The People's Municipal Court of Diez de Octubre held a criminal trial against two workers from the Ñico López refinery in Havana, accused of failing to fulfill their duty to preserve assets in state economic entities.
According to a post by Canal Habana on their Facebook profile this Wednesday, the accused did not follow the established procedures for transferring fuel from a ship to storage tanks, resulting in a spill of 280 thousand liters of B-90.CAP gasoline.
Economic losses, according to the official media, are estimated to exceed 5 million Cuban pesos, a significant figure amid the profound economic crisis the country is facing.
The authorities did not reveal the identities of the accused nor the sentence imposed, although they reported that the case is currently in the judicial phase.
“More details in upcoming broadcasts of Habana Noticiario,” concluded the brief official statement, without specifying potential supervisory responsibilities, nor pointing to any other individuals at fault, nor mentioning the environmental damage.
In the comments, several internet users agreed that an event of such magnitude cannot rest solely on the two workers on trial, as they surely had supervisors, administrative staff, and executives who should also be held accountable.
Others pointed out that leaders like the ousted former Minister of Economy, Alejandro Gil, have been involved in much more serious matters, and yet the regime has not acted with the same severity.
In the context of the National Exercise for Crime Prevention and Combat, which started on Monday, the Cuban regime promised severe punishments and exemplary trials for serious crimes in state institutions.
In this regard, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel demanded “decisive” answers regarding crimes committed in state facilities, such as theft, vandalism, and corruption.
As part of that campaign, this Tuesday the case of a young Cuban emerged who was sentenced to seven years in prison for publicly criticizing Díaz-Canel.
The ruling, issued in Santiago de Cuba, raised concerns among activists and human rights organizations, who viewed the decision as a sign of political repression under the guise of criminal penalties.
This Wednesday, it was also reported that the former mayor of Puerto Padre, in Las Tunas, received seven years in prison for offenses related to administrative corruption.
The verdict was presented by state media as a demonstration of the judicial system's commitment to "socialist legality," without any mention of structural or institutional responsibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions about the trial of workers at the Ñico López refinery and crisis management in Cuba
Why were the workers of the Ñico López refinery prosecuted?
The workers at the Ñico López refinery were prosecuted for failing to follow established procedures for fuel unloading, which resulted in a spill of 280,000 liters of gasoline. This negligence not only caused significant economic losses but also exacerbated the energy crisis in Cuba.
What are the economic consequences of the gasoline spill at the Ñico López refinery?
The gasoline spill at the Ñico López refinery resulted in estimated economic losses of over 5 million Cuban pesos. This represents a significant blow to the country's economy, occurring within a context of economic crisis and scarcity of energy resources.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to address similar energy issues?
The Cuban government has adopted a special electricity contingency regime which includes planned outages lasting more than 72 hours if the National Electric System cannot meet demand. However, these measures do not address the structural problems affecting the country's energy system.
What impact do these incidents have on the Cuban population?
The Cuban population is experiencing prolonged blackouts and the loss of basic services such as drinking water and food refrigeration. This heightens frustration and social discontent, as government measures are viewed as insufficient to resolve the energy crisis.
Filed under: