The Superior of the Daughters of Charity in Cuba, Sister Nadieska Almeida Miguel, sent a message to the Cubans who participated in the official events for May Day on Wednesday.
Nadieska, strong critic of the regime, pointed out the contradiction of celebrating workers' day in a country where their rights are not respected and wondered if these rights are recognized even by workers.
"It is another day at the service of an economic system that does not respect the most basic human rights. Therefore it should be a date for reflection on respect for our rights and the exercise of our duties," he said.
In a text shared on his Facebook, the nun recalled that there are Cuban workers in prison just for demanding that the government restore their rights, such as having good food, a decent salary, safe working conditions and being able to express themselves freely.
"How can a working people go out to march and celebrate when they have children who are serving unjust sentences? Is this march perhaps demanding freedom for their children? How is it possible that a recognition day for workers if blackouts and empty tables await them when they return home"?" he questioned.
The Cuban nun accused the government of threatening students with taking away their right to exams if they did not go to the marches. Similar complaints were reported by workers from the pharmaceutical company BioCubaFarma in Santiago de Cuba, who They were sanctioned for not attending the parade.
"How sad to see people who do not want to participate and go because some benefit is at stake. I do not judge, I simply wonder how long we will allow our conscience to be played with," Sister Nadieska stressed.
Thousands of people, most of them workers from state companies and students, attended the events for May Day called by the government despite the serious national crisis, with endless blackouts, food shortages and the collapse of basic services such as Health and Education.
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