A new program for the analysis of economic issues -Squaring the box- premiered on June 12 on Cuban television and since then every Sunday, at 7:00 pm,

the Caribbean Channel assumes such an important and necessary challenge in times when it is not enough only with timely and truthful information

, but also -and as a complement- enriching and conscientious public debate is imposed.

As in the ball, many compatriots also consider "having" extensive knowledge in economic sciences and for this reason it is not strange, as has happened with that space of analysis, that already when announcing what will be discussed in the upcoming broadcast some netizens come forward with their comments on the problem and even offer solutions.

One of them, Carlos, wrote on June 12: Welcome to connoisseurs and non-connoisseurs, this rich exchange with specialists, on topics related to what is being addressed, is needed by our population and workers in general, as well as decision-makers in the functionality economy that exists in the country from the municipalities to the highest level.

We hope that convincing answers will be given.

Also from social networks on August 24, Vladimir gave his opinion: I find the program interesting and it is needed in the current context in which we find ourselves, looking for alternatives, reflections and contributing with constructive solutions.

I think the host runs the show well, but sometimes they invite experts who are very cautious, mentally rigid, or apparently afraid of losing their status, or I don't know.

A debate that encourages economic education

Well, congratulations, all that arsenal of diverse views around an issue, more so when it is complex, is associated with the day-to-day of the people or the gradual recovery of the country, and then a pending issue – that of the economic education of the workers. and of the population - in this other way it can help arouse interest.

I hope that with Squaring the box (along with other communication spaces) the spirit of those interesting discussions of the first years of the Revolution, between Commander Ernesto Che Guevara and Carlos Rafael Rodríguez, will be taken up with greater force and intentionality,

debates that in through the passions they provided wisdom, enriched concepts for the construction of Socialism.

Today the scenario is very different, especially when, without failing to recognize the enormous and constant efforts of the government and how much damage is caused by the US blockade, the shortage of foreign currency, the impact of covid-19 and conflicts such as the one in Russia and Ukraine, and the current energy situation, even so many compatriots are eager to see the first lights and not the end of the tunnel.

The new co-production of the Informative System of Cuban TV with Pupila Insomne ​​and Cubadebate, led by the Doctor of Science and Professor of Marxism-Leninism, Marxlenin Pérez Valdés, can contribute to a closer approach to the Cuban reality;

to delve into the causes and consequences of our main problems, and help to solve or improve them when a group of transformations and measures are underway, some of which have already been dealt with in space.

For viewer Enrique Daniel Deprés Valladares “the program, like everything in life, is perfectible.

In my opinion, the moderator (...) has to play a better role.

She should be the one to give the floor, not repeatedly interrupting the panelist, who explains and tries to do it in the best way (...) I think that Squaring the Box is here to stay, maybe change the schedule, and/or frequency in the week ...well, but it will have, with its logical and feasible improvement... "Long life".

The first broadcast was dedicated to excessive profits in the business system, while the Doctor of Science Agustín Lage, the economist and Hero of the Republic, Ramón Labañino, and the engineer and businesswoman Ariadne Placencia, had the honor of being their guests, the initiators of the new Sunday space, to which other outstanding experts, researchers, scholars and economic actors would join.

In successive outings, the topics addressed were: What does it mean in today's Cuba that there are state-owned companies with losses? How are prices formed in Cuba? Taxes for what? Tax evasion, causes and consequences;

Queues in Cuba, solutions? Is there a hiring culture in Cuba?

The economic measures announced in the National Assembly of People's Power, Changes in foreign investment and foreign trade and Towards a foreign exchange market in Cuba: where are we going?

(I part on the purchase of currencies and the II on the sale).

In this sense Squaring the box, in its purpose of "debating, questioning and reaching consensus from Cuban socialism on economic issues", has put on the table very current issues with questions whose answers, in my opinion, it would be good to hear from decision makers, without underestimating, of course, the contributions, reflections and recommendations of our academics and businessmen.

Requests to better understand the essence of each matter

Another netizen, HablandoClaro, wrote on August 22: Please deciders.

For today's round table, citizens and the general public know that you are leaders with a high academic and scientific profile, we know that.

We would appreciate it if you did not take so much care in a technical narrative and instead make an effort, in a more understandable language, for the sake of understanding the essence of the matter.

In tune with the above, that same day on social networks, a certain yunia said: As a meeting between academics, the program is going great, but for neophyte economists like me, a very "walking" citizen, I have stayed... point and followed, with the same question, nothing is clarified, nothing is specified, in short, in good Cuban I went blank.

“I would like to hear at some point in the program How to implement in the context in which we live 'The economic thought of Fidel and Che'!

(…), please clarify for me so that we can defend our Revolution project on a basis,” commented netizen Osvaldo on August 24.

Beyond the level of satisfaction in the audience, the deep and transparent treatment of one or more issues by the guests, the opinions of the population -whether they like it or not and as long as they are respectful in tone-

must be taken into account, to make perfectible and sustainable over time, due to its quality, a space like this, which seeks the dark side of the moon but for the good of our socialist project.

From the scope or impact of Squaring the box, from its continuity and follow-up to the pulse of economic events in Cuba, from the topics that from now on it will be dealing with every Sunday, Cubahora will bring its readers a broad version of what was addressed in the last broadcast .

(Taken from Cubahora)

See also:

Squaring the Box: The New Economic Measures