Jamaica weighs support for students in Cuba amid severe fuel, power crisis

Jamaica is exploring what assistance can be offered to Jamaican students studying in Cuba after the island nation’s ongoing fuel shortages and electricity disruptions began affecting academic schedules and campus operations.

At the post‑Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, February 11, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, said the Government continues to monitor the situation closely and discussed the matter at Cabinet earlier this week.

More than 300 Jamaicans are enrolled in Cuban institutions, including 44 on the Jamaica/Cuba scholarship programme and about 256 privately funded students. Several universities have been forced to temporarily close or shift to online delivery due to ongoing blackouts and utility constraints, and one has suspended classes — impacting six scholarship recipients. Senator Johnson Smith said 13 privately funded students have already returned home, but the majority are determined to continue their studies.

The disruption stems from a deepening energy crisis in Cuba, where prolonged blackouts and chronic fuel shortages have become part of daily life. Across major cities, including Havana, power outages have stretched for much of the day, with recent reports showing an electricity generation shortfall of nearly 1,800 megawatts that leaves vast swaths of the grid without reliable service. Much of this stems from an acute lack of imported fuel and aging power infrastructure.

In recent weeks, Cuban authorities have warned that jet fuel supplies could run out entirely, further disrupting international flights and squeezing the crucial tourism sector. Hotels have closed temporarily, and an estimated 1,700 flights have been cancelled this season as aviation fuel becomes scarce.

The crisis is widely tied to persistent U.S. pressure on Havana through tightened embargo conditions and restrictions on oil shipments, which analysts say have compounded Cuba’s long‑standing dependence on external fuel imports and strained an already fragile energy system.

Senator Johnson Smith said Jamaica’s Ministry has been receiving daily updates from the Jamaican Embassy in Havana and has established direct communication with students — including a WhatsApp group of about 320 participants — to maintain contact as conditions evolve. Students have also been urged to discuss academic arrangements with their institutions and talk with parents or guardians, particularly if disruptions worsen.

For privately funded students, local institutions in Jamaica may be consulted to explore alternative study options, although academic requirements could present challenges. The Ministry has also engaged Cuban authorities on the availability of academic transcripts for students who may need them to transfer or continue programmes elsewhere.

“We continue to monitor the situation and keep the avenue of communication open,” Senator Johnson Smith said, noting that authorities are ready to help where possible while respecting the complex circumstances faced by students and educators in Cuba.