Breini Hernández, a Cuban father facing constant blackouts and fuel shortages, delivered an unexpected message to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, while describing the tough situation his family is experiencing.
The testimony is part of a report by the BBC about the energy crisis affecting Cuba, where many citizens have had to revert to using firewood for cooking due to prolonged power outages.
Hernández was interviewed while preparing white rice in an improvised kitchen in his backyard.
According to what was explained, the power outages occur daily and complicate even the most basic household tasks.
"Every day is the same: the same hunger, the same misery. I have a little girl, and at six in the morning they cut off the electricity, and at six in the evening, when it’s time to cook, they cut it off again. They don't give you a chance to prepare the food, so you have to resort to using firewood," he recounted.
The Cuban also described the desperation experienced by the population due to the widespread scarcity.
"Everyone has needs. I have children, that one has children. If he can't feed his child, he's going to steal from me. I don't know where this is going to end," he said.
In that context, Hernández ended up sending a direct message to the U.S. president.
"I wish, I hope that Donald Trump would take this, to see if it improves things. I’m not going to lie to you. I hope they tell him: 'Look, take it. Keep Cuba.'"
The report also highlights the impact of the crisis on other sectors.
Esteban Bello, who specializes in the rental of classic convertible cars for tourism, explained that obtaining gasoline has become extremely difficult and that the lines to refuel can stretch for miles.
"That's no way for a country to function, without oil, without gasoline. We have never faced a situation as severe as this," he stated.
The energy crisis has worsened in recent weeks, impacting not only households but also public services.
In Havana, the accumulation of garbage in the streets has become more visible due to the difficulties faced by garbage trucks in operating without fuel.
Some interviewed Cubans even believe that the current situation is more serious than the so-called Special Period of the 1990s, when the island faced a deep economic crisis following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
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