The community of Cabacú, in Baracoa, Guantánamo province, was the site of a new citizen protest this Saturday due to prolonged electricity outages affecting the entire population, particularly the residents of Eastern Cuba.
Residents of the area known as La Bacanera took to the streets after enduring more than 12 hours without electricity, as reported by the independent legal center Cubalex on its social media.
"We have received reports of a protest in the community of Cabacú, Baracoa, in the province of Guantánamo, due to prolonged power outages. Residents in the area known as La Bacanera in this eastern community demonstrated this Saturday after being without electricity for more than 12 hours. Local sources confirm the presence of police at the protest site," stated the NGO.
This new demonstration occurs in a critical context for the country, with large areas facing prolonged power outages.
In Artemisa, the National Defense Council reported that only 51.69% of the population had access to electricity this weekend, reflecting the severity of the energy crisis affecting the entire nation since the total collapse of the electrical system on October 18.
Cabacú, one of the communities most affected by the rains from Hurricane Oscar at the end of October, is also facing the aftermath of that natural disaster. Ongoing disruptions in basic services have intensified social discontent, evident through these types of mobilizations.
This is not the first protest recorded in Cabacú.
Cabacú, in Baracoa, Guantánamo province, has already been the site of citizen protests driven by social discontent over prolonged power outages.
On May 17, 2024, residents of this community took to the streets after enduring more than 14 hours without electricity.
During the protest, the demonstrators voiced their outrage with slogans such as "We want electricity and food!", demanding solutions to the energy crisis and the food shortages they are experiencing.
Police presence at the protest
Local sources confirmed to Diario de Cuba the presence of police agents at the scene, although no violent incidents or arrests have been reported so far. Cubalex stated that they are verifying the information and issued a call to anyone who may provide additional details about what happened.
This episode reflects the growing desperation of Cubans in the face of a constantly worsening economic and social situation. Power outages have become a regular occurrence, and combined with economic hardships and the effects of natural disasters, they fuel public discontent.
For now, the authorities have not released an official statement regarding the events in Cabacú. More details are expected to emerge as independent organizations and local witnesses continue to report on the protest.
Repression: The regime's only response to those who protest.
In recent months, Cuba has experienced a significant increase in citizen protests due to prolonged blackouts affecting various regions of the country. These demonstrations reflect the growing discontent among the population regarding the energy crisis and the government's response.
On November 7, 2024, in Encrucijada, Villa Clara, residents gathered in front of the municipal government headquarters to demand immediate solutions after more than 48 hours without electricity. The protest was suppressed by police forces, resulting in several arrests.
In Havana, during the third consecutive night of a general blackout, protests erupted in various neighborhoods. Demonstrators expressed their frustration over the lack of electricity and the scarcity of official information regarding the situation. The government's response included a significant police presence to control the demonstrations.
In Santiago de Cuba, similar protests were also observed, with citizens demanding the restoration of electrical service. Authorities responded with a heavy police presence on the streets to deter gatherings.
These demonstrations have been driven by the energy crisis facing the country, marked by frequent and prolonged power outages. The situation has been further exacerbated by recent natural disasters, such as Hurricane Rafael, which negatively affected the electrical infrastructure.
The government's response has included measures of repression and the detention of protesters, which has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and the international community.
Filed under: