child sexual assault; separately, ICE actions continue to detain and deport people tied to Cuba-related cases in the U.S. Visa Policy Fight: A U.S. federal court struck down a State Department immigrant visa ban affecting nationals of 75 countries, including Cuba, after challenges to the policy’s generalized public-charge basis. Cuba Denounces “Suffocation”: Cuba’s UN envoy and officials denounced the U.S. “policy of suffocation” and extraterritorial blockade as collective punishment. School Year Despite Shortages: Cuba plans to start the school year on Sept. 1 with about 1.5 million students, despite transport, electricity, and supply gaps. Regional Political-Media Network Allegations: Cuba’s foreign minister warned of a transnational right-wing political-media influence network centered in the U.S., tied to Latin American campaign coordination. Guantánamo Court Dates: A U.S. military judge set the 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s trial for June 5, 2028, keeping the case in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

Guantánamo Trial Timeline: A U.S. military judge set June 5, 2028 for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three co-defendants to face trial at Guantánamo Bay, rejecting a January 2027 start and citing the need to settle pretrial disputes over what can be used in court. Cuba’s School-Year Messaging vs. Reality: Miguel Díaz-Canel pushed back on “collapse” talk as classes resume Sept. 1, but reporting highlights major teacher shortages and regional gaps, with officials framing the reopening as a political defense of revolutionary gains. Cuba Sanctions & Mining Pressure: Antilles Gold’s Cuban copper-gold project is caught in U.S. sanctions fallout, with the company seeking a U.S.-based investor to unlock a path forward for its joint venture. Violence and Data Transparency: Cubalex says July brought 37 homicides (including nine femicides) and urges Havana to publish complete, reliable violence statistics and guarantee independent investigations. Diplomacy & Water Finance: A Global Ambassadors’ Forum for Water and Economic Diplomacy drew nearly 30 countries, including Cuba, focusing on closing a major water investment gap through “water diplomacy.” Regional Drought Watch: Honduras expanded drought emergency alerts tied to El Niño, with water rationing tightening around Tegucigalpa—an indirect reminder of climate stress across the region.

9/11 Justice Delayed Again: A U.S. military judge set Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s trial for June 5, 2028 at Guantánamo Bay, rejecting an earlier January 2027 start—another long pause in the decades-long case. Cuba-US Sanctions Clash: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez called Trump’s latest extension of the U.S. blockade “genocidal,” as the decree renews the embargo through Sept. 14, 2027 amid Havana’s shortages and blackouts. EU Funding Fight: The Assembly of the Cuban Resistance urged the EU to stop financing the Castro regime and redirect money to Ukraine. Havana Municipal Reality Check: A Havana garbage-collection project in El Vedado using electric tricycles was declared a failure after promised vehicles and charging infrastructure didn’t arrive. Private Sector Pressure: Díaz-Canel met Cuba’s private sector to push “systematic dialogue,” while warning that business can’t become a space for “illegalities.” Human Rights Watch: Amnesty International renewed its demand for the release of Cuban political prisoner Roberto Pérez Fonseca, citing worsening health in prison.

Cuba–U.S. Sanctions: Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned Trump’s renewal of the Trading With the Enemy Act until September 2027, calling it a “genocidal policy” aimed at suffocating the island. Diplomacy Stalled: Díaz-Canel told Brazil’s Folha de S.Paulo that dialogue with Washington is “stagnant,” with no agenda and no negotiations “under oppression,” while rejecting claims Cuba is near collapse. Energy & Daily Life: A report highlights how Cuban specialists abroad can be tightly controlled, while separate coverage notes persistent dielectric oil thefts across Cuba, worsening power instability. U.S. Deportations’ Fallout: In Liberia, an opposition leader urged the government to reverse a deal accepting up to 1,200 third-country deportees, warning of risks and burdens; other reporting describes Cubans among deportees sent onward. Havana’s Public Services: The Chinese ambassador promoted Chinese electric tricycles used for trash collection in Havana, underscoring Beijing’s role as a key partner amid Cuba’s service strain. Local Loss: Ciego de Ávila’s Periódico Invasor mourned journalist Héctor Paz Alomar, a long-time figure in provincial reporting.

