The head of the U.S. mission in Cuba, Mike Hammer, reconnected with the Cuban people from the heart of the Island, this time with a phrase that encapsulates in seconds the daily drama of millions: the lack of electricity.
In a video posted by the United States Embassy in Cuba on social media, Hammer appears in Santiago de Cuba and expresses gratitude for the thousands of messages he claims to receive daily.
"Hello, here from Santiago. We're traveling by road, which is a bit long from Havana, but it's so beautiful to travel through the different provinces and get to know the Cuban people," said the diplomat as he directly addressed his followers.
Hammer confessed to being surprised by the magnitude of support on social media, although he admitted that he cannot respond to everyone.
“Thank you for all those messages, thousands and thousands. I read them all, but I can’t like each one,” he expressed, visibly emotional.
But the moment that had the greatest impact among Cubans was when he made a statement that many interpreted as a direct comment on the energy crisis in the country:
"I want to tell you that when I see you, if you invite me for a little coffee… well, if there's electricity, we'll have it, and if not, we'll just chat."
The phrase, spoken naturally, struck a sensitive nerve: the constant blackout that has become part of daily life in much of Cuba, where making a cup of coffee today is a luxury that depends on electricity, charcoal, or firewood.
"Inviting you for a coffee is a way of saying welcome."
In the comments of the video, thousands of Cubans reacted with a mix of emotion, humor, and resignation.
A user summarized the feelings of many by explaining what that invitation means for a Cuban:
"For a Cuban, inviting you for a coffee is saying 'welcome to my home.' And even if they don't have it, they still express it with their heart."
Others replied assuring that coffee will not be lacking, even if it's "brewed with charcoal," making it clear that Cuban hospitality survives even in the midst of scarcity.
"If there’s no electricity, coffee is still brewed. You are welcome in my home," commented an internet user.
The responses were filled with phrases like "Cuba loves you," "God bless you," "you're just another Cuban," and messages of gratitude for traveling across the country "fearlessly" and speaking with "the everyday people."
An uncomfortable figure for the regime
The video comes amidst a wave of recent publications in which the Embassy has shown Hammer touring eastern provinces, visiting vulnerable communities and overseeing the distribution of humanitarian aid channeled through Cáritas Cuba and the Catholic Church.
In recent days, Hammer has appeared in Guantánamo, Holguín, and other locations in eastern Cuba, where the impact of Hurricane Melissa further worsened an already unsustainable crisis.
The diplomat has insisted that he is traveling across the Island to gain firsthand knowledge of the reality of the Cuban people, but his presence has sparked hostile reactions from the regime, including acts of repudiation and detentions of opponents and activists to prevent them from meeting with him.
In an interview with communicator Enrique Santos, Hammer expressed that he was moved by the courage of the Cubans who dare to speak with him even knowing they could be arrested.
"It is a huge weight for me to go see people whom I know might be detained... but they ask me to," he stated.
In that same interview, Hammer starkly described the situation in the country, asserting that Cuba has already reached a critical point.
"There's already a collapse. There is barely any electricity, especially in the provinces," he said.
According to the account, there are areas where families go up to 20 hours a day without electricity, and they have to leave the fan running to wake up when the power returns in the early morning so they can cook or do laundry.
Her statements reflect what thousands of Cubans experience daily: endless blackouts, spoiled food, the elderly without ventilation, children unable to sleep, and a country where even the simplest act—like having a cup of coffee—depends on whether the power returns.
Filed under: