Amidst tight security, Miguel Díaz-Canel visited Batabanó, a coastal town in Mayabeque province, where his brief interactions with local residents drew criticism. Images circulating on social media show Díaz-Canel engaging fleetingly with local leaders, hurriedly greeting a few residents, and quickly boarding his vehicle, leaving little room for meaningful public engagement.
Alberto Ramos, a Facebook user, described the visit as "a staged show," posting a video that highlighted the orchestrated nature of the encounter. Ramos claimed that a truck loaded with 30 "clarias"—a term used to describe individuals aligned with the government or brought in to feign public support—was dispatched from another municipality to create an illusion of widespread backing.
Ramos further criticized the security measures that restricted the public’s access to Díaz-Canel, preventing spontaneous interaction. Such visits are part of a broader government narrative aiming to portray a connection with the populace, yet they often reveal strict control over the leader’s public image, curtailing genuine expressions from citizens.
Confrontations in Guantánamo
In a related incident, during Díaz-Canel's visit to San Antonio del Sur in Guantánamo, he faced outcry from locals frustrated by the government's neglect of basic needs amid a growing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Tropical Storm Oscar. One resident, responsible for 29 children at a special school, accused the government of abandoning them at the facility just before Oscar struck on October 20th.
The complaint arose amidst severe flooding caused by the cyclone, which preliminarily resulted in seven fatalities in the Guantánamo municipality. A Cuban mother also confronted the leader, lamenting her family's lack of access to water and food in the storm's aftermath, visibly distressed by the absence of aid following Oscar's impact.
These events add to the mounting criticism of the government's handling of the crisis that has left many Cubans in precarious situations. The growing public discontent underscores a widening gap between the government's promises and the harsh realities faced by citizens daily.