The Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac recently offered a biting critique of foreign activists visiting the island. Instead of welcoming them with privileges, he suggested they should spend a month experiencing the genuine conditions that most Cubans endure.
His comment, shared on Facebook, quickly gained traction for its sharp and straightforward expression of a growing discontent within the country.
"Solidarity proposal: take away the luggage they brought," his post begins.
Toirac then outlines an idea that, while not meant to be taken literally, serves as a stark commentary on the economic hardships faced by the Cuban people.
"Give them an abandoned house in Palo Cagao (a neighborhood in Marianao), and let's be generous: give them 4,000 CUP per person (without having to work for it), the ration book, a mobile phone with an Etecsa line, and check back in a month," he sarcastically detailed.
With this, Ulises underscores a critique not only of the visitors but also of how the regime orchestrates these visits, presenting a carefully curated view of reality.
The mentioned amount—4,000 Cuban pesos—is barely enough to survive a few days amid the current inflation, while the ration book symbolizes an inadequate system that fails to meet basic needs. Moreover, internet access is hindered by high costs and poor service quality.
Toirac's message resonates with a growing sentiment of rejection towards foreign groups that visit Cuba to express political solidarity but do so from a privileged standpoint, staying in hotels with far superior conditions than those faced by ordinary citizens.
This disconnect was highlighted recently when members of the Convoy Nuestra América were caught off guard by a widespread blackout, the second in less than a week.
Though they witnessed the country's energy collapse firsthand, they experienced it from protected facilities, far removed from neighborhoods where power outages extend over 20 hours daily.
Meanwhile, the government continues to blame the crisis almost solely on external factors, particularly the United States, avoiding acknowledgment of years of mismanagement, lack of investment, and failed economic policies that have pushed the country to a breaking point.
The electrical system is in shambles, fuel supplies are inadequate, and the infrastructure is deteriorated, as even energy sector authorities have admitted. This is compounded by food shortages, soaring prices, and wages that are insufficient to support families.
In this context, visits from international activists, hailing from countries with far greater freedoms and living standards, are increasingly met with disdain. To many Cubans, these delegations not only overlook reality but perpetuate a narrative that doesn't align with street-level experiences.
Toirac's critique is not isolated. Other voices have also expressed discomfort with what they see as a form of "ideological tourism."
Journalist Yoani Sánchez directly stated, "We are not a theme park. Go do ideological tourism elsewhere. We are suffering here."
Similarly, researcher Rosa Marquetti has criticized the romanticization of the Cuban crisis, where hardship becomes a political argument without addressing its human consequences.
Criticism intensified after figures like Spanish Vice President Pablo Iglesias downplayed the severity of the internal situation or attributed it solely to external factors, reinforcing the official narrative.
Toirac's proposal, though delivered humorously, highlights a deep wound: the gap between the image projected abroad and the reality Cubans face daily.
Understanding the Reality of Cuban Life
What does Ulises Toirac propose for foreign visitors in Cuba?
Ulises Toirac sarcastically suggests that foreign visitors experience the real conditions faced by most Cubans, living on minimal resources and without the privileges typically afforded to them.
Why is there growing discontent with foreign activist visits to Cuba?
Many Cubans feel that foreign activists visit the island to express political solidarity from a privileged position, often disconnected from the daily struggles faced by the general population.