Neighbors protest after more than 45 hours without electricity or water in Unión de Reyes, Matanzas

Residents of the municipality of Unión de Reyes, in the province of Matanzas, protested this Friday after experiencing more than 45 consecutive hours without electricity, a situation that has also left many families without access to water.

According to the official broadcaster Radio Unión Matanzas, the main authorities of the Communist Party and the municipal government visited the area of the municipal headquarters to "dialogue" with a group of residents and ask them to "maintain discipline," amidst several reports of protests with pots and pans in that province the night before. 

The lukewarm statement indicates that the residents expressed several concerns, including the need for a scheduled plan for power outages, which would allow them to manage water pumping and storage in their homes.

They also demanded more timely information regarding the water supply situation and power outages, as the lack of electricity hinders the normal operation of the pumping system that supplies the municipality.

By the end of the report, the area had accumulated more than 45 hours without electricity service, which has further complicated access to potable water in the municipal capital and in other towns in the region.

The neighbors also reported that some individuals are improperly handling the valves of the hydraulic system, which affects the equitable distribution of water and harms numerous families.

Local authorities, led by Arlen González, the first secretary of the Party in Unión de Reyes, explained "the actions" being taken to address the crisis and reiterated their commitment to work alongside the community to improve services; however, they urged maintaining social discipline and protecting the hydraulic infrastructure.

This request comes after several protests and burnings were reported in that province on Thursday night in response to the crisis on the island and the ongoing blackouts.

The situation occurs amidst the profound energy crisis that Cuba is experiencing, characterized by prolonged power outages in various provinces of the country and severe issues with water supply.