Amid the deepest crisis Cuba has faced in recent decades, the Cuban regime has once again decided to showcase its ability to feign normalcy through propaganda spectacle.
This time, the epicenter of the spectacle will be Ciego de Ávila, a province that the Central Committee of the Communist Party designated as the venue for the national event on July 26.
The commemoration, far from inspiring enthusiasm among the citizenry, sounds hollow, anachronistic, and distant to millions of Cubans who struggle daily for a liter of oil, a piece of bread, or a few minutes of electricity.
The first to celebrate was the Party secretary in the territory, Julio Heriberto Gómez Casanova, who in a televised event not only applauded the "distinction" but also, in an exercise of loyalty to the official narrative, stated that Díaz-Canel is an example that "we can indeed defeat the Yankees" and "build a prosperous socialism" in Cuba.
His words stand in stark contrast to the daily reality of the people of Avila: power outages lasting over 20 hours, rationed bread available on alternate days, half the water needed for survival, starvation wages, ruined agriculture, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness.
Celebrations in the Darkness
The celebration is not new. Just two weeks ago, in the midst of a massive blackout, the local government celebrated the designation of the venue with a grotesque caravan of police motorcycles, state cars honking their horns, and people waving flags from trucks.
The video, sent by a neighbor to CiberCuba, showed a city engulfed in darkness while the authorities celebrated a recognition with no practical meaning.
The scene looked like it was taken from a satirical sketch: propaganda in full swing while the people can’t even turn on a light bulb.
Díaz-Canel joined in the enthusiasm. "Congratulations to Ciego de Ávila for hosting the July 26th celebrations! It has been earned through hard work, perseverance, and the talent of its people," he wrote on X, reinforcing a narrative that only exists in official press reports and the air-conditioned halls of the Central Committee.
A leader who has not defeated anyone
For a PCC leader to state that Díaz-Canel "is an example of overcoming the Yankees" is not only a historical absurdity but also a reflection of the disconnect between the official narrative and national reality.
Díaz-Canel has not triumphed over the "Yankees," hunger, inflation, or the massive exodus that is emptying cities and towns across the country.
Under his leadership, Cuba has entered a spiral of economic collapse, energy crisis, political repression, and unprecedented outmigration.
More than half a million Cubans have left the country in just the last two years. The stores accepting pesos are empty, and those selling in dollars—currency that most people cannot access—only display their insulting elitism.
The image that the government tries to sell with phrases like "yes we can" and televised montages from banana plantations meticulously arranged for the camera is as artificial as it is offensive.
The broadcast of the Mesa Redonda from a banana field in Ciego de Ávila this week was the height of cynicism, a staged performance intended to showcase what does not exist: abundance, control, planning, and agricultural success.
While the producers recited the official slogans, most Cubans wondered when rice would return to the ration book at the store.
July 26: a date without a people
The choice of Ciego de Ávila as the central venue for the July 26 event has nothing to do today with the rebellious and foundational spirit that was once associated with that date.
For the average Cuban, it has become just another day of hollow slogans, unfulfilled promises, and the waste of public resources on events that do not alleviate the crisis.
What is the point of painting facades, setting up platforms, printing flags, and mobilizing workers for marches and rallies when the country is on the brink of an energy and food collapse? What does the regime celebrate when it cannot even guarantee a school breakfast or a medical consultation with the minimum supplies?
The Cuban people do not need more symbolic acts or propaganda gestures.
It needs real solutions: food on the table, medicine in pharmacies, electricity, water, public transportation, decent wages, and, above all, the freedom to choose its own destiny without the Party dragging it into an eternal revolutionary representation that has long ceased to make sense.
While the state apparatus is bent on portraying Díaz-Canel as a hero of an imaginary battle, the real struggle facing the people is against hunger, scarcity, and lies. And in that, Díaz-Canel has already lost.
Frequently asked questions about the situation in Ciego de Ávila and the propaganda of the Cuban regime
Why did the Cuban regime choose Ciego de Ávila as the venue for the national event of July 26?
Ciego de Ávila was chosen as the venue for the national event on July 26 by the Central Committee of the Communist Party, as part of a propaganda strategy to project an image of normalcy and success amid the crisis faced by the country. Despite the official speeches that celebrate this designation, the reality in the province is one of power outages, food shortages, and despair among the citizens.
What criticism has Díaz-Canel received for his management in Cuba?
Díaz-Canel has been criticized for his inability to resolve the economic, energy, and social crisis in Cuba. During his term, the country has experienced an economic collapse, prolonged power outages, food shortages, and massive emigration. His optimistic statements and propaganda acts are perceived as disconnected from the reality that the Cuban people are living.
How has the population of Ciego de Ávila reacted to the regime's propaganda?
The population of Ciego de Ávila has reacted with frustration, indignation, and skepticism to the regime's propaganda that celebrates supposed achievements in energy and food supply. Despite official reports highlighting progress, the people of Ciego de Ávila are facing power outages of up to 20 hours, shortages of basic products, and a crisis that does not seem to have an immediate solution.
What does the Cuban regime say about the progress in solar energy in Ciego de Ávila?
The Cuban regime claims that Ciego de Ávila is a model for the use of solar energy, highlighting the installed capacity of photovoltaic parks that allegedly meet part of the electricity demand. However, local residents dispute these achievements, pointing out that prolonged blackouts are a constant reality and that the generated energy does not directly benefit the population.
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