The community of Reparto Militar de Guisa, in the Cuban province of Granma, became the scene of a tense exchange between residents and local authorities, who discussed the energy crisis affecting the region.
The incident sparked a wave of reactions on social media following the release of videos showing residents expressing their discontent towards certain leaders whose identities could not be verified by elTOQUE.
According to the independent outlet's explanation on social media, the community received electricity from a hydroelectric plant at the El Corojo dam, but a transformer malfunction has rendered that source of energy unusable.
For that reason, the authorities proposed connecting the neighborhood to the National Electric Power System (SEN) as an alternative. However, this solution did not convince the residents due to the extremely high level of "interruptions (blackouts)" experienced by users of the national grid.
Reports on social media indicated that residents expressed their opposition to this measure, warning that it could lead to an increase in power outages in an area that had, until now, enjoyed a relatively stable electricity supply.
In videos shared on social media, residents vigorously defended their rights and questioned the explanations provided by local leaders. The images revealed deep discontent, highlighting concerns over a potential decline in their quality of life due to energy uncertainty.
For her part, Yudelkis Ortiz, the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in Granma, confirmed that she visited the Guisa Military District in a Facebook post.
Ortiz mentioned that during his stay, topics such as the energy situation and the recent earthquakes in the region were discussed, but he avoided directly referencing the conflicts shown in the videos. His message, which highlighted the "affection of the children" in the community, was criticized for lacking specificity regarding the residents' demands.
The Military Settlement of Guisa, also known as Guillermo González Settlement, is located at the entrance of the municipality along the Guisa-Bayamo road, and is home to more than 2,000 residents.
The energy crisis in this community reflects a growing discontent among the population, which demands effective and clear solutions in response to the ongoing blackouts and failures in the electrical system. Meanwhile, the atmosphere of dissatisfaction remains palpable, and authorities are under increasing pressure to provide answers that will alleviate the situation.
The rice vendors have previously been at the forefront of protests expressing discontent. In May 2022, establishments belonging to the CIMEX corporation and the Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) were stoned during a blackout in the city of Guisa.
In mid-March of this year, dozens of people from Granma took to the streets in Bayamo, while the regime mobilized its Special Forces (Black Wasps) and ordered the closure of several streets.
Journalist Mario J Pentón published images of the city with a military presence and stated that internet service disruptions were ongoing. These events occurred in the context of other large protests reported in Santiago de Cuba, where demonstrators took to the streets shouting "We are hungry," "Food and Electricity," "We don't want molars," and "Homeland and Life."
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