US-Cuba Policy: Washington extended the decades-long trade embargo on Cuba for another year, while Havana’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez called the move “genocidal” and said it comes as the island faces severe shortages and power cuts. Sanctions Pressure: Separate reporting says the US has imposed new rounds of sanctions targeting Cuban entities and officials, as Cuba argues Washington is blocking efforts to open the economy to private investment. Cuban Domestic Life: Cuba’s education ministry says the 2026-27 school year will start Sept. 1, with schools told to adapt to fuel, transport, power outages, and supply limits. Culture & Memory: Venezuela participated in FILHAV 2026 in Havana, with the fair dedicated to Fidel Castro’s centenary and featuring major cultural institutions across the capital. Political Theater in Florida: In Miami, GOP gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds named Cuban-American state Sen. Bryan Ávila as his running mate, framing the ticket as a fight against “socialism” and using the Freedom Tower’s Cuban-refugee history as a backdrop.

ICE Detentions of Cuban Musicians: South Florida’s arts community is rallying after ICE detained Latin Grammy percussionist Degnis Bofill and pianist Andy García Palacios, both with pending asylum claims, sparking outrage and rapid GoFundMe fundraising for legal defense. Cuban Protest Over Utilities: In Havana’s Jaimanitas, residents staged a pot-banging street protest amid power and water cuts, with clashes reported between protesters and regime supporters. School Food Crisis: As Cuba’s school year nears (Sept. 1), mothers report shortages so severe that even basic snack items are hard to find, with data cited showing nearly half of primary students receive no meals or snacks. Public Health Emergency: Santiago de Cuba reported a food-poisoning outbreak affecting 52 people, including pregnant women and minors, with authorities saying the source is under investigation. US Cuba Policy: The US extended the Cuba trade embargo for one more year, keeping Washington’s pressure framework in place. Immigration Deportation Chaos: A separate US deportation case shows Cuban men among people sent under third-country agreements after resisting disembarkation in Liberia, raising new concerns about medical and detention conditions.

Cuban Power Crisis Meets Solar Reality: With the U.S. fuel blockade and aging grids cutting electricity to about two hours a day, more Havana residents are turning to solar—yet the switch is mostly for the well-off, as one family’s system reportedly cost around $4,000 and Cuba’s imports of Chinese panels surged 34-fold. Díaz-Canel on “No Collapse” Narrative: In a Folha de S.Paulo interview, Miguel Díaz-Canel rejected claims of an imminent collapse, calling the situation “complex” while citing resilience—though he also admitted fuel arrivals remain far below what Cuba needs. Education Under Strain: Cuba’s school year is set to start with new rules and less in-person attendance, as universities adapt to the energy crisis. U.S. Pressure on Cuba Continues: The week also brought fresh U.S. sanctions and detentions tied to Cuba-linked entities and officials, keeping economic and travel pressure high. Human Rights Spotlight: A political prisoner in Camagüey marked his 32nd birthday in jail, while ICE detention cases involving Cuban artists and families continued to draw attention. Local Hardship Stories: From a cement-house donation in Holguín to reports of water and electricity failures in Havana, everyday governance problems are hitting hardest.

Cuban Economy & Energy Crisis: Cuba’s education system is heading into the 2026-2027 school year on September 1 with fewer in-person classes, more municipal-based activities, and heavier distance learning as fuel and transport shortages bite. Public Services & Accountability: Havana’s communications sector is still struggling with outages and connectivity problems even as MINCOM stages celebratory “voluntary work” messaging around the FMC anniversary—an official tone that clashes with daily blackouts. Food & Market Pressure: In Sancti Spíritus, cooking-oil shortages are again triggering chaos, including fights at state stores and reports of adulterated oil, with police intervening as lines spiral. Governance & Ideology: Miguel Díaz-Canel doubled down that Cuba is not doing “capitalist reforms,” framing recent changes as socialist “concessions” to protect principles. Civil Society & Politics: Exiled playwright Yunior García warns that internal fragmentation and mutual attacks among opposition forces are helping the regime by turning discrediting into a self-fueling spectacle. U.S.-Cuba Friction: A Cuban woman in Miami faces ICE action after allegations involving child abuse and arson, with authorities citing an immigration detainer.

