Cuban journalist Suleidy Peñate Ramos, now living in Portugal after a long career with Perlavisión and Canal Habana, two regional Cuban TV channels, has made waves on social media. She released a brief 23-second video dismissing a growing notion among some content creators that the world owes an apology to the Cuban people.
"The world doesn't owe an apology to the Cuban people. It's the rulers who owe an apology and compensation for the harm they've caused," Peñate Ramos declared in a Facebook video.
Her statement was a response to an unnamed influencer who argued on social media that the international community should apologize to Cubans.
The video quickly resonated with viewers, amassing nearly 15,000 views and hundreds of positive reactions within hours, along with numerous comments supporting her stance.
Expanding on her thoughts, Peñate Ramos included those who have left the island in her message.
"When I speak of the Cuban people, I also mean the more than a million Cubans who are no longer in Cuba. Even from afar, we deeply feel what our families, friends, and even strangers are enduring in Cuba," she elaborated.
The responses from her followers showed strong agreement with her perspective.
"Well said, loud and clear, the government is the one that has destroyed such a beautiful country. That same government owes thousands of apologies," one user commented.
Another added that responsibility extends beyond Cuba's borders.
"I believe both the Cuban misgovernment and the silent governments of other countries are complicit in this chaos," they wrote.
A Voice with Insider Experience
Peñate Ramos built much of her career at Perlavisión, a municipal TV station in Cienfuegos, and at Canal Habana, where she became the Director of Information before moving to Lisbon.
In exile, she has joined other independent journalists and content creators in holding the Cuban regime accountable for the island's economic, social, and political decline.
Her message aligns with a debate that has intensified in recent months. In March, Cuban influencer Anna Bensi also asserted that the primary source of Cuban suffering is the political system itself.
Call for Restitution
Beyond the symbolic gesture, Peñate Ramos highlighted the need for "compensation for damages," a demand supported by human rights organizations.
The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, for instance, has suggested creating an international reparations fund for victims of the regime, financed through the assets of Cuban state-owned companies.
The journalist's comments come amidst the largest exodus in modern Cuban history. Since 2021, over a million Cubans have left the country, drastically altering the island's demographic and social landscape.
This mass migration has also affected state media. In May, Canal Habana publicly sought to hire journalists, indicating a shortage of professionals in the state press system.
Meanwhile, the Cuban government has neither acknowledged its role in the nation's crisis nor set up any reparative measures for the victims. Instead, national and international organizations continue to report increased repression against journalists, activists, and dissidents, as the regime seeks to attract diaspora investments through new economic policies.
Understanding the Cuban Situation: Key Questions and Answers
Who is Suleidy Peñate Ramos?
Suleidy Peñate Ramos is a Cuban journalist currently in exile in Portugal. She previously worked at Perlavisión and Canal Habana and has been vocal about the Cuban government's responsibility for the country's issues.
What did Suleidy Peñate Ramos say about the Cuban government?
Peñate Ramos stated that the Cuban government, not the international community, owes the Cuban people an apology and compensation for the harm caused to them.
How has the Cuban exodus affected the island?
Since 2021, over a million Cubans have left the island, leading to significant demographic and social changes and impacting state-run media operations.