Tourists, locals with family in Cuba react to deepening fuel crisis

Some of the last flights from Cuba are scheduled to land here in southern Ontario Monday night, as Canadian airlines wind down their travel to the island.

It leaves behind a nation and its people, isolated by an economic and potential humanitarian crisis that is being blamed on the United States.

CHCH News spoke to one Cuban living here in Hamilton who tells us it’s a struggle just for survival for her family back in Cuba. Other Canadians are heading home from Cuba while they can.

Gary and Diana Ferris of Brantford, Ont. were scheduled for one of those planes landing in Canada this evening.

“It appears that we’re going to be one of the last flights out of Cuba,” says Gary Ferris.

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They’re ending their Cuban vacation with airline fuel shortages forcing tourists to leave the island’s vacation resorts and beaches.

“There’s stacks and stacks and stacks of empty lounges because people have had to leave early,” says Diana Ferris.

“And as the days have progressed the dining room is getting emptier and emptier and emptier,” says Gary.

It’s being called the collapse of Cuba’s vital tourism industry.

“It is really serious. It hasn’t been so tough for Cubans for many, many years. It isn’t just the fact that some airlines can’t come in — some ones aren’t coming in — because they can’t get fuel to get out. It means that the tourist industry – what little was left – has collapsed,” says Havana Correspondent Michael Voss.

“There are constant blackouts. Hospitals are in trouble.”

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The crisis follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest attack on Cuba’s economy by cutting off oil it relies on from countries like Venezuela.

“Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall. I don’t know if they are going to hold on,” says Trump.

“It’s saying Cuba will not survive because this is the worst crisis we ever saw,” says Yaima Frosseard, a Hamiltonian with family in Cuba.

She says she is worried about her mother and other family members in Cuba.

“Hospitals right now are closed because we don’t have medicine. We don’t have electricity,” says Frosseard.

“My big concern is people, the people. The Cuban people are suffering – some people have nothing to eat.”

READ MORE: Air Canada suspends flights to Cuba amid fuel shortage

The United Nations is warning of a humanitarian collapse in Cuba because of the American blockade.

“The secretary general is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which will worsen, if not collapse, if its oil needs go unmet,” says Stephane Dijarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General.

Other countries are trying to help. Mexico is sending supplies to Cuba and Canada says it’s going to be sending humanitarian aid.

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Canadian tourists are hoping the crisis is resolved while Cubans see a bleak future.

“I hope it’s gonna be temporary because Cubans really need the tourism and I know that Canadians play a big part of it,” says Sheila Negaz, a Canadian tourist in Cuba.

“People are dying. People are suffering. People are trying to survive. They have nothing and I really would like to call for kindness. For Canadians to try to help,” says Frosseard.

“The only future I see right now is black. There is no hope.”

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