By Marc Frank
HAVANA (Reuters) – In their New Year predictions, high priests from Cuba’s Afro-Cuban Santeria religion advised followers on Thursday to be mindful of their health and finances, prioritize their families, guard against crime, and reduce alcohol consumption as the country grapples with a severe economic crisis now in its sixth year.
“Measures need to be taken to combat the rising levels of delinquency,” stated the Letter of the Year issued by the high priests, known as Babalawos, affiliated with the Yoruba Association of Cuba, a government-recognized group. The letter was publicly unveiled in Havana.
The annual Letters of the Year serve as prophecies outlining potential misfortunes, illnesses, and other significant events, along with guidance on how to navigate them, eagerly anticipated by followers of the Santeria faith. Millions of Cubans adhere to this religion, characterized by a blend of Catholicism and traditional African beliefs introduced to Cuba by enslaved individuals.
“Examine economic investments and their outcomes, rid the environment of waste, and prioritize the maintenance and respect of marital and familial relationships,” the letter further advised.
The predictions from the priests come amidst a half-decade-long economic downturn that has inflicted hardships on Cubans, leading to escalating shortages of essential goods like food, medicine, and fuel, in addition to power outages, water scarcity, and deteriorating public services such as transportation and waste management.
The Communist government of the island attributes the economic crisis primarily to U.S. sanctions, although it acknowledges shortcomings in managing the situation. Over time, several factions have splintered from the Yoruba Association, some of which now issue their own versions of the Letter of the Year.
Babalawo Lazaro Cuesta, a prominent figure within the independent Organizing Commission of the Letter of the Year Miguel Febles Padron, conveyed a similar message during another press conference held a few miles away, highlighting comparable imminent threats and emphasizing the necessity for the government to transition away from outdated Cold War-era approaches and ideologies.
“The adherence to the past does not illuminate current solutions or future strategies,” the letter emphasized, cautioning against pursuing “crooked paths.”
According to Cuesta, a leading coordinator among the priestly community, “crooked paths represent the misguided decisions we make, the outdated concepts we espouse, and the erroneous methods we employ in seeking resolutions to the challenges faced by humanity.”
(Reporting by Marc Frank; additional reporting by Nelson Acosta and Alien Fernandez; editing by Sandra Maler)
