Former Cuban pilot and military officer, Orestes Lorenzo Pérez, recently took to Facebook to challenge a phrase often used by government-backed online operatives, known as "ciberclarias," against Cuban exiles: "Rome pays its traitors, but despises them."
Lorenzo exposes these internet accounts that parrot regime slogans "like a monotonous chorus of cicadas," by turning the phrase back on them with a straightforward argument: it is they, not the exiles, who serve a single master that controls, monitors, and despises them.
"Cubans in exile earn their living through their work. No one demands they applaud or support any particular party to earn an honest living. No one pays them, nor are they deprived of employment for their beliefs," he asserted.
Communist State: The Sole Employer
The crux of Lorenzo's argument lies in the structure of power: in Cuba, the Communist Party and the State are indistinguishable, functioning as the sole employer across the nation.
"The State owns all means of production—not the people, as communists deceitfully claim. It is the State, the Communist Party. They are the only employer in the country, paying everyone from doctors to lawyers, prosecutors, and judges," he emphasized.
Lorenzo highlighted how the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) dismisses doctors from their jobs for even the slightest criticism of the healthcare system.
A Rigged Judicial System
Regarding the judicial system, Lorenzo is unequivocal: it's challenging to distinguish between defense attorneys and prosecutors because both serve the same employer, the State, never prioritizing individual interests.
To illustrate the roots of this indoctrination, Lorenzo cites Fidel Castro: "The University is only for revolutionaries," a phrase uttered around 60 years ago that became a prerequisite for pursuing higher education in Cuba.
"In Cuba, you must clap to secure good employment. If you're an informant, opportunities are even better," he remarked, adding that this is why "a significantly high percentage of the population pretends to be revolutionary and supportive of the government" purely out of survival necessity.
Irrevocable Political Control
The 2019 Cuban Constitution enshrines the PCC in Article Four as "the superior ruling political force of society and the State" irrevocably, a point Lorenzo underscores: "The only political party for eternity. If you're not with it, you're against it."
Lorenzo concludes by flipping the original phrase: "Rome is the Cuban State. Rome is the Cuban Communist Party. The only one that pays. The only one that demands allegiance so you can eat."
He finishes with a definition of betrayal aimed directly at those who uphold this system: "Betrayal is stealing the future from your children before they are born."
This post is part of a series of interventions Lorenzo has made throughout 2026.
Recently, he warned that those who have oppressed the people will face "the people's relentless fury."
In April, he dismantled the combat capabilities of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR); and in February, he sent a message to Cuban military personnel: "Never fire upon the people. The homeland is never the government, whoever it may be."
These remarks come amid heightened tensions: in April 2026, over 1,100 protests were documented in Cuba, marking a 29.5% increase compared to April 2025, and in March, 1,245 protests were recorded, the highest number since July 11, 2021.
Understanding Orestes Lorenzo's Critique of the Cuban Regime
Who is Orestes Lorenzo Pérez?
Orestes Lorenzo Pérez is a former Cuban pilot and military officer known for his outspoken criticisms of the Cuban government and its policies.
What is the significance of the phrase "Rome pays its traitors, but despises them" in the context of Cuban exiles?
The phrase is often used by government-backed operatives to criticize Cuban exiles. Lorenzo turns it around to suggest that it is the regime, not the exiles, that employs and ultimately despises those who serve it unconditionally.
How does Lorenzo describe the relationship between the Communist Party and the Cuban State?
Lorenzo describes the Communist Party and the Cuban State as inseparable, with the State acting as the sole employer and controller of all aspects of life in Cuba.