Community brigades in the municipality of Niquero, in the province of Granma, are intensifying their cleaning and tree trimming efforts in anticipation of the imminent arrival of Hurricane Melissa, expected on the night of next Tuesday.
In a report broadcasted by the telecenter CNC TV Granma, local authorities announced that they are operating with five trucks directed to the micro-dumping sites and that the Municipal Defense Council has been touring the most vulnerable areas to prevent damage.
Among the "protection" actions was the securing with ropes of the replica of the Granma yacht, located at the National Monument of Las Coloradas, where the landing of the expeditionaries led by Fidel Castro in 1956 is commemorated.
The image of the moored replica quickly sparked a wave of ridicule and ironic comments on social media after Cuban journalist Rolando Nápoles, based in Miami, shared the segment of the report.
Hundreds of users reacted with sarcasm and frustration to the measure, which many saw as a symbol of the economic and social downfall in a country where urgent problems abound.
Some comments asked the hurricane to "take away the replica and the original," while others joked that it shouldn't forget to "take the stone" located in Santiago de Cuba, referring to the tomb of dictator Fidel Castro.
"With so much to resolve, and they are tying up that canoe, a symbol of misfortune," wrote another user. Others lamented that the authorities expend efforts to protect monuments while homes and basic services remain unprotected: "I hope it takes it away, it's a bad memory," summarized a widely shared message.
The jokes also touched upon the absurd with a tone of political criticism: “Tie down the island, lest it end up in Florida,” read one comment; while others viewed the scene as a portrait of the country: “That was the yacht that launched this country.”
The tone between humor and anger reveals the widespread feeling of social disillusionment and the gap between official reality and everyday life. In eastern Cuba, where the direct impact of Melissa is anticipated, many communities live in deteriorated housing, facing constant power outages and a lack of resources to cope with an event of this magnitude.
For its part, Melissa continues to intensify in the Caribbean. Swells, winds exceeding 200 km/h, and heavy rainfall are expected, which could lead to flooding in the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín.
While authorities insist on maintaining the alert, the country remains in darkness due to power outages and the electrical deficit, complicating communication and the preparedness of the population.
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