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The renowned Cuban musician Eliades Ochoa made a strong critique of the current situation in Havana, stating that "Cuba's illness is so profound that it no longer has a remedy."
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, the sonero spoke about the reality facing the country and the suffering of the Cuban population. He directly confronted the regime.
"The big shots are doing it wrong and the people are suffering," said the musician who until recently was living in Cuba and enjoyed full support from the government.
Ochoa, one of the most emblematic figures of traditional Cuban music and a member of the international phenomenon Buena Vista Social Club, described a country marked by precariousness and dependence on remittances sent from abroad.
"After so many years of scarcity... All the Cubans who can are sending money to their relatives. Everything is in a state of degradation there," he expressed.
His words reflect an increasingly common perception both inside and outside the island regarding the exhaustion of the regime's economic model.
The artist, who will turn 80 in June, also expressed his concern for the country's future by stressing that the crisis has reached a critical point.
He avoided defining himself and stated, "I don't believe in politicians," but his reference to "the bigwigs" was a direct jab at Miguel Díaz-Canel and the Cuban leaders, whom he holds responsible for the widespread deterioration.
Despite his negative view of the national reality, Ochoa does not give up on a desire shared by millions of Cubans: “Our island is so beautiful, fertile, and musical… its people also deserve to be happy.”
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