Father Alberto Reyes, a Cuban priest known for his outspoken criticism of the regime, believes the country is facing a terminal situation. Reyes, from the parish of Esmeralda in Camagüey, shared his views in an interview with journalist Mario Pentón from Martí Noticias, highlighting that the current period is one of the most challenging and severe crises in recent years.
"It seems, and I hope, that this is a terminal moment," Reyes explained. "We are all aware of the problems, but they bear repeating: food scarcity, skyrocketing prices, transportation issues..." he detailed.
Father Reyes emphasized the dire state of medical supplies. "Just the other day, I picked up a man from a rural village who told me his only son, aged 14, suffered a sprain with an open wound. The wound got infected, and the boy died because there were no antibiotics. This is the dramatic reality our people face," he underscored.
On a spiritual level, Reyes noted widespread despair and societal vulnerability. "Whenever there have been protests, the regime's response has been brutal and exemplary in its punishments," he said. "People are scared, and the government is scared because it knows it has lost the people's hearts," he affirmed.
Mass Exodus and Empty Churches
Regarding the massive exodus from the country, Reyes stated it shows no signs of stopping. He lamented that Cuban churches are largely empty, especially of young people. "The prevailing sentiment is: 'how do I leave, how do I leave, how do I leave,' across all age groups," he emphasized.
A Government in Control
Father Reyes criticized the government's lack of interest in improving the situation for the people, pointing to a stark disconnect between the authorities and the populace. "The government's priority is maintaining control and power; the people are left to fend for themselves. If they protest, they are repressed, controlled, and given a small appeasement, like a bit of food, to calm them down. This is how they extinguish the emerging fires," he explained.
"It's not just empty slogans," Reyes continued, "but also institutionalized lies, which infuriate me. They lie to us while looking us in the eye. They lie on television, saying, 'the energy problem will improve next month.' It won't improve because it can't. It's a lie. I'd rather they say nothing than foster false hope that will inevitably be shattered," he demanded.