The Cuban priest Alberto Reyes described a gesture of solidarity that allowed him to complete a dangerous nighttime journey by road after his car's headlights failed, when an unknown motorcyclist decided to accompany him for over 15 kilometers to light his way.
The parish priest of Esmeralda, Camagüey, recounted what happened this Saturday in a Facebook post, recalling that the night before he was returning from several towns when his vehicle broke down.
Faced with the breakdown, Reyes and those traveling with him decided to continue using a flashlight, under conditions that the priest himself described as particularly difficult.
“Helped by a flashlight, we continued on the road, straining our eyes and being as careful as possible,” he recounted.
When they were a little more than 15 kilometers from Esmeralda, a motorcycle approached from behind.
Reyes initially thought that the driver would just overtake them, but the opposite occurred.
“He positioned himself behind and to the left, and accompanied us the whole way, lighting up the road, until he left us in Esmeralda,” he recounted.
The motorcyclist stayed behind the car for the rest of the journey so that the light from his motorcycle could help illuminate the road, and he left after the vehicle reached its destination.
Reyes stated that he does not know who the person was that decided to help them, which is why he turned his post into a public message of gratitude.
And I, I don’t know who you are, or where you are from, but whoever you are and wherever you are, THANK YOU, and may God pour His blessing upon you, he wrote.
The episode takes on special significance amidst the complex situation of road safety in Cuba.
To give you an idea, during 2025 7,538 traffic accidents were recorded, resulting in 750 fatalities and 6,718 injuries, according to official figures.
Motorcycles, mopeds, and pedestrians were involved in 63% of the accidents.
Reyes is also one of the most critical voices of the Catholic Church in Cuba.
In August, he delivered a message to military personnel, police, and State Security agents in which he stated that "a people cannot be chained forever" and questioned the political system that governs the island.
His critical position has also brought him pressure from the authorities. In January, State Security summoned Reyes and priest Castor José Álvarez in Camagüey.
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