The Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac reacted firmly to the recent announcement by the Cuban government regarding talks with the United States, warning about the risks of manipulating information and denying reality.
"The reality cannot be contained indefinitely, especially if it involves consequences whose scope is massive and/or profound. Sooner or later, that reality surfaces (...) INEVITABLY," he wrote on his Facebook profile.
The actor criticized the official narrative that sought to hide the existence of these negotiations and accused the government of reflecting an opaque relationship with the people.
"Failing to foresee the consequences of a narrative that will inevitably be called into question is immature and contains a massive ingredient that defines the Government-People relationship: 'you have no right to know what I decide, nor with whom, nor how'."
"I am not naive: all governments proceed with the utmost discretion on very sensitive issues, and that's understandable. However, first and foremost, they are very careful not to make statements that might later contradict them ('they end up having to swallow it anyway'), and their subtleties do not reach the level of outright denial."
The backward and forward of the Cuban regime
Miguel Díaz-Canel's confirmation regarding the discussions with Washington marks a sharp shift from the systematic denial of the previous weeks.
Months ago, both the ruler and his Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, denied any meeting: "that dialogue has not started" or the contacts were "technical in the immigration field," they affirmed on more than one occasion.
However, Díaz-Canel now admits that Cuban officials have held conversations with representatives of the United States government, aimed at "seeking solutions through dialogue to bilateral differences," meetings led by him and Raúl Castro.
Toirac's critical perspective on the government's strategy
For Toirac, the way the government handles information reveals a deep disconnect with reality.
"All the spokespersons, members of the Government, ideologues, and clarion: 'We are not negotiating; we are an impregnable stronghold, blah blah blah...,'" he mocked.
The comedian points out that the official narrative aims to coexist with an ideological history that is no longer relevant and does not reflect the real needs of the country.
"Just as it was necessary to sit down to negotiate, concessions will have to be made (every negotiation involves them), and the interlocutor will not be satisfied with just a few (...). The concessions made by the Cuban government will determine the concessions made by the U.S. And here, those concessions are needed," he emphasized.
Finally, the actor compares the regime's propaganda manipulation with the reality of the facts, in a very dangerous game of unequal power.
"They can continue playing cat and mouse like in cartoons. In reality, the cat eats the mouse. This analogy doesn't refer to Cuba and the U.S.; it speaks to the lie and the truth. I've never seen a mouse resting after dinner with the cat's tail sticking out of its mouth," he emphasized.
The background of the confirmation: an unprecedented crisis
After the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, Cuba lost the supply of approximately 30,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil per day, which covered 40% of its energy needs.
In February, up to 58% of the Island experienced simultaneous blackouts, with a generation deficit of 1,754 MW. The Trump administration has imposed over 240 new sanctions and declared Cuba an "unusual threat."
Simultaneous blackouts and the economic crisis are creating increasing social unrest, which is reflected in civic discontent, with almost daily protests occurring in various cities across the country.
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