The first secretary of the Communist Party in the province of Granma, Yudelkis Ortiz Barceló, justified the recent protests in the Santa Rita Popular Council in Jiguaní due to a water supply issue, omitting the true reasons that drove the residents to the streets: hunger, power outages, and misery.
According to statements shared by the official on her social media and reported by the state media, the protests on Wednesday in Santa Rita were addressed by the first secretary of the Party in Jiguaní, Yordanis Charchaval, along with the president of the Municipal Assembly and the mayor.
All of them met with the protesters to explain that the Chapala water fountain, affected by a burned-out equipment, would be restored shortly, once repaired in a workshop in the province of Mayabeque.
"Here the exchange was calm, without any disrespect and with a complete understanding of the situation," stated Ortiz, who reiterated the need for "open, direct, and honest communication with our population."
However, the images shared by the activist Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia revealed a different reality. In the videos published on social media, neighbors can be seen shouting slogans against the blackouts and the scarcity of food and water, despite the interruption of internet service ordered by the government to suppress the protest.
“They cut off the internet, but they are in the streets!” wrote Salcedo, highlighting the courage of the protesters.
The protests in Jiguaní are part of a growing wave of demonstrations in other provinces of the country, such as Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos, and Bayamo. Cubans have taken to the streets to demand freedom and changes in the government. They are calling for an end to blackouts, shortages of food and fuel, and improvements in basic services.
The regime claims to have ensured water supply through tankers, but officials themselves acknowledged during the protest that they cannot move the vehicles due to a lack of fuel, as the oil is reserved exclusively for generators in high-priority facilities like hospitals.
While citizens cry out for food and freedom, leaders choose to minimize social discontent and shift the focus to technical aspects. The government’s strategy repeats itself: denying the depth of the discontent and centering the narrative on minor factors, attempting to downplay the seriousness of a widespread crisis.
In contrast to institutional discourses, the tension in the streets reflects a critical situation. The increasingly frequent protests are a reflection of economic collapse, political repression, and the complete disconnection between the regime and the citizens.
Ortiz Barceló and his role in official propaganda
It’s not the first time that Yudelkis Ortiz Barceló has tried to divert attention from the legitimate criticisms of the citizens. Days before the disturbances in Bayamo, the leader wrote on Facebook:
"We live in a world where the freedom to hate has never been so out of control on social media... Let’s not play along with those who shout and jeer from the stands without actually getting in the game."
Despite his rhetoric, social pressure forced Ortiz to step out and explain himself to the protesters, amidst a situation that is becoming increasingly unmanageable for the authorities.
A country on the brink of collapse
The protests on May 24 in Bayamo and Cienfuegos, as well as the recent demonstrations in Santa Rita, are a clear indication of the exhaustion of a political and economic model that has plunged millions of Cubans into precariousness.
The response of the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, by labeling the protesters as "antisocials," confirms the regime's strategy: to criminalize dissent and deny reality.
However, the people of Cuba are losing their fear, and more and more individuals, despite the official media silence, repression, and digital blackouts, are deciding to raise their voices—not only for water, but for food, electricity, and freedom.
Frequently asked questions about the protests in Cuba due to lack of water, hunger, and blackouts
What was the main reason for the protests in Jiguaní, Granma?
The main reason for the protests in Jiguaní was discontent due to hunger, blackouts, and widespread misery, although the communist leader Yudelkis Ortiz Barceló tried to attribute them solely to water supply issues.
How did the Cuban government respond to the protests in Jiguaní?
The reaction of the Cuban government was to try to minimize social discontent, attributing the protests solely to technical issues such as water supply. The regime also cut off internet service to prevent the dissemination of the protests and criminalized the demonstrators, labeling them as "antisocial."
What other places in Cuba have experienced similar protests?
Similar protests have occurred in other Cuban provinces such as Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos, and Bayamo. These demonstrations reflect the growing public discontent over prolonged blackouts, the lack of food, and basic services across the country.
What has been the Cuban regime's response to the widespread social discontent?
The regime's response has been to downplay the protests, using propaganda strategies to project an image of calm and control. They have also resorted to criminalizing the demonstrators, accusing them of being manipulated by external influences and labeling them as "antisocial".
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