Cuba's Permanent Mission to the United Nations opened its doors on Friday night to host a lavish diplomatic reception with drinks and a banquet, while on the island millions of citizens faced widespread blackouts, hospitals without electricity, and entire neighborhoods plunged into darkness.
Outside, the cameras from the television network Martí Noticias captured the arrival of guests, including foreign officials and close associates of the Havana regime, while on the island the energy crisis deepens.
According to Cuban journalist Mario J. Pentón, few diplomats attended the meeting. A representative from Haiti admitted that he enjoyed the mojitos but avoided answering questions about political prisoners in Cuba.
Other attendees, including the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, staggered out of the venue, according to the report.
Inside the hall were the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and the Vice Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío, while in Cuba hospitals remained without electricity and families endured entire days without power, and the elderly went to bed without anything to eat.
The contrast between New York's opulence and the energy crisis on the island highlights the wastefulness of the ruling elite's resources.
The diplomatic mission attempted to prevent coverage by Martí Noticias and called the police in New York.
However, the agents guaranteed freedom of the press and allowed the banquet to be recorded in images, Pentón emphasized.
The Cuban government grandly inaugurated the latest edition of the Varadero Gourmet International Festival at the Plaza América Convention Center, held from September 11 to 13 at the island's main beach resort, in the province of Matanzas.
In July, images of the catering service provided during the working sessions of the National Assembly of People's Power, at the Palace of Conventions in Havana, sparked controversy on social media by showing the elegant menus enjoyed by the deputies, amidst the food scarcity faced by the people.
On the night of Wednesday, February 26, while over 50% of Cuba was experiencing a blackout, in Havana, a privileged group of millionaires and members of the communist elite held a banquet at the National Capitol to celebrate, in the style of a tropical Versailles, the so-called Midnight Night of the Habanos Festival, described by its organizers as an evening for a "select group" of individuals.
In the midst of one of the most severe energy and food crises in recent years in Cuba, these events expose the privilege bubble of the Cuban elite.
The contradiction between the official discourse of “resistance” and ostentation is becoming increasingly untenable for a population overwhelmed by precariousness in a country where many people get up with nothing to eat and go to bed with empty stomachs.
Frequently asked questions about the Cuban diplomatic reception in New York and the crisis in Cuba
What event did the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations organize?
The Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations organized a lavish diplomatic reception in New York, featuring drinks and a banquet, while on the island, a severe energy crisis with widespread blackouts is being faced.
How does the reception in New York contrast with the situation in Cuba?
The contrast is evident, as while in New York they celebrated with opulence, in Cuba millions of citizens faced blackouts, hospitals without electricity, and neighborhoods in darkness, which highlights a waste of resources by the ruling elite.
How has the Cuban government responded to the energy crisis on the island?
The Cuban government has attempted to downplay the situation, assuring tourists that the island remains a safe destination and that hotels are equipped with electric generators, while the local population endures prolonged electricity outages and shortages of basic resources.
Why is there criticism regarding the treatment of tourism in Cuba?
The criticisms focus on the fact that the Cuban government prioritizes tourism over the needs of the population, securing resources for hotels while citizens face blackouts and food shortages.
What is the perception of the Cuban population regarding the government's measures during the crisis?
The general perception is one of discontent, as the population faces increasing hardship while official events display a contrast of luxury and opulence that does not reflect the daily reality on the island.
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