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The recent celebration of the Habano Festival in Cuba has sparked an unexpected controversy initiated by the singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez, who criticized what he considers a "gradual disappearance of the sense of national dignity."
In a text titled “Another Hopefully”, published on March 2, 2025, Rodríguez expressed his concern about the direction the Cuban government and society have taken in recent times, and he conveyed his dismay at the loss of "national dignity."
"Various signs suggest that there is a gradual disappearance of the sense of national dignity", said the troubadour, lamenting the country's "regression" and citing examples such as the trivialization of historical memory and the lack of respect for traditional Cuban values, embodied in the Capitol, the statue of the Republic, and the tomb of the Unknown Mambí.
Silvio's text, known for its historical affinity with the revolutionary project, generated a strong reaction on social media and in official circles.
Leticia Martínez's response in defense of the government and the Festival del Habano
Leticia Martínez Hernández, head of communications for the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, responded with a text defending the "national dignity" which she felt was challenged by the troubadour. Additionally, she justified the presence of millionaires at the Habano Festival using the rhetoric typical of the regime's propaganda.
Among his arguments, he highlighted achievements such as the development of supposed innovative medicines, the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the dedication of Cuban athletes, and medical assistance in rural areas. The text by Martínez Hernández was published for his friends on Facebook.
"We have a lot to fix, a sea of issues, but national dignity is something else," wrote Martínez Hernández, who also quoted lines from one of Silvio's songs (El Necio) to reinforce his argument: "If today we find ourselves as we are, with a noose around our neck and still breathing, it's because one day we believed in the idea of 'the folly of taking on the enemy, the folly of living without a price.'"
Reactions from supporters of the "revolution" disenchanted with the "continuity"
Martínez's post also sparked reactions from Cubans aligned with the so-called “revolution,” who, however, have expressed their growing disillusionment with the government of “continuity” led by Díaz-Canel.
An example of this is Manuel David Orrio del Rosario, a former State Security agent and journalist, who published a detailed response on Kaosenlared in which he broke down and questioned Martínez's arguments.
Orrio pointed out, for example, that the infant mortality rate in Cuba has increased in recent years, contradicting the official narrative that the Cuban healthcare system is a model of success. In his extensive analysis, he also criticized the lack of transparency in the disclosure of statistics regarding crime trends in Cuba, the shortage of essential medications on the island, and the crisis in the educational system.
On the other end of this tension between "disenchanted sectors" and loyal supporters of the ruling leader and first secretary of the Communist Party, are figures like Francisco Rodríguez Cruz, known as "Paquito de Cuba", who has previously not hesitated to "fire back" at the singer-songwriter.
The personal friend of Díaz-Canel's wife, Culture official and "not the first lady" Lis Cuesta Peraza, has gone so far as to state that Silvio Rodríguez's latest songs are "obsolete, both musically and poetically".
The Habanos Festival and the Economic Crisis in Cuba
The Habano Festival, held annually in Havana, is one of the most important events for the premium tobacco industry, attracting businesspeople and celebrities from around the world.
However, the presence of magnates and foreign buyers amidst an unprecedented economic crisis creates discomfort among sectors that find it contradictory to promote luxury while the Cuban population faces serious difficulties in acquiring basic necessities.
Marino Murillo Jorge, former head of economic reform in Cuba and current president of Tabacuba, has also faced criticism for his participation in the event. The powerful leader, considered the architect of the failed "monetary restructuring", is now at the helm of the Cuban tobacco company, which has been viewed as a mockery by the population suffering from the consequences of the economic crisis.
The "national dignity" and the monkey's chain
The words of Silvio Rodríguez reflect the disillusionment of a segment of the Cuban intellectual community that, although at one time supported the so-called "revolutionary process," now watches with concern the direction the country is taking.
The fact that sectors of the government engage in a discussion about the loss or gain of "national dignity" reminds one of the joke about "playing with the chain, but not touching the monkey."
The Cuban totalitarian regime imposed a military dictatorship with a single party, destroying democracy, civil society, the economic fabric, and the nation's wealth.
Moreover, it has divided Cubans, forced them into exile, or subjected them through terror, and for over 60 years, systematically violates the human rights of citizens. It is an unlegitimized regime that has sold national sovereignty and uses terror to maintain itself in power.
While critical sectors see "continuity" as a deviation from the original vision of the so-called "Cuban Revolution," a large majority of Cubans believe and feel that Cuba's future lies in a critical review of history and a regime change that, whether negotiated or emergent, brings the country back to the tradition and republican values that will allow it to prosper and coexist peacefully within a rule of law.
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