Miguel Díaz-Canel's attempt to celebrate Santa Clara's 337th anniversary quickly turned into a platform for frustrated Cubans to voice their grievances over power outages, water shortages, and the city's deteriorating conditions.
"Today, July 15, our beloved Santa Clara marks 337 years. As a native and representative of this city, I extend my congratulations to the hardworking and heroic people of Santa Clara. A warm embrace," the leader posted on his X account, accompanied by three photos of the city, including an aerial view and the Che Guevara monument.
Rather than receiving praise, the post was met with a torrent of criticism.
One of the most echoed responses came from user @IAMCharlen26352, who encapsulated the sentiment of many with just four words: "President, I have no power."
Other users criticized the message for overlooking the harsh realities faced by thousands of families.
"The public doesn't thrive on anniversaries; your job is to find solutions and make the economy work. I can't feed my children with dates and ideals," wrote @Reinier_King.
In a similar vein, @AlbertoYariny blamed the ruling elite for the nation's decline.
"It's a shame it's ruined by the Castro Communist dictatorship, where you, the political elite, live in luxury while the people starve, without electricity or water."
A City Plagued by Power Shortages
The grievances highlight a situation that Santa Clara residents have been vocal about on social media for weeks.
On Facebook, complaints about extended power outages and unequal service distribution are rampant. Residents of Circuit 27 in the Camacho neighborhood reported being without electricity for four consecutive days before July 13, only to receive a few hours of service. This is compounded by a water supply crisis that residents claim has lasted over four months.
Similar complaints echo across other parts of the city. Residents of Circuit 6 rarely receive more than two hours of electricity, while those in Circuit 2 claim they have been without nighttime service for months, preventing them from resting or pumping water into their homes.
"Each blackout robs us of years of life, hope, peace, joy; it steals the childhoods of our children. We're stuck in survival mode: no food, no medicine, not even a glass of cold water," summarized one user.
Greetings Amidst an Energy Crisis
Díaz-Canel's greeting came amid a severe energy crisis in Cuba.
Just a day earlier, the National Electric System experienced its fifth total blackout of 2026 — the tenth in the past two years — following the shutdown of Unit 1 at the Felton thermoelectric plant in Holguín. In July alone, Cuba has suffered three nationwide electrical collapses on the 6th, 10th, and 14th, with generation deficits exceeding 2,300 megawatts.
In Villa Clara, the situation has been particularly challenging. On July 8, the province had only 50 megawatts of generation capacity, sufficient for just 47 of its more than 200 electrical circuits. That same day, there were 115 secondary outages, primarily in Santa Clara.
Among the most critical cases is a 12-story building in the El Sandino neighborhood, where residents reported being without electricity or water for over 112 consecutive hours.
This is not the first time a post from the leader has sparked similar responses. In recent weeks, Díaz-Canel's comments on power outages and the economic crisis have been met with hundreds of complaints about the lack of electricity, food, water, and medicine.
A comment from a resident of Circuit 27 captures the mood of many in Santa Clara:
"After four days without power, we barely had four hours of service. Calling the electric company results in the same answer: there is a deficit. There are no words left to describe the torture we are subjected to."
Understanding Santa Clara's Energy Challenges
What sparked the backlash against Díaz-Canel's message?
Díaz-Canel's congratulatory message to Santa Clara on its anniversary was met with criticism because it ignored the severe power outages, water shortages, and deteriorating living conditions residents are facing.
How severe are the power outages in Santa Clara?
Santa Clara has been experiencing extended power outages with some areas reporting being without electricity for up to four consecutive days, exacerbated by a water supply crisis lasting over four months.
What is the broader context of Cuba's energy crisis?
Cuba is facing a severe energy crisis, with multiple nationwide blackouts due to generation deficits and outages at critical thermoelectric plants, impacting daily life across the country.