As Havana experienced power outages lasting up to 24 hours and other provinces endured blackouts extending beyond 30 and 40 hours, Meyvis Estévez Echevarría, the First Secretary of the Communist Youth Union (UJC), delivered a fervent speech last Thursday. Speaking at the Anti-Imperialist Youth Parade "Here, with Fidel," she urged Cuban youth to persevere, innovate, and create amidst adversity, with Fidel Castro as the spiritual guide for new generations.
The event, orchestrated by the UJC and the José Martí Pioneers Organization (OPJM), commenced from the Malecón and G in Havana, featuring a caravan of bicycles, motorcycles, and electric tricycles, led by President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Estévez's rhetoric was unabashedly bold: "In every shortage, we have forged a muscle of rebellion. In every limitation, we have invented a solution. And in this trench, we are accompanied by an eternal young rebel, our Fidel."
Among her declarations was the claim that "we know ourselves to be the owners of a country we build and defend every day," a statement that starkly contrasts with one of the island's harsh realities: a nation that its young are fleeing at record rates.
The disparity between the rhetoric and reality is striking. During the event on April 1 and 2, Havana was plunged into darkness for up to 24 hours, with electricity shortages between 1,585 and 1,725 megawatts. The National Electrical System had completely collapsed on March 16 for 29 hours and 29 minutes and suffered another total blackout on March 22. The sector's deputy minister admitted that month that distributed generation had been paralyzed for three months due to a lack of diesel and fuel oil.
While Estévez praised the "inventiveness" of Cuban youth, independent bodies like The Economist Intelligence Unit forecast a 7.2% contraction in Cuba's GDP by 2026, accumulating a decline of over 23% since 2019.
The actual response of Cuban youth to this "adversity" seems far from what the UJC secretary described: over a million Cubans have left the island since 2021, most of whom are between the ages of twenty and forty. A 2023 report also revealed that about 800,000 young Cubans were neither studying nor working at that time.
The event marks the 65th anniversary of the OPJM and the 64th of the UJC, part of the "100 Years with Fidel" campaign, which prepares to commemorate Fidel Castro's centenary on August 13, 2026. The portrayal of the commander as an "eternal young rebel" accompanying new generations is the backbone of an official narrative striving to anchor its present inadequacies in an "epic" past.
Estévez's style is not new. On March 30, she posted on Facebook using language of "choked voice" and "stirred soul" regarding an exchange with Díaz-Canel, and on March 16, she praised a presidential speech as an example of "transparency" and "collective glory." Just days before the parade, on March 31, Cuban children staged "trials" against the United States in regime-organized events.
For countless young Cubans, the only viable option amidst the country's growing challenges has been to pack their bags and leave.
Understanding Cuba's Current Challenges
Why are there prolonged power outages in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing prolonged power outages due to significant deficits in electricity generation, exacerbated by a lack of diesel and fuel oil necessary for distributed generation.
What is the response of Cuban youth to the ongoing crisis?
The response of Cuban youth to the ongoing crisis has been largely to emigrate, with over a million leaving the island since 2021, driven by economic hardship and lack of opportunities.
What economic forecast does The Economist Intelligence Unit have for Cuba?
The Economist Intelligence Unit projects a 7.2% contraction in Cuba's GDP by 2026, resulting in a cumulative decline of over 23% since 2019.