The Cuban actor Hamlet Paredes Grau published an open letter to the Cuban government on May 30 from his personal account on Facebook, in which he harshly denounces the dire situation faced by the population on the island: blackouts of up to 19 hours, hunger, insufficient wages, and a climate of repression and fear that silences those who try to raise their voices.
"Today I address the hearts of those who govern us, with a whisper of pain, but also of hope," begins Paredes, who clarifies that his intention is not to seek problems, but solutions.
In his message, written from a place of "humanity" and in accordance —as he claims— with the Cuban Constitution, the artist firmly asserts that he cannot remain silent while the suffering of the people escalates.
One of the most alarming aspects highlighted by the actor is the country’s energy situation. According to his text, power outages have reached 19 hours daily in provinces like Santiago de Cuba, affecting nearly half of the national territory. Paredes holds the state responsible for the neglect of thermoelectric plants and the lack of investment in sustainable solutions, beyond the excuses of the embargo.
"Without light, there is no water, food goes bad, and hospitals come to a standstill,” the actor summarizes. He also questions the lack of will to invest in renewable sources, as the same unfulfilled promises are repeated every year. "For the third consecutive year, fewer blackouts were promised, but the reality is darker than ever,” he laments.
Paredes also reported with figures and examples the food insecurity on the island. "88% of us live in extreme poverty", he asserts, citing data from 2024. Seven out of ten Cubans have reduced their meals due to lack of food, and the ration booklet no longer serves its basic purpose.
The prices in the informal market are exorbitant: one kilogram of rice costs 1,500 CUP, one liter of oil 2,000 CUP, and meat up to 3,500 CUP, while the average state salary is only 2,100 CUP.
The actor recalled that in February 2024, the government requested powdered milk from the World Food Program for small children, which he described as a "silent cry" indicating that food is insufficient.
The criticism also targets the economic measures of the regime. With the average state salary equivalent to just 6 dollars at the informal exchange rate, Paredes points out that the inflation accumulated since the monetary reform of 2021 has halved the purchasing power of Cubans. The increase in prices of gasoline and electricity in 2024 did not bring improvements, but rather more economic pressure for families.
“How does the government justify that its measures make us poorer?”, the actor asks, while pointing out that the country's real Gross Domestic Product is similar to that of 2013, which he describes as “a lost decade.”
Paredes directly calls out institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI) and the Ministry of Food (MINAL), demanding accountability in light of the evident food shortages, rising poverty, and the lack of protection for the most vulnerable.
The letter also warns about the
Denounce the Decree-Law 35 and the Social Communication Law as tools to silence criticism, with over 1,000 political prisoners in 2025 according to data from Prisoners Defenders.
Mention the case of Mayelín Rodríguez Prado, sentenced to 15 years in prison for transmitting protests, as an example of the high cost of expressing opposing opinions to the government.
In a firm yet respectful tone, Paredes also questions the role of the country's leaders, whom he accuses of not sharing the hardships of the people. “We see them on screen, with faces that do not reflect the hunger or fatigue of those who stand in endless lines or cook with firewood”, he writes.
In his summary of the last five years, the actor describes the main governmental decisions as a "heavy yoke" for the people: the monetary reform that destroyed purchasing power; increases in rates without improvements in services; obstacles to private entrepreneurship; and restrictions on freedom of expression and dialogue.
Despite everything, his letter is not an attack, but a call: "We want food on the table, light in our homes, internet that is not a luxury, and the freedom to speak without fear."
The publication by Hamlet Paredes has resonated on social media, where many Cubans have shared his message as a reflection of a shared reality. Although the actor admits to feeling fear when writing it, he states that the suffering of his loved ones pains him more. "This is not the country I want to live in; I don't know how to be any other way, that's how I was raised."
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