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A post from the Sancti Spíritus Military Region about the distribution of coal to combatants and civilian workers as part of "personnel care" generated dozens of mocking and critical comments on social media.
"Staff attention is one of the primary tasks in our units. Delivery of charcoal produced by the fighters themselves," published the profile of the Military Region of Sancti Spíritus, along with a couple of photographs showing a line of female workers standing next to sacks that are half-filled.
The mockery, irony, and annoyance were quick to manifest in the comments, which referred both to the absurdity of giving half a sack of coal as an incentive and to the harsh reality that coal is practically a luxury item in Cuba today.
With blackouts that can exceed 30 hours, no distribution of liquefied gas or kerosene, and the limited food going bad due to lack of refrigeration, sacks of coal have reached astronomical prices — in the thousands of pesos — as an alternative fuel for cooking.
In any case, the air of the publication, both implausible and unintentionally humorous, made it seem, in the opinion of many users, like a joke or a hoax. "Nah, that must be a lie," wrote Silenn López, while Alexis F. Espinosa asked, "This is a meme, right?" and another user reacted, "This is a joke, isn't it?"
Other forum members responded with irony about the obvious symbol of precariousness. "We're going backward like a crab," "It was prehistoric at any moment," "It's like watching Jurassic Park live": these were some of the comments in this vein.
The mockery continued with references to the shameful technological regression. Yunior Fundora Jiménez wrote: “I don’t know how they don’t feel shame putting that on the Internet; next, it will be the delivery of loincloths to the chiefs to distribute among their people.” Another user said: “After the coal comes the spear and the two stones.”
Opinions about the practical utility of the supposed stimulus were not lacking. "That charcoal is enough for two pots of coffee and three boiled eggs," stated Choki Barcas, while Vicente González remarked, "Well, they already have charcoal; now they just need something to cook."
Among the dozens of reactions, there were also those who interpreted the incident as a sign of scarcity, even for FAR workers who have historically been privileged by the regime. "Oh no! It’s very pathetic and depressing, poor people," lamented one individual. Another forum member described it as yet another attempt to placate their employees due to such low wages.
If it weren't for the tragic conditions under which most Cubans live, under a regime that uses the FAR and MININT as its repressive arms, publications like this could be appreciated as jokes to clear the mind while browsing social media. So, "attention to staff"? Seriously?
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