The official portal Cubadebate published an extensive report this Monday about the water crisis in Puerto Rico, where thousands of residents have gone more than 100 days without running water, and the reaction from Cubans was swift: over a thousand comments of mockery and irony in less than two hours highlighted the hypocrisy of the state media.
The article, written by Patricia Vélez and reproduced from El País, describes how residents of the Machuchal neighborhood and Loíza Street in San Juan have recorded exactly 118 days without water so far in 2026, documented in a digital log maintained by nearly a hundred locals. The original report was published by the Spanish newspaper on August 1, two days before the official media reproduced it.
The irony did not escape anyone: the very outlet that systematically silences the water crisis in Cuba dedicated a detailed report to the water issues of a U.S. territory.
"Which province is Puerto Rico in? It seems like I'm wrong in Geography," wrote a user. "It should be called PuertoRicoDebate now," pointed out another. "For a moment, I thought I was reading a news story about Cuba," added a third.
Comparisons with the Cuban reality were inevitable. "I can tell you of a place in Cuba that has gone more than ten years without water and is in a central location," noted a commentator. "That's how Guanajay has been for over a year now. Worry a little about our people!" another commented. Several users summed up the general sentiment with a phrase: "Look at your own backyard, not at your neighbor's."
The irony is grounded in concrete data. According to figures from May 2026, around 2.7 million Cubans are suffering from severe water shortages, and more than 500,000 residents of Havana are facing supply issues. The pumping system operates with only 37% of the necessary fuel, and 87% of the stations depend on electricity, which means that every blackout —which in 2026 can last between 12 and 20 hours— also cuts off the water supply.
One comment summarized it accurately: "There has been a lack of water due to a broken pipe, but the trucks are not missing. That doesn’t happen in Cuba. There are also power outages there, but not lasting 24 or 60 hours like in Cuba."
This is not an isolated episode. Cubadebate has received similar criticisms repeatedly throughout 2026: in February, for comparing foreign special forces; in May, for publishing about U.S. debt; and in July, for downplaying cases of hepatitis. In all cases, the pattern remains the same: pointing out external problems while ignoring the internal crisis.
"This is my favorite humor page. They always bring a smile to my face with their jokes," wrote one user. "I don't think I've ever seen a more subversive report in my life," added another, in what was perhaps the most insightful comment of all.
The Puerto Rican citizen coalition "We Demand Water" has called for a demonstration this Tuesday in San Juan, while Governor Jenniffer González announced water infrastructure improvement projects totaling at least $7 billion. Unlike Cuba, Puerto Rico has mechanisms for accountability: the mayor of San Juan has sued the water company, and citizens have freely organized to demand solutions.
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