Miguel Díaz-Canel published a message on X and Facebook this Wednesday to celebrate Cuba's sports results at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026, but the phrase he used to open the text sparked a wave of citizen responses that quickly highlighted his misstep.
"In the midst of the complexities we are experiencing, we continue to express our gratitude for the performance of our athletes in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo," wrote the Cuban leader, using the euphemism "complexities" to refer to a crisis that includes prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and the widespread deterioration of basic services.
The expression, far from going unnoticed, was perceived by many Cubans as a deliberate minimization of the seriousness of what the population on the Island is experiencing.
In the same message, Díaz-Canel highlighted three gold medals in athletics: "the confidence of the flag bearer Leyanis in the triple jump, the savvy of Anisleidis in the 5,000 meters, and the authority of the young Hodelín in the long jump," in addition to the performance of the wrestlers and the hockey teams, with a special mention of the goalkeeper of the women's team, who saved four penalties in the final.
However, the sports context also has uncomfortable aspects for the regime: Cuba finished third in the medal count with 31 golds, 26 silvers, and 35 bronzes, far from the official goal of at least 67 golds, and behind Mexico and Colombia.
It was also the first time in history that Cuba finished outside the top two positions in the Central American and Caribbean Games.
The use of the term "complexities" is not new in Díaz-Canel's discourse. Just days before, on July 30, he had declared: "the path is difficult, the situation is complex, but the will to overcome is unbreakable."
The government's coverage of these games had already sparked controversy in the past: rowers Leah Daniela Almeida and Ana Laura Jiménez, who won Cuba's first bronze medal at the event on July 25 in the women's lightweight double sculls, were overlooked in his posts, coinciding with one of them leaving the delegation.
This selective omission, combined with the euphemism used by the ruler to describe the crisis, fueled reactions from Cubans who pointed out the gap between official language and the everyday reality of those living on the Island.
The message accumulated only 15 comments, many of which were critical, compared to the 336 "likes" recorded on the platform.
This is not the first time a statement from Díaz-Canel about the country's "complexities" has become the target of public outrage: for millions of Cubans who daily face power outages lasting over 12 hours, endless queues, and empty shelves, the word feels as inadequate as the government that utters it.
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