The Electric Company of Santiago de Cuba reinstalled a streetlight that had been put up for Díaz-Canel's visit to the town of Baire, which was taken down by its workers immediately after the official event concluded.
The company decided to "rectify" after the publication in CiberCuba about a protest by several local residents, who confronted state officials because they were being left in the dark once again.
"New update, everyone! They put the light back again! And not only that, all the ones that were removed in this town will be returned. Thank you all for sharing," announced user Ruth María in the Facebook group "Revolico Baire."
Days earlier, Ruth shared a video showing residents of Baire, in the Contramaestre municipality, criticizing the company for placing a lamp on a streetlight on 15th Street to illuminate Díaz-Canel's event, and after the usual photos, the same workers proceeded to remove the light.
The woman clarified that she had no issues with the police or State Security regarding her post. "I simply demonstrated that we should not remain silent in the face of injustice, that it is possible to speak out, and that the voice of the people must be heard."
Several affected individuals agreed with her.
"A young model expressed, 'Here, those who complain and report on social media have already confirmed that this is how some issues get resolved.'"
"That's how it should be; most of the problems this country faces are due to the shamelessness of the leaders," emphasized a laboratory technician.
"If they stay quiet, they'll be left without lamps," a woman stated.
It seems that this is not the first time that lamps have been installed in Baire only to be removed after a political event. According to a representative from the installation, who claimed to have connections with the Army, this is done every time there is an event organized by the Communist Party because there are no streetlights in the country. Therefore, the streetlight in Baire may not be lit again until new ones arrive, supposedly from abroad, which is quite unlikely under the current circumstances in Cuba.
"Lies and more lies. In the end, it turned out. These informational spaces on social media are powerful," commented an engineer on the Revolico post.
"Oh my God! So the explanation the boy gave was a lie?" questioned a woman.
"You saw how they deceive the people. And they said there were no more lamps, what a lack of respect they all have," another one pointed out.
On the day of the protest, the person in charge of the brigade responsible for cutting off the electricity on 15th Street in Baire clarified that they were not going to take the lamp, but rather "the inside," meaning the lighting fixture.
"But how are we going to illuminate ourselves if they take away that lamp?" the affected individuals complained.
As the operations head clarified at the time, they determined that the lamp that was previously in that corner had a damaged transformer.
The official response is that there are no lights in the country. "The lights are taken when an event is to be held. It has been explained to the delegates that we have several plans and there are no lamps to replace them. This lamp we will install now in Los Negros and so on. Unfortunately, this is our situation. We have to take it down and put it back up for another event," the executive stated in a conciliatory tone.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Protest and the Energy Crisis in Baire, Cuba
Why did the Electric Company reinstall the lamps in Baire?
The Electric Company reinstalled the lamps in Baire following public pressure and protests from residents who reported the removal of the lights after Díaz-Canel's visit. The visibility of the case on social media and in the media influenced this decision.
How did the neighbors of Baire react to the removal of the lamps?
The residents of Baire reacted with indignation and protest against the removal of the lamps, expressing their discontent on social media. They criticized the practice of installing lights only for official events and then taking them down, leaving them in darkness once again.
What does this incident reveal about the management of the Cuban government?
This incident reveals the lack of resources and planning by the Cuban government, which prioritizes political acts over the basic needs of the population. It also highlights the growing public dissatisfaction and the power of social media to exert public pressure.
What is the role of social media in problem-solving in Cuba?
Social media has proven to be an effective channel for raising awareness and advocating for the resolution of issues in Cuba. In the case of Baire, public denunciation on platforms like Facebook was crucial for the authorities to take action and reinstall the street lights.
Filed under: