The surprising absence of Mayra Arevich Marín, Cuba's Minister of Communications, during the broadcast of the Mesa Redonda dedicated to justifying the unpopular price hike by ETECSA, sparked interest on social media, as speculation arose regarding her possible resignation or an attempt to evade the political fallout from a widely criticized measure by various social sectors.
In his place, Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández appeared, who was presented as the interim minister even though, up to that moment, there had been no official announcement regarding changes in the ministry's leadership.
Days earlier, on Saturday, May 31, Arevich herself, who previously held the position of president of ETECSA, had posted a thread on her X account in which she justified the rate hike as “necessary for the sustainability of the telecommunications infrastructure” and claimed that “the opinions of the population are being considered”. However, her explanations did not quell the discontent, which has even grown among voices traditionally aligned with the government.
That same weekend, the University Student Federation (FEU) from several faculties of the University of Havana and the Higher Institute of International Relations issued an unusually critical statement, stating that the new fees restrict the right to education, information, and communication, severely impacting their academic development.
This was joined by other public reactions, such as that of the official ideologue Ernesto Limia and the singer Israel Rojas, leader of the group Buena Fe, who also expressed their rejection of the new rates, pointing out their exclusionary nature and its impact on digital inequality.
In this context of tension, Rodríguez's presence at the Round Table was interpreted by many as an attempt by the regime to protect Arevich from political wear and tear.
The journalist Alberto Arego raised the question on social media. “What happened and why is Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández presented as the interim Minister of Communication?”, he said.
However, the response came from Russia.
According to the state agency Prensa Latina, Mayra Arevich is in Nizhni Novgorod, participating in the international fair “Digital Industry of the Industrial Russia,” where she met with the Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, and presented cooperation projects in artificial intelligence, telemedicine, and cybersecurity.
The official statement puts an end to the rumors regarding his whereabouts, although it does not address the lack of institutional transparency, as his trip was not announced in advance and no explanations were provided during the Mesa Redonda regarding his absence.
In fact, on the website of the Ministry of Communications and on its social media, Arevich is still listed as the acting minister, with no recent posts regarding her participation in the Russian event.
Meanwhile, public outrage over ETECSA's new rates continues to grow. The rate hike, which sets mobile internet plans exceeding 11,000 CUP, has been widely criticized for excluding the poorest sectors of the population and exacerbating digital inequality. Only those who receive remittances or have access to U.S. dollars can afford the packages in freely convertible currency (MLC).
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