The ongoing visit of United Nations special rapporteur, Alena Douhan, to Cuba until November 21, serves as a platform for the Cuban government to highlight the alleged damages caused by the U.S. embargo. However, it has also ignited a wave of public criticism pointing to corruption, poor governance, and misguided priorities that have exacerbated the current multifaceted crisis.
On Friday, officials from the "Antonio Guiteras" Thermoelectric Plant in Matanzas met with Douhan, claiming that U.S. sanctions have hindered the acquisition of replacement parts. They also mentioned increased fuel costs and cited damages exceeding $496 million in the energy sector, according to a report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on their Facebook page.
In Varadero, representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and the local Marina stated that restrictive measures have slowed the arrival of international visitors, blocked cruise ship entries, and stalled strategic projects, resulting in losses totaling over $2.528 billion in the last period.
The agenda also included discussions with academics from the University of Havana, specialists at the William Soler pediatric hospital, and visits to institutions like the BioCubaFarma company to assess impacts on biotechnology and health, as highlighted by the Foreign Ministry on X.
Yet, the response on social media was swift and fierce. Hundreds of Cubans questioned the government's tendency to blame the "embargo" while maintaining privileges for the elite, investing in nearly empty luxury hotels, and allowing the essential infrastructure of the country to deteriorate.
Some individuals, like Ada Pérez, exposed the comfortable lifestyles of leaders and their families; others, such as Santo Norben Ramírez, directly blamed the political system itself for decades of economic missteps.
Users demanded that the rapporteur also listen to imprisoned young protesters, doctors unable to access their savings from missions, or communities mired in decay.
Simultaneously, numerous comments dismantled the official energy narrative. They noted that the Guiteras plant operates with French and Japanese technology, and the lack of parts is due to unpaid debts and lost credit credibility, not external prohibitions.
Others pointed out the contradiction between the "embargo" rhetoric and the continuous influx of goods from the United States, as well as the priority given to hotel construction over essential services like ambulances, water systems, or crumbling roads.
Several online users mentioned previously donated funds for repairs that were never executed, accusing the government of diverting resources.
While the Foreign Ministry insists on portraying the visit as evidence of the embargo's impact, the public response presents an opposing narrative.
For a significant portion of the population, the real blockade is internal, manifesting as corruption, lack of transparency, and an administration unable to pull the country out of collapse.
The reality for Cubans remains one of prolonged blackouts, unexpected outages, and an electricity infrastructure with chronic vulnerabilities.
Despite announcements of investments in renewable energy, the National Electric System teeters on the brink, unable to guarantee a stable supply for homes, hospitals, and industries, as the populace bears the accumulated cost of years of neglect, erratic decisions, and poor state management.
Cuban Government and Public Response to the Embargo
What is the purpose of Alena Douhan's visit to Cuba?
Alena Douhan's visit aims to assess the impact of the U.S. embargo on Cuba, as presented by the Cuban government, while also sparking public debate on internal issues such as corruption and governance failures.
How have Cuban citizens reacted to the government's emphasis on the embargo?
Many Cubans have criticized the government for focusing on the embargo while neglecting internal issues like corruption and mismanagement, which they believe are the true causes of the country's problems.
What are some of the criticisms regarding the Cuban energy sector?
Critics argue that problems in the Cuban energy sector stem from unpaid debts and loss of credit credibility, rather than external embargo restrictions, as the government claims.