In a scene that seemed straight out of a family postcard, the former spy and current national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, recounted with his children how they experience power outages at home: with games, sweets “hidden away,” and a certain degree of mischievous tenderness. The anecdote was part of the interview he granted this Sunday to state television in honor of Father's Day.
“Sometimes when the power goes out, Dad lets us go look for sweets in a room”, one of the children said with laughter. “That's the ‘blackout mouse’”, Gerardo explained.
The story, although seemingly innocent, reveals a concerning trivialization of one of the most severe crises facing the country: the chronic lack of electricity, which affects millions of Cubans every day.
While in the home of the leader of the CDR the blackouts are managed with cookies, humor, and permission to bend the rules, the majority of Cuban families face those hours of darkness with real distress: food that spoils, children who can't sleep due to the heat, people who can't cook, or elderly individuals who can't move safely.
The blackouts in Cuba are not just a simple service interruption: they are the daily manifestation of the collapse of the national electrical system, which has left the country in a critical situation for over two years.
Citizen reports are constant: unpredictable schedules, areas suffering from over 10 hours without electricity, power plants out of service, and unfulfilled promises from the government.
Who can turn the daily blackout into a game?
It is no small detail that the person who speaks lightly about blackouts is the leader of an organization, the CDR, that has historically been associated with neighborhood control and the defense of the political system that has brought the island to its current energy collapse.
Instead of acknowledging the seriousness of the problem, the official discourse tends to normalize or romanticize suffering, wrapping it in familiar rhetoric, humor, or heroic resistance.
“When the lights go out, mom says no, but dad lets us sneak in there and grab candies,” the son adds, not quite aware that some children learn to laugh in the dark, while others have nothing to eat, no way to study, and no means to sleep. Electricity in Cuba is a dividing line between the connected elite and the disconnected populace.
The scene that intended to depict closeness and familial sensitivity inadvertently reveals a profound disconnection from the national reality. The "little blackout mouse" thus becomes the unwitting symbol of an elite that can turn the crisis into a mere anecdote, while millions of Cubans endure it as a daily tragedy.
The television appearance also addressed other topics such as assisted reproduction, the desire to start a family after years of separation due to political reasons, and the artistic and educational development of Hernández Nordelo's children.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Crisis in Cuba and the Trivialization of Power Outages
How does the energy crisis affect Cuban families?
The energy crisis severely impacts the daily lives of Cuban families. Prolonged blackouts hinder food preservation, complicate meal preparation, and disrupt rest, especially for children and the elderly. The lack of electricity is a constant issue that deteriorates the quality of life and creates significant emotional strain on the population.
What are the Cuban authorities trying to do about the blackouts?
Cuban authorities propose that power outages be more "manageable," but they have admitted that they cannot eliminate them. The strategy is to refine the rotations so that civic discontent is "better organized." However, when the energy deficit is very high, the system collapses and becomes uncontrollable, affecting a large part of the population.
How has the Cuban government reacted to the criticism regarding its handling of the blackouts?
The Cuban government has attempted to romanticize and downplay the severity of the blackouts through official speeches and social media postings. Narratives that portray the blackouts as opportunities for family bonding are common, but these strategies have been widely criticized for their disconnect from the reality faced by most Cubans.
What is the perception of Cubans regarding prolonged blackouts?
The general perception among Cubans is one of frustration, hopelessness, and skepticism. Prolonged blackouts not only affect daily activities but also reflect the ineffectiveness of the system and the lack of real solutions from the government. Many people express their discontent on social media, denouncing the lack of planning and the inequality in the distribution of electricity.
How is the official narrative used to divert attention from the energy crisis?
The official narrative seeks to distract from the energy crisis by blaming the U.S. embargo and using international events to justify the failings of the Cuban system. This approach aims to perpetuate a victimhood narrative, avoiding addressing the true causes of the structural problems affecting the Cuban population.
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