A determined group of mothers from Vista Hermosa, a neighborhood in Havana's Guanabacoa district, successfully compelled authorities to restore their community's electricity supply on Friday. This came after they took their grievances directly to the government and Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) offices, denouncing over four months of power outages and alleged illegal electricity sales in their area.
The incident was captured in a video shared on Facebook, amassing over 58,000 views within hours. In the footage, residents are heard cheering the return of power: "Thanks to the Marianas, we have electricity because they went to the government!"
According to Yenni Ferias, who posted the video, the neighborhood appeared in the electric company's systems as "in red," indicating it had power when, in fact, it received only two to three hours of electricity daily over the last four months.
Ferias expressed her frustration, stating, "It's impossible to have just 2 or 3 hours of power daily and be left without electricity for over 24 hours." She also revealed that officials claimed ignorance about the situation in the area.
The core accusation revolves around corruption. Neighbors allege that electricity was being "sold off" in their circuit, a scheme redirecting supply to other sectors or businesses for money, leaving entire families to endure nights without power.
"Corruption is real, and some people don't care if kids sleep without electricity, bitten by mosquitoes, just for a few bucks," Ferias wrote.
Once the mothers filed their complaint, the authorities swiftly restored the service, leading many residents to conclude that the issue was not just about power generation but also involved corrupt distribution practices.
Comments on the post highlight why these women lead such efforts. "Men often get arrested. Bravo, ladies... we have the courage to stand up for our families," one follower commented.
Others called for collective action. "Stay on the offensive... all together, not just one, united always." Another added, "This is how it’s done; strength lies in unity."
Ferias concluded her post with a plea that resonates with many Cubans: for equitable scheduling of power outages and for corruption not to exacerbate an already unsustainable crisis.
The Vista Hermosa incident is not isolated. On July 17, a mother from Calabazar, Boyeros, reported that two linemen from the Electric Union were illegally selling the area's electricity, prioritizing private businesses that paid.
The company acknowledged the misconduct and announced measures, though it termed it an "isolated corruption action." Roberto Morales Ojeda, the Secretary of Organization of the PCC Central Committee, publicly admitted that there are corruption reports in Cuba's electric sector.
Women, particularly mothers, have been at the forefront of the most visible protests during this crisis. On Friday, a group of women blocked the Calzada