The Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz emphasized this Friday that he visited the Güinera Defense Zone, in the capital municipality of Arroyo Naranjo, alongside Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa, to insist on food production and water supply. However, the public response was a wave of criticism that pointed directly to the contradiction between the leaders' overweight appearance and the hunger suffered by the people.
In his post on social media X, Marrero pointed out that the visit aimed to strengthen the "mobilizing role" of the area and address "the main issues such as water supply" and "the need to increase food production."
The images accompanying the tweet show officials in olive green military uniforms gathered in facilities with banners featuring the face of the dictator Fidel Castro (1926-2016) on the walls.
The reaction came swiftly. "Everyone is very fat while they ask the people for sacrifices. They haven't solved anything in 67 years, and they won't do it now," wrote a user in the comments, a statement that encapsulated the general sentiment.
Another internet user was direct about the uselessness of the visits: "Marrero, I thought you had learned that those visits have never resolved ANYTHING. How much longer will you keep using the same failed method?" they questioned.
The choice of location did not go unnoticed. One user recalled that La Güinera was the scene where Diubis Laurencio Tejeda was killed during the protests on July 11, 2021, shot in the back. The responsible sub-lieutenant was exonerated on the grounds of "self-defense."
Regarding the water situation, Arroyo Naranjo directly contradicts the official narrative. "They still have no water in Güinera, despite your persistent lies. And there will be no more water until they leave," responded another Cuban.
The municipality is one of the hardest hit by the water crisis affecting more than half a million residents of Havana, exacerbated by the high reliance on the pumping system which is paralyzed due to power outages.
In June, the government itself admitted that it has not provided oil, chicken, or yogurt through the ration basket all year, and that children in Havana have gone more than two months without meat or picadillo.
Cuba imports between 70% and 80% of the food it consumes, while rice production has dropped by 81% and egg production by 61%.
The contradiction between the leadership's appearance and the people's scarcity is a recurring theme with each official visit. A few days ago, the official singer-songwriter Raúl Torres called on the leaders to "get down from the air conditioning and step onto the street," although in the same text he defended the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel.
In January 2024, the government approved a Code of Ethics that requires leaders to "reject privileges and favoritism," a rule that, judging by the images from this Friday, has left no visible mark.
A user summed it up after seeing the photos from the meeting: "Now that I've seen the pictures, I can see where the people's food goes. You should leave now while you can."
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