ICE Detainer in Miami: DHS says ICE filed a detainer against Cuban national Meliza Campos-Sanchez after an Aug. 16 case involving alleged child abuse and arson in her home; authorities cite videos from her Instagram and she was booked after a mental health evaluation. U.S. Immigration Crackdown Fallout: Another Cuban deported to Africa, Arístides Fernández García, tells Telemundo he arrived in the Central African Republic without documents and says the process felt like “a kidnapping,” with repeated transfers and no clear status. Havana Water Crisis: Aguas de La Habana reports a major hydraulic failure, shutting down the Central System pipeline and leaving multiple Havana municipalities without service, with no clear repair deadline. Cuba’s Reform Debate: A Communist Party professor in Las Tunas warns Cuba’s new economic changes could revive “class differentiation” and a “proto-bourgeoisie,” challenging the system from within. Local Governance & Security: Holguín warns of an “epidemic” of dielectric oil thefts from transformers, while Camagüey residents report police non-response and citizens forced to detain suspects themselves. U.S.-Cuba Diplomatic/Trade Tension: Britain’s cigar ban is sparking a diplomatic row, with Cuba and other Caribbean embassies pressing for carve-outs. Economy at the Bank Level: Bandec in Matanzas begins case-by-case cash withdrawal limits for private businesses, prioritizing food producers and using deposits and transaction history to set amounts.

US-Cuba Economic Clash: Cuba’s UN ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán says Washington claims it wants private investment, yet keeps adding sanctions that “close escape valves,” after the latest US penalties targeted Cuban state firms. Diplomacy & Pressure: Havana received diplomats expelled by the Dominican Republic with public messaging that blames US pressure, while details remain murky and contradictory. US Court & Cuba-Linked Immigration: A US judge struck down Trump’s immigrant-visa suspension for 75 countries, including Cuba, ruling the blanket ban violated US law and required individual screening. Legal Case Update (Brothers to the Rescue): A US trial against detained Cuban pilot Luis Raúl González-Pardo over the 1996 downing was postponed to at least early September, citing the case’s volume and classified material. Cuba’s Daily Strain: In Santiago de Cuba, newly installed solar streetlights were stolen again, plunging major avenues back into darkness amid the ongoing electricity crisis. Local Governance & Prices: Villa Clara authorities reported enforcement actions against businesses with abusive prices, including forced sales and closures, under provincial price caps. Infrastructure & Crime: In Camagüey, a freight derailment disrupted the Havana–Santiago rail line; containers reportedly linked to CMA CGM were among the cargo. Electricity Theft Crackdown: Matanzas authorities arrested a technician in Jovellanos accused of illegal power connections that allegedly overloaded and damaged a transformer.

U.S.-Cuba Sanctions & Diplomacy: Cuba’s ambassador to Nigeria, Miriam Morales Palmero, renewed calls to end the U.S. blockade during Fidel Castro’s centenary events in Lagos, framing the sanctions as a direct driver of hardship. Immigration Pressure in the Region: A U.S. federal judge struck down Trump’s suspension of immigrant visas for 75 countries, including Cuba, saying the State Department exceeded legal authority—an immediate win for families caught in the policy’s nationality-based denials. Cuban Domestic Governance: Cuba’s National Assembly approved rules clarifying that registering a residence does not create property rights, aiming to reduce long-running confusion between domicile and ownership. Labor Law Update: Cuba’s new Labor Code (Law 189) modernizes work rules for the private sector and remote work, but keeps limits like no right to strike and the CTC union monopoly. Energy & Public Services: In Havana, residents again report sewage and toxic water problems, while in Granma the state power company admits internal theft tied to dielectric oil and photovoltaic components. Food Crisis Snapshot: A photographed pork price list shows pork at 1,400 pesos per pound, underscoring how scarcity is reshaping everyday diets. Security Posture: Díaz-Canel inspected local defense councils as part of National Defense Day, emphasizing local preparedness amid urban and social strain.

Cuba Under Pressure: The U.S. announced another sanctions wave targeting Cuba’s Ministry of Construction and ICAP leaders, as Washington frames the moves as cutting off funding for repression. Deportation Fallout: Under Trump’s “third-country” deportation deal, at least five migrants who resisted a Liberia-bound flight were reportedly flown onward to Equatorial Guinea—among them four Cuban men—highlighting how quickly destinations can be swapped. Havana’s Daily Crisis: Cubans keep posting proof of breakdowns: families debate whether children will attend school amid long power outages and food shortages, while residents in Boyeros denounce corruption and water failures and Matanzas neighbors report eight months without water after a valve was left closed. Public Anger, Public Life: A Havana comedian, Ulises Toirac, renewed criticism of Cuba’s unaccountable privilege system, while citizens also document bank cash shortages in Guantánamo and the grinding reality of retirees waiting in lines. Regional Politics: At the Pan-American Congress in Uruguay, progressive leaders criticized U.S. interventionism and urged Latin America’s autonomy, with Cuba policy singled out as “collective punishment.”