Lis Cuesta Peraza, the wife of Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, resurfaced this Friday on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) with a message interpreted as yet another exercise in official propaganda.
Instead of offering words of comfort or expressing solidarity with the victims of Hurricane Melissa—which wreaked havoc across several provinces in eastern Cuba—Cuba's "not-first-lady" seized the moment to promote the so-called "revolution."
"No hurricane is stronger than the will of this people. The East has once again shown what we are: love, courage, and Revolution," Cuesta Peraza wrote, sharing her post with a tweet from the Palace highlighting more empty words from her husband about the "feat of surviving the monstrous Hurricane Melissa, explainable only by the organization, unity, and will of all."
The tweet from Dr. Cuesta Peraza, who defended her thesis adorned with a Cartier Ballon Bleu watch worth over $13,000, comes after several days of conspicuous silence while thousands of Cubans face material losses, destroyed homes, and prolonged power outages.
During this time, many on social media were questioning the whereabouts of Lis Cuesta, a native of Holguín, one of the areas hardest hit by the hurricane. Was she perhaps with "her heart in rags," or planning to auction her jewelry to aid those affected?
No, the organizer of exclusive events and lavish banquets chose to keep a low profile during the hurricane's passage, remaining silent amidst the howling winds, only to reemerge days after the tragedy to sing her refrain of "love, courage, and revolution."
As expected, her message sparked a wave of criticism and mockery among Cuban netizens, who pointed out the triumphant and hollow tone of a post that repeats the clichés of revolutionary propaganda while the country faces a humanitarian crisis.
"While Hurricane Melissa was happening, you disappeared until yesterday. Stop saying it's love @liscuestacuba. You abandoned the Cuban people and many are still left destitute. Your revolution is a joke. Shameless!" responded one user.
Meanwhile, images circulating from the East show ripped-off roofs, flooded towns, and families who have lost everything. In that context, Cuesta Peraza's words—more akin to a state news script than the disaster's reality—further reinforce the perception of a political elite disconnected from the everyday lives of the Cuban people.
On the island, her figure has become a symbol of privilege and propaganda. Although the regime insists that Cuba has no "first lady," Cuesta Peraza acts as one: accompanying her husband on international tours, leading cultural events, and appearing on social media to amplify regime messages.
Following Melissa, her reappearance offered neither solace nor tangible aid, but yet another display of the triumphant rhetoric with which the decaying totalitarian power of the dictatorship attempts to gloss over the devastation afflicting the country.
Questions About Lis Cuesta's Role and Hurricane Melissa's Impact
What was the public's reaction to Lis Cuesta's message after Hurricane Melissa?
The public reacted with criticism and mockery, pointing out the hollow and triumphant tone of her message, which failed to offer genuine comfort or aid to the victims.
How did Lis Cuesta's role during the hurricane highlight her status on the island?
Despite the regime's claim that Cuba has no "first lady," Cuesta acts like one by accompanying her husband on tours and amplifying regime messages, which highlights her status as a symbol of privilege and propaganda.
What were some of the consequences of Hurricane Melissa in Cuba?
Hurricane Melissa caused significant damage, including ripped-off roofs, flooded towns, and numerous families losing their homes and belongings, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country.