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The Cuban regime reported that more than one hundred thousand Havana residents will march on October 28 in tribute to Commander Camilo Cienfuegos and "against the blockade," despite the ongoing health crisis, energy shortages, and adverse weather conditions facing the country.
According to reports from official media, the mobilization is part of the Camilo-Che Ideological Day and was announced during a meeting led by Liván Izquierdo Alonso, the First Secretary of the Communist Party in Havana, and Yanet Hernández Pérez, the governor of the capital.
The event will include the participation of political leaders, youth and student organizations, and state-owned enterprises, and will be held—according to the regime itself—to "reinforce social cohesion and a sense of belonging."
Outrage on social media
The call for action comes at a time when the country is experiencing one of the most critical moments of the year: overcrowded hospitals, widespread blackouts, epidemic outbreaks, and the looming threat of Hurricane Melissa, which could affect eastern Cuba starting Wednesday. According to reports from the National Hurricane Center of the United States, the tropical storm could strengthen into a hurricane within hours, bringing torrential rains and destructive winds to Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, and Granma, while the government has yet to announce specific preventive measures.
On social media, the announcement has sparked a wave of criticism and outrage. “Hey, stop those marches already; the number of viruses out there, plus the situation with transportation and fuel, and now another march on the 28th—how long will this go on? Don't you think or what?” a user wrote.
Another commented: “On the 28th, a highly intense hurricane will be battering the eastern region, and in Havana, supposedly a hundred thousand locals will be marching. It’s like something out of Narnia.” A third user complained: “Gentlemen, stop the mockery, take that oil and use it for fumigation, allocate resources for the people, how long will this indifference continue?”
Many messages concurred in denouncing that the government continues to allocate resources to political events while the country faces outbreaks of dengue, food shortages, and a lack of transportation.
"With dengue, viral diseases, hunger, cyclone, let whoever wants to go crazy," wrote an internet user. "Habaneros will march FORCED!!!," added another.
The feeling of exhaustion was echoed repeatedly in the comments: “For God’s sake, instead of taking care of the people’s health, they keep holding those marches that solve nothing. They should allocate that oil to fumigate and eradicate the mosquitoes that are causing so much trouble. It seems that the leaders don’t think.” One phrase summed up the general sentiment: “There’s no food, no electricity, no medicine… but there are marches.”
A country in collapse
The announcement comes amid a deteriorated national landscape. The National Electric System partially collapsed this Thursday, leaving much of the country without power for hours. The generation deficit reached 1,818 megawatts against a demand of 2,526, with only 1,550 megawatts available, according to official data. The lack of fuel, breakdowns in thermal power plants, and the shutdown of dozens of distributed generation units worsened the blackouts that are now part of daily life.
The health situation, for its part, also continues to worsen, with overcrowded hospitals, a shortage of medicines, and irregular fumigation. The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights demanded that the regime declare a national health emergency, in light of the increase in cases of dengue, chikungunya, and oropouche, as well as the collapse of the healthcare system.
In just one week, more than 13,000 cases of fever have been reported nationwide, with active transmission of several viruses and severe shortages of medicines and medical staff. Despite this situation, the government continues its plan to mobilize thousands of people to the Plaza de la Revolución, utilizing fuel, transportation, and state personnel amid the scarcity.
"The country is falling apart."
Recently, actor Luis Alberto García expressed his opposition to the official marches and tribunes of the regime, amid the very crisis that is now worsening. On his Facebook profile, he wrote: “Honestly, I don’t believe that this national polycrisis is the right setting to keep inventing parades and tribunes. The country is falling apart. Don’t those who breathe in that ‘other’ dimension they inhabit realize this? Do they know and still proceed with their agendas?” In the same post, he added that “it would be more patriotic, empathetic, and consistent to dedicate the tribune, the march, or the CONGA to those sick and deceased from arboviruses in the Matanzas provinces. Just my two cents.”
His words, published days before the new call, resonate amid the regime's insistence on filling the streets while the country is drained of resources. On social media, Cubans echo their frustration: “Please stop playing with the life of an entire country. We are sick, weak from lack of food, medications, and you are calling for marches. Take that oil and spray from land and air.”
While the population struggles to survive amidst blackouts, epidemics, and shortages, the government insists on propaganda and slogans. Cuba is collapsing, but the regime continues to march on.
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