For years, Cubans repeated almost like a mantra that "in the Isle of Youth, the power never goes out." And it wasn't just a popular belief; in March of this same year, official media acknowledged that this territory had its own electricity generation, with enough capacity to prevent blackouts, even during mass outages that affected the entire larger island.
But the reality has been overturning the myth for months, to the point that on June 16, the authorities of the Electric Company in that insular territory have started to implement scheduled power outages of five hours, which extend throughout the day and into the early morning, as confirmed this Monday by the local broadcaster Radio Caribe.
The measure is in response to insufficient generation to meet demand, a situation that worsened since June 14, when two units of the national electric system went offline, which "accelerated the forecast of impact," as the company itself explained in a last-minute alert.
The announced blackout schedule includes four blocks of affected areas, covering critical time periods such as early morning and the first hours of the day. Areas such as Pueblo Nuevo, La Fe, Mella, La Reforma, Chacón, the Airport, the University, and neighborhoods like Micro 70 or Sierra Caballos will be among the most affected.
Power outages occur from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., from 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and until 1:00 p.m. in some areas, affecting both nighttime rest and daytime school and work activities.
The official notice also warns that schedules may be moved forward or pushed back depending on demand behavior, and unexpected breakdowns that could worsen the situation cannot be ruled out.
"There is no food, there is no electricity, we have nothing."
"Our children are in their final exams and can't even sleep... this is too much," wrote Ariel Moto on the municipal radio station's page. His comment, which encapsulates the anguish of many, has gone viral among the residents of Pine Island.
Other users, such as Katiusca Muñoz, complain that the scheduled outages are not being respected and that areas like Chacón have been without power for more than five hours, both during the day and at night. “The report makes no sense,” she complains.
The uncertainty is constant: when will the power go out? When will it come back? Is it rotating or fixed? neighbors like Mirtha Cabrales ask time and again.
"I'm looking for company... there's no power in my area at dawn. I'm looking for someone to host me, and then we'll come back to my place," commented Erislandis Durán, trying to make light of the situation amid the stress.
Not even the Isle of Youth, historically the most stable region in terms of electricity, has been spared this time. The myth is shattered, but along with it, the hope of having at least one peaceful night also crumbles.
Authorities recommend charging lamps and batteries, and disconnecting appliances during outages, while promising that schedules will be adjusted "when the situation improves."
But for thousands of Cubans on the Island, what is urgent is not patience, but answers and relief.
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