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A neighbor from Gibara, in the province of Holguín, published an open letter on Facebook on Monday addressed to local authorities, in which she denounces five simultaneous crises that, according to her, reflect the sentiment of "hundreds of residents who silently endure the same ordeal."
The author, identified as Esther María, addresses her writing to the First Secretary of the Communist Party, the Delegate of the District, and the President of the Municipal Assembly of the People's Power of Gibara, demanding concrete answers regarding a situation she describes as unsustainable.
Regarding the blackouts, the letter is clear: "More than 20 hours without electricity have become the norm, and at times we have approached 56 consecutive hours without service."
The author points out that the lack of electricity hinders food preservation, charging phones, and maintaining a minimum level of nighttime security, and calls for a realistic maintenance plan along with honest communication from the authorities.
The water problem is equally serious: "More than twenty days without a drop in the pipes. Emergency sources, that resource that should have been sacred, are almost dry because no one protected them in time," writes Esther María.
In the face of that emptiness, speculators have set exorbitant prices: "Today, a water tank costs 3,000 pesos, an absurd amount for someone who survives on a salary that they haven't even received."
That last sentence points to another of the central accusations in the letter: as of July 6, the workers of Gibara had still not received their salary for the month of May. "I can't feed my family, I can't buy medication, I can't pay a debt if you don't ensure liquidity in a timely manner," demands the author.
The energy, water, and salary crisis is compounded by the collapse of the banking system. According to the letter, "the lines at the banks are endless, the cards are not connecting, and transfers are a dream when there is no coverage."
In terms of food, Esther María describes a brutal increase: "What used to cost a hundred pesos yesterday now costs doubled or tripled. There is no control, no regulation, and while you remain silent, hunger is growing."
The situation in Gibara is not isolated. On Monday, Cuba suffered its third total national blackout of the year, with a deficit of 2,165 MW and 71% of the territory without power simultaneously, as 11 out of the 16 thermoelectric units were out of service. Holguín is one of the hardest-hit provinces: it has only 70 MW available for a demand of 240 MW, which translates to just three hours of electricity for every 39 or 40 hours of blackout.
Gibara has a direct history of protests for this same reason. In September 2025, dozens of residents took to the streets after more than 24 hours without electricity, shouting "We want power!" and "Freedom!", and the regime responded with at least seven documented arrests.
In her letter, Esther María identifies herself as a taxpayer and clarifies that she is not writing to confront: "I do not want to be an angry citizen; I want to be a citizen who trusts her leaders. But that trust is built on actions, not empty promises."
The closing of the letter summarizes the mood of a community at its breaking point: "Gibara is my home, but today it hurts to live here. Desperation hangs in the air at every corner, and the silence of the authorities only deepens the void."
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