As the Cuban regime orchestrated May Day parades nationwide this past Friday, Santiago de Cuba's iconic Trocha Street appeared nearly deserted in a video shared by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada. The brief 18-second clip captured the true atmosphere of a city lacking both the enthusiasm and the reasons to celebrate.
The comments from Santiago residents on the post were telling. "What are they going to celebrate when there's no power?" questioned Nalia Pera.
"There's no money, and whatever little we have is for food," added Joaquin Antonio Perz Pavón. "People are busy dealing with their own issues, they're not interested in that," summarized Blanquita Blanca La Rosa.
Others were more forthright. "It's been too much; they've killed our dreams, hopes, joy, and that party spirit Cubans had. These damned dictators have destroyed my country," wrote Rafhael Cabello.
Leo Milanés reminisced about different times when "you couldn't walk because there were so many people," while Aissa López declared, "There's nothing to celebrate here, that's the reality."
Meanwhile, images shared by the Facebook page Culturales in Santiago de Cuba showed the presence of the Orquesta Chepin Choven at Trocha and Calle 6, performing for a sparse group of onlookers.
The Root of the Discontent
The dissatisfaction stems from concrete issues. Santiago de Cuba is among the top five provinces experiencing extreme food insecurity, according to an April report by the Food Monitor Program.
Additionally, the provincial Electric Company has confirmed power outages lasting up to 24 hours daily, and the cost of living exceeds 50,000 pesos per month per person, while the average state salary hovers around 15 dollars.
The May Day scene in Santiago wasn't just about empty streets. Dozens of recently freed former prisoners were coerced into marching under the threat of losing legal benefits or returning to prison, according to reports documented by Mayeta. "They didn't go out of conviction. They went out of fear," the journalist asserted.
Mayeta was also clear on the matter's essence. "The most serious issue isn't forcing people to parade. The real problem is turning conditional freedom into an invisible chain. Using fear as a political tool isn't patriotism. It's control," he emphasized.
International Reactions and Family Strain
A case that went viral involved a Cuban living in Spain who criticized his father after seeing him parade with a drink in hand at the Plaza Antonio Maceo, while financially supporting him from abroad.
"Even if he's my blood, post it, Mayeta," the son authorized. He later confessed, "It's utterly sad. I wake up at 5:30 a.m. and see so many messages that only care about financial help, and seeing this now, it disappoints me."
Simultaneously, the Cuban state media tried to depict massive parades, contradicted by citizen videos. In Havana, the regime moved the central event from the Plaza de la Revolución to the Anti-Imperialist Tribune—a smaller venue—citing "austerity." Analysts saw this as an implicit admission of their inability to gather large crowds.
Understanding Santiago de Cuba's May Day Reality
Why was Trocha Street in Santiago de Cuba nearly empty on May Day?
Trocha Street was nearly empty due to widespread discontent among Santiago residents, stemming from issues like extreme food insecurity, frequent power outages, and high living costs.
What are the main grievances of Santiago de Cuba's residents?
Residents are frustrated by severe food shortages, consistent power cuts, and a cost of living that far exceeds the average income, leading to a lack of enthusiasm for state-organized celebrations.
How did the Cuban regime respond to the low turnout for May Day?
The regime relocated Havana's main event to a smaller venue, citing "austerity," which analysts interpreted as an acknowledgment of their inability to mobilize large crowds.