The frustration among Cubans has reached a boiling point as power outages continue to plague towns and cities across the island. On Saturday, residents took to the streets in Santiago de Cuba, banging pots and pans in protest after enduring more than two days without electricity.
Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared videos on social media showing crowds in Santiago de Cuba, located in the eastern part of the country, chanting “Turn on the power!” while making noise with cookware. Shortly after the demonstrations began, police patrols and state security agents arrived, attempting to prevent recordings of the events.
In the San Pedrito neighborhood, cries of “Power and food!” echoed as locals demanded immediate solutions from the authorities to their worsening situation. The footage shared by Mayeta Labrada depicted a large gathering of residents voicing their discontent in the streets.
San Pedrito, a low-income area situated near the northern end of the bay, witnessed a significant police presence. Residents there live in substandard housing conditions surrounded by waste, a testament to the lack of effective intervention by local social programs.
National Energy System Collapse Worsens Living Conditions
The complete breakdown of the national energy system (SEN), which began at noon on Friday, October 18, has intensified the dire circumstances for Santiago's residents. On Saturday, crowds gathered in the San Luis municipality at a state-run store, hoping to purchase charcoal for cooking, as reported by Mayeta Labrada.
In March, following widespread protests in Santiago de Cuba, authorities attempted to quell the unrest from rooftops. During that time, Archbishop Dionisio García Ibáñez of Santiago de Cuba made a plea for electricity, food, and freedom to the Virgin of Charity, Cuba's patron saint, during a Palm Sunday mass.
“We wish to live with more ease, striving for a normal life where everyone can pursue their own plans and life projects, where life isn’t a constant struggle,” García Ibáñez declared at the feet of the Virgin. He lamented the “daily struggle to find the essentials for living, which are often scarce.”
“Our people have said, asked, and repeated: 'Power and food'—is that too much to ask?” questioned the archbishop, also referencing the ongoing power outages.