The beloved comedian Mario Sardiñas, known for his enduring character Chequera from the TV show "Vivir del Cuento," has humorously solved a problem the Cuban regime has struggled with for years: the chaotic electric grid system. Gone are the days of six different blocks, rotating schedules, and circuits with complex names and numbers. Chequera's new categorization simplifies everything into just two categories: the "block without power" and the "block with power."
In a Facebook reel, Chequera is seen talking to his "boss" on the phone, reporting on his mission to dismantle the blocks of the National Electric System. He humorously notes, "I didn't touch the block on the left," suggesting it might belong to ETECSA because as soon as he tries, the phone inevitably rings.
The joke resonates deeply in Cuba, where both phone and electricity services are notoriously unreliable. The "left," symbolically tied to the nation's leaders, never experiences power outages, highlighting the disparity.
Chequera's Satirical Commentary on Cuban Power Outages
The sketch reaches its peak with the introduction of Block 6. "You know what they call Block 6?" Chequera quips, "The drunk one, the one always on the floor." This nickname isn't just comedic; it's a relatable jab at the energy woes every Cuban faces, with Block 6 being a personal nemesis for many.
Amidst this comedy, real changes are unfolding in how blackouts are managed. Havana's Electric Company has ditched the block system for managing outages by individual circuits, a shift prompted by the year's fourth nationwide blackout on July 10, which left millions in the dark.
Chequera's Quick Wit Amid Bureaucratic Delays
True to form, Chequera was ahead of the bureaucratic curve, crafting his solution in a minute-long video while officials took days to announce the new system. Before declaring his energy reform, Chequera jokes, "Circuit, circuit, circuit. Boss, the blocks are a real mess."
This isn't the first time Sardiñas has turned Cuba's darkness into comedy. In April, he humorously "traveled" to the Moon on the Artemisa spacecraft to escape blackouts, only to abort the mission due to stolen fuel. In May, he awarded diplomas and flowers to the "most outstanding" blocks for frequent outages, with Block 6 taking the honors. By June, he was greeting people with "good evening" in broad daylight, as in Block 6, night falls when the regime decides.
The grim reality Chequera satirizes is severe: in early July, the energy deficit hit a record 2,341 MW, affecting 73% of the population. In some areas of Matanzas, there were up to 87 consecutive hours without power. The country's largest power plant, CTE Antonio Guiteras, has failed 17 times in 2026 alone and hasn't received major maintenance since 2010.
Comments on the video capture the blend of humor and resignation familiar to Cubans. "We have to laugh to keep from crying," one viewer wrote. "I'm from Block 2 in Nuevo Vedado; maybe they merged me with Block 6 without telling me because it's always down." Another suggested a new use for the blocks: "I could use these blocks to build a cistern for water." In Cuba, when there's no power, there's often no water, but at least there's always Chequera.
Understanding Chequera's Impact on Cuban Society
How did Chequera simplify the electric grid system in Cuba?
Chequera humorously reduced the complex electric grid system into just two categories: "block without power" and "block with power," poking fun at the inefficiencies of the Cuban regime.
What real changes are happening with power management in Cuba?
The Electric Company in Havana is moving away from the block system to managing power cuts through individual circuits, influenced by a major blackout in July that affected millions.
Why is Chequera's humor significant to Cubans?
Chequera's humor resonates because it turns the harsh reality of frequent power outages into comedic relief, reflecting the everyday struggles of Cubans with a satirical twist.