By: Charlotte Howald

1950’s Cuba is in a state of economic and social reform. Fidel Castro has been elected prime minister after their previous leader, President Fulgencio Batista, was ousted from office during the Cuban Revolution. Castro, with his promises to “reshape Cuba as a communist state” and “purge Cuba of the capitalist and imperialist ideals,” quickly gained the favor of those receiving the short end of the revolution: the poor and working-class. 

Sugar, Cuba’s primary industry, leads the Ministers to debate whether to diversify their economy or continue their monoproduction. Many ministers are in support of continuing to harvest sugar, “the people’s product,” while others argue that sugar was the way of the past used by imperialists to take advantage of Cuba. Castro’s Crisis Committee wrangles to find potential nations interested in importing Cuba’s surplus of sugar. Trade with the U.S. has recently been troublesome, causing the Council to seek new potential investors, such as Latin America and the USSR. Although the USSR has agreed to buy sugar from Cuba, Castro, as well as Latin Americans, advises Cuba to expand its industry to other products. Elena Mederos, Minister of Social Welfare suggests diversifying the economy into a more lucrative industry, such as beauty and skincare. Others discuss the potential of liquor or luxury.

An unexpected twist occurs when the USSR storms in with a Crisis Drop. In return for buying sugar, the USSR requests a favor from the Council: store the USSR’s “personal items of an armed nature” in Cuba. The USSR expects the information to remain “relatively top secret,” but the ministers’ had varying responses to the crisis drop. 

“Seems trustworthy,” Minister of Labor, Augusto Martinez Sanchez notes, “I don’t see this backfiring.” 

Rufo López Fresquet, Minister of the Treasury, advises the Council to “not engage in this quid pro quo.” Hopefully, the Council will be able to find solutions that will pacify all investors and most importantly, their citizens.