For Gladys Bejerano, Comptrellor General of Cuba, the most noted corruption case in the country in decades, that of former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Economy Alejandro Gil, felt like a “treayal.”
The top auditor of ministries and state companies of the socialist country highlights in an interview with EFE the “connotations” of the scandal, becoming the first senior Cuban official to talk about Gil since the investigation was announced two months ago.
“It hurts and hurts a lot because one thinks as a companion – and the people, as a Cuban – that a person who has been at that level, who has been handling the situations, the sacrifices that have had to be made,.. That he doesn’t have an attitude in correspondence, one really feels it as a betrayal, as something that is not the right thing, and that’s how we all feel. But there is moral and there is courage to face it,” he says.
Bejerano, 77, has been in charge of the Office of the Comptroller General and twenty years old. He advocates extracting “teachings” from this “sadly negative lesson.”
Gil was dismissed as Minister of Economy on February 2 without public explanations and on March 7 the president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, announced that he was accused of “serious errors.” He spoke, without details, of “corruption”, “simulation” and “insensitivity.”
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“Every time there has been an event, it has been made public. I can assure you that,” says this member of the central committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC, the only legal one), convinced that “sooner than later and to the extent of being objective” “all the information” will be provided.
He emphasizes that the Cuban system does not minimize corruption “neither for the amount nor because it is from below or above,” although he understands that this case has “more meaning.” He clarifies that the investigation into Gil did not start from the Office of the Comptroller General.
Bejerano recognizes that the crisis has increased corruption in Cuba somewhat because “there is a greater need” and a shortage of “everything,” although it “does not justify.” Some people, he points out, “give in to the black market” and others take advantage, “even cruelly.”
It indicates that 76% of the illegalities detected occur “at the base level” and that its “battle” is to reduce them to “zero”, for a question of “principles” and “convictions” of the revolution.
“People don’t fall into parachute corruption. It’s a process: corruption is decomposition. It is a process of loss of values, of self-esteem, of self-respect (…). There are others that are for self-sufficiency, for vanity, for arrogance,” he describes.
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Bejerano admits that 23% of the country’s control systems have deficiencies, mainly due to lack of technical or human capabilities (only 60% of the positions of the Office of the Comptroller General are filled): “The controls are not at the level” that the Comptroller’s Office wants and that the country, the Government and the PCC need, he says.
He also explains that the GAESA business conglomerate, of the Armed Forces, is not under his supervision. This state group – which includes telecommunications, almost the entire tourism sector, remittances, import and distribution firms, banks, gas stations, real estate and other businesses – is the main contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP).
He argues that GAESA has “superior discipline and organization” for its decades of business experience and that the Office of the Comptroller’s Office concentrates “forces” where “advances” are needed.
About the link between corruption and the growing inequalities in the country, Bejerano links it to the emergence of the private sector and points out that some people have more because they work and “have results,” but believes that there are also “illegalities.”
“We are not going to admit either state or private individuals who commit such crimes and who offend and mistreat the people. That can’t be allowed: it’s not what we want, it’s not the model. We want honest, fighting and hardworking people to be able to have their business in order, fulfilling their obligations to the treasury, to society,” he replies.
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Regarding the execution of the budget, also the competence of the Comptroller’s Office, it goes on the set that so far this year “income was fulfilled” and “expenses were reduced.” “There is a behavior, we could say, favorable,” he says, although he often points out that “it is not that the problem is already solved” because the public deficit is “quite high.”
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call. “A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire. “It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
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Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists. “Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
