Related videos:
The publication from CiberCuba about the breach of the official promise to limit blackouts to four hours a day during the summer of 2025 sparked a flood of reactions on Facebook.
More than mere comments, what was expressed was a stark portrayal of social weariness in the face of decades of unfulfilled promises and a permanent energy crisis.
In May, the Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Argelio Jesús Abad Vigoa, had assured that the outages would not exceed four hours. However, Cubans are experiencing days of up to 20 hours without electricity, cooking with firewood or coal, losing food, and spending entire nights outdoors to escape the heat.
The contrast between official propaganda and the people's real experience was reflected in the comments.
Official optimism vs. popular outrage
The first comment that ignited the controversy came from a user identified as Félix José Pérez, who defended the regime with the typical narrative of the ciberclarias, asserting that "we continue and will continue to take steps forward... long live the optimists (sic)".
His message, far from receiving support, was bombarded with criticism, mockery, and spelling corrections. “Being optimistic is one thing and being a fool is another”, replied one user, reflecting the tone that would dominate the debate.
Others took the opportunity to mock the official defense: "Optimist is spelled with a P, which is why we are where we are," quipped one internet user. "You are like Cuba's thermoelectric plants: your ideas don't sync with reality," replied another.
The responses ranged from indignation, sarcasm, and pain. "It's a country that has nothing for the people, neither electricity nor medicine… every day we're worse off", wrote a woman who compared the situation to that of Haiti. Another user was more direct: "This isn't optimism, it's fanaticism; the worst part is that it still tries to confuse others".
The voice of accumulated frustration
Beyond the mockery, many comments vividly expressed the deterioration of everyday life. “I am 56 years old, and I never thought of emigrating, but this is a hell that kills us day by day,” confessed a Cuban who had never spoken out politically. “What triumph are you talking about? I have been waiting for 65 years, and we are worse off every time,” wrote another.
The most common complaints revolved around the lack of dignity, the collapse of basic services, and the inequality between the power elite and ordinary citizens: “They have air conditioning and lavish lunches, while the people suffer from heat and hunger.”
Others pointed to the heart of the matter: “Where are the 18 billion from GAESA? With a fraction of that money, the electricity crisis could be resolved.”
Between insults, sarcasm, and diagnoses
The flood of reactions included direct attacks against those defending the regime. "Memories of a starving snitch without water and light", wrote a user against the pro-government commentator. Another, with irony, asked: "How many megabytes did they give you for that comment?"
There were also more reflective messages: “This model has no solution. Everything must change, private ownership must be encouraged, and bureaucracy must be reduced. With the status quo, there will be no way out”, stated a reader.
Some even summarized the general sentiment with striking phrases: "More than an electrical failure, it is a political blackout."
The unquenchable outrage
The thread of comments shows that Cubans are not only fed up with physical blackouts but also with what they perceive as a moral and political blackout.
“This is not life, it is abuse. There is no shame or respect”, wrote a user. “The people support the government, not the other way around”, declared another.
While the regime insists that the blackouts are “momentary” and asks for understanding, social media becomes a space for catharsis and denunciation. The conclusion of many is that this is not a technical crisis, but rather an exhausted model: “Communism doesn’t work, never worked, and the Cuban people are paying for it with hunger, darkness, and despair”.
The promises of "four hours of power outage" have now become part of the long list of official deceptions that fuel indignation. And in every comment, what is reflected is the certainty that the patience of the Cuban people also has its limits.
Filed under: