At the end of the first hour of “Take Your Time” on Friday, 27 March, we listened to the second part of our tribute to Cuba and the current situation there following the energy blockade imposed by the United States, featuring an interview with Takis Politis, Professor at the University of Thessaly and visiting lecturer at UCLV in Santa Clara.
Mr. Politis described the conditions he encountered in Cuban society when he arrived in October, and how things have changed since the beginning of the year following the energy blockade. He spoke about the people and their mindset, as well as the way the state is organized, providing basic needs such as housing, education, healthcare and food—despite the ongoing challenges in food distribution, which have worsened in recent months.
He also referred to the strong sense of solidarity among people, which serves as a vital support mechanism for society, and to the educational system as he has experienced it—very different from higher education in Greece. Despite facing the same difficulties caused by the current conditions, he does not appear willing to leave the country and return to Greece, at least until his collaboration with the university is completed.