After 50 years in the country, the director of the EFE warned: “They are expelling us from Cuba.”

President of the Spanish News Agency Efe, Gabriela Canas regretted this Wednesday that the Cuban government appears to be “kicking” the media by withdrawing recognition for its journalists in Havana, and warned that the Spanish news agency has begun to consider their permanence on the island.

Canas made the remarks while speaking at a breakfast hosted by Nueva Economia in Madrid. About 50% of the news about Cuba came from Latin America Efe, It almost takes Five decades in the country, and argued that “perhaps this effect” did not please the Cuban government.

”They are expelling us from Cuba. It is not possible to maintain quality at the moment by keeping two journalists That company Efe Offered so far in the country. Very shyKanas said.

Therefore, he warned that the company was studying its options: “We are beginning to consider our permanence on the island. We cannot run the press independently.”The president insisted that Efe had no intention of leaving Cuba, but that “reporting from the outside” was necessary.

Kanas promised “Unfortunately” the situation with the Cuban government remained unresolved even after the Spanish administration’s diplomatic support. If in mid-2021 there were seven journalists working in Havana, now there are only two – one editor and one camera – press recognition.

When did the problems for the agency begin The Cuban government began delaying the issuance of the press visa of the new representative appointed in July last year, and he has not yet been able to enter the country.

In addition, Kanas added that in November, the International Press Center (CPI) withdrew the recognition of all workers. Efe In Cuba, shortly before the planned protests against the government. “We have no witnesses on the island”, Insisted.

A few hours later, the CPI withdrew two approvals, but only after that The situation came to a standstill. Havana promised to return the accreditations, As published Efe “Benefit” in November, but so far this has not happened.

“We asked a thousand times to allow us to work there.”, He said.

Foreign journalists can only work in Cuba with the permission of the Communist government. Although some independent media outlets have appeared in recent years, most local media outlets are run by the government.

Cuban officials did not say why they withdrew the credentials of some of Efe’s employees, but the island’s state media said. Their statements were discriminatory and sought to extinguish the fire of protests planned for November. Those protests faded under government pressure.

With information from EFE

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