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Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, one of the former agents known as The Five and the current national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), sparked a wave of outrage on social media after posting a video in which he promotes Cuba as a “paradise” that is “forbidden” to Americans.
In the recording, shared on his official Facebook account, Hernández displays images of Cuban beaches and resorts, accompanied by a political message: “Prohibited for the 'free' citizens” of the United States by the grace of their government's blockade”. The official added the hashtags #Cuba #CDRCuba #TumbaElBloqueo.
The message, far from generating sympathy, provoked a flood of angry responses from Cuban users who denounced the irony of presenting a country characterized by blackouts, a health crisis, and shortages of food and medicine as a "paradise."
Among the comments, many recalled that the majority of Cubans cannot access hotels or tourist beaches due to the prices in foreign currency and state salaries that do not exceed the equivalent of 20 dollars per month.
"You should be concerned that they are banned for all Cubans. Can you go with your salary?" replied a user.
Another person wrote: “Workers in Cuba, including doctors, with a salary of 6,000 pesos, cannot even buy bread, let alone enjoy the beaches of their country if they don't have a relative abroad who sends them dollars.”
Some internet users mocked the contrast between propaganda and reality: “90% of Cubans have never visited Varadero, stop the nonsense,” commented Roberto Cardoso. “With the amount of dengue, blackouts, and trash, that’s not a paradise; it’s a tropical hell,” added another user.
The responses also included harsh personal criticisms of the former spy. “Yes, we are free and you know it, you terrorist spy. Your brain is blocked,” wrote one user.
"There is not a single comment supporting him; the few in favor are fake profiles created by him and his sycophants," commented another user.
Some users, such as Ruben Lara, pointed to the economic background: “Aren't you ashamed that the fifth source of foreign currency in Cuba comes from those you call haters? The largest influx of money is from the trafficking of doctors, not tourism.”
Others compared the crisis in the Cuban tourism sector with neighboring Caribbean destinations: “Cuban tourism is in crisis. Foreigners prefer the Dominican Republic or Mexico. I don’t think Americans are missing out on anything extraordinary,” commented Pedro Suárez.
The publication of Hernández comes amid a severe economic and health crisis on the island, characterized by prolonged blackouts, fuel shortages, and an inflation that has decimated the purchasing power of workers.
On social media, the video was labeled as an insensitive propaganda act, detached from the reality of the average Cuban. “Forbidden for the people of Cuba, due to the misery imposed by the government,” summarized a comment that received hundreds of reactions.
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