The Cuban ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel once again used a poetic and triumphant tone when referring to the crisis the country is facing after the passage of Hurricane Melissa, asserting that Cubans are "resilient like the palms that stand tall" against the worst winds.
During a meeting of the National Defense Council, broadcast this Thursday on the program Desde la Presidencia, Díaz-Canel asserted that the “revolution is alive” and that the children of that revolution “will always be safe.” In his remarks, the leader maintained that, although the days may feel slow for those awaiting electricity, water, food, or materials for reconstruction, the government will not leave “anyone abandoned to their fate.”
The leader stated that "some will say it is in the DNA of Cubans, resilient like our palms that can bend, lose their crowns or the deep green of their leaves, but remain standing against the strongest winds." He also added that "this is true, but there is something even more powerful: the unity of the nation, in the face of dangers and the humanistic work of the revolution."
Díaz-Canel also lashed out at those who label Cuba as a "failed state," asserting that these critics are "spokespeople of hate" and that "in Cuba, the State is all of us." He stated that the social fabric created by the revolution "is more powerful than an ordinary state" because it represents "the power of the people."
The excerpt of the speech posted on the CiberCuba Noticias page on Facebook generated a flood of reactions. In just a few hours, the post garnered over 2,600 reactions, 1,600 comments, and dozens of shares, mostly with a critical or sarcastic tone.
Among the comments, many users expressed frustration over the contrast between the president's words and the reality of the country. Some messages said: “Poet of disaster,” “Not resistant, just tired,” and “Speaks of unity, but the country is broken.” Others recalled his unfulfilled promises: “He always says the same thing: that no one will be left behind, yet no one sees the help,” and also: “The people don’t want poetry, they want solutions.”
In general, the reactions reflect citizen fatigue towards the official speeches that call for resistance and unity, while power outages, food shortages, and a lack of materials to rebuild homes damaged by the cyclone continue.
In the same statement, Díaz-Canel affirmed that "as of now" no loss of human life has been reported following the passage of Hurricane Melissa through the eastern part of the country, despite testimonies confirming at least two fatalities in Santiago de Cuba. He explained during that statement that "the few belongings of thousands of families were lost, crops that were about to be harvested, many agricultural developments that had been part of municipal self-sufficiency concepts, infrastructure and facilities essential for serving the population, occurrences of all kinds, except for life."
The hurricane caused severe flooding, power outages, and the destruction of thousands of homes in Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Granma. During his visit to these provinces, the leader promised that “no one will be left helpless,” without providing specific details about the assistance or the timelines for reconstruction. During a visit to Río Cauto in Granma, he reiterated his commitment to support and reconstruction.
Despite the official visits, citizens' reports highlight communities that still lack assistance and basic services, while complaints about shortages of food and construction materials are multiplying. On social media, the messages are recurrent: Cubans do not want to "endure," but rather "live with dignity."
Days earlier, another speech from the leader—where he stated that “principles are non-negotiable”—also sparked a wave of indignation. “Principles cannot be eaten or taken. People do not want to endure, they want to live,” wrote an internet user, reflecting the widespread discontent over the daily hardships in the island.
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