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The Cuban-American congressman Carlos Giménez raised his voice after the blackout that left Cuba in darkness this Friday, urging Cubans to fight for their freedom and their right to a dignified life, with efficient public services.
"Cuba is experiencing a total blackout. Sixty-five years of communist dictatorship have destroyed the power grid. The regime is so incompetent and cruel that it refuses to provide basic services to the population. The Cuban people want freedom. The time has come," Giménez said via his account on X (formerly Twitter).
This blackout, the fourth in less than six months, has plunged the island into an unprecedented energy crisis. According to reports, a malfunction at the Diezmero electrical substation caused the total disconnection of the National Electric System (SEN), leaving nearly 10 million residents without electricity.
The Electric Union (UNE) reported that, through "microsystems", it is managing to generate approximately 110 megawatts (MW), far below the daily demand which can reach up to 1,800 MW.
Cuba's electrical infrastructure is experiencing a prolonged decline, with aging thermal power plants and a chronic lack of investment. This situation has resulted in frequent blackouts that severely impact the daily lives of Cubans, from food preservation to the operation of essential services.
The Cuban regime has attributed these problems to the economic sanctions imposed by the United States, while independent experts point to ineffective management and a lack of investment in infrastructure as the main causes.
Giménez, who left Cuba in 1960 at the age of six, has been a consistent critic of the regime's arguments. Recently, he visited the Guantánamo Naval Base, describing it as "the only free part of Cuba".
After Donald Trump's return to the White House, Giménez has urged to denounce the regime’s repressors from Cuba who have emigrated to the United States, emphasizing the importance of justice and accountability.
In February, Giménez responded to the Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be left "wanting" to visit Havana. Giménez countered by emphasizing that the regime has "repressed and trampled an entire people in order to cling to power" and added "their time is running out", suggesting an imminent political change on the island.
Previously, in January, Giménez issued a warning to the ruling Miguel Díaz-Canel, following his support for Colombian President Gustavo Petro in a confrontation with Trump.
The congressman noted that "what is coming their way is of biblical proportions", anticipating significant challenges for the Cuban regime amid rising tensions with the United States and an alleged stricter foreign policy from the Trump administration.
Giménez's recent call to action resonates strongly in this context. His message emphasized the urgency of addressing the crisis in Cuba, as well as the importance of international solidarity and pressure on the regime to support the people in their quest for freedom and democracy.
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