The First Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in Matanzas, Mario Felipe Sabines Lorenzo, launched a biweekly radio program called "Open Dialogue" on Radio 26, the provincial station, with the stated purpose of addressing citizen complaints and pressuring agencies that "do not resolve problems that are within their control".
According to the official publication Periódico Girón, the program—hosted by journalist and station director Odalis Miranda Suárez—will be broadcast every two weeks in conjunction with the territorial radio system, as well as through social media and digital platforms. TV Yumurí announced that an audiovisual version will be available soon.
"Let's also work on solving problems and raising the standards for those organizations that either do not provide adequate service or fail to resolve issues within their capacity," Sabines said. "We are achieving a goal, that of building the Cuban socialism of a heavily blockaded island [...]. What distinguishes capitalism from socialism is the way wealth is distributed," he added while addressing the implementation of the 176 Economic and Social Transformations, the energy crisis, the state of communications, and the attention to vulnerable sectors.
The format closely replicates the framework of the "Criterio Compartido" program that Díaz-Canel launched on Radio Rebelde on September 23: the same biweekly frequency, the same stated purpose of "dialoguing with the people," and the same mechanism for citizen calls with subsequent follow-up.
Regarding communications, the leader acknowledged that the year began with seven municipal capitals in the province lacking internet connectivity, although he reported that the installation of more than 45 solar panel modules has increased coverage to 67%.
In terms of social protection, it was acknowledged that not all vulnerable individuals in Matanzas have been identified, though assistance is already being provided to around 44,000 beneficiaries. It was also announced that community dining facilities will be more flexible: “Today, there is no longer a limit on diners,” he stated.
The main concern expressed by listeners during the first broadcast was water supply, a chronic problem in the province. By the end of October, about 265,000 people in Matanzas were facing supply issues, placing the region second in the country for the affected population.
The program requires callers to provide their contact information to follow up on each issue raised. Sabines Lorenzo promised that no call will go unanswered: "We will be diligent in ensuring that each person who called [...] is visited and their issues are explained or addressed. We will start with this in the next program."
The public reaction on social media was one of widespread skepticism. Several users pointed out that Radio 26 is not actually heard in municipalities like Perico or Ceiba Mocha, and that the provided phone number—45282600—does not answer. "The problems are well known; they just need to be solved," wrote one commentator. Another was more straightforward: "The first secretary of the PCC, addressing PCC members over the radio... The rest of us have no say in this matter."
It seems that the PCC has instructed its senior leaders to follow the steps of Díaz-Canel. This Monday, the official newspaper Escambray announced that the first secretary of the PCC in Sancti Spíritus, Deivy Pérez Martín, will launch her own biweekly space on November 25, titled "Micrófono Abierto," which is explicitly inspired by the program "Criterio Compartido."
In its fourth broadcast, fully dedicated to the water crisis, Díaz-Canel acknowledged that out of 23 complaints received in the previous broadcast, only nine had been resolved, and that addressing a problem should not depend on the media visibility of the affected individual.
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