Yudelkis Ortiz Barceló, the first secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in Granma, took to Facebook on Tuesday to showcase images of local residents watching the World Cup semifinal between France and Spain in makeshift public spaces. She lauded their achievement, attributing it to "creativity" and "various connection alternatives."
The photos depict clusters of individuals seated on sidewalks and doorways, gathered around flat-screen TVs balanced on wooden crates or makeshift coolers, seemingly powered by energy stations or solar systems.
Accompanying these visuals, Ortiz shared a message that conspicuously omits any mention of Granma's ongoing electricity crisis: "Goooooolllllllll for all those who fight with all the creativity in the world under the challenging conditions we live in and do not give up. Let's remain united with the only forces capable of overcoming the cruel and inhumane blockade: unity and love."
Her post exemplifies an idealized portrayal of hardship and poverty, especially given that Cuba is undergoing its third massive blackout in just eight days.
Furthermore, Ortiz's message neglects to mention that Granma is among the provinces hardest hit by these power outages.
This month, the province experienced blackouts lasting up to 72 consecutive hours, and on July 4th, it was entirely disconnected from the National Electric System.
Ortiz's "glossed-over" post aligns with a documented pattern in her leadership of the provincial PCC.
In June, she described collective tamale cooking on the street as "humanism," without addressing the energy crisis that forces Cubans to cook outdoors.
That same month, she celebrated the introduction of mobile cinema as "a different light," although she conceded it was not the solution that the people deserved.
Understanding the Energy Crisis in Granma
What challenges is Granma facing with electricity?
Granma is experiencing severe electricity issues, including blackouts lasting up to 72 hours and complete disconnection from the National Electric System on certain days.
How did residents manage to watch the World Cup?
Residents in Granma utilized creativity and alternative connection methods to set up makeshift public spaces with flat-screen TVs powered by energy stations or solar systems.
What has been Yudelkis Ortiz Barceló's response to the crisis?
Yudelkis Ortiz Barceló has posted messages celebrating the creativity and unity of the people, without directly addressing the electricity crisis impacting the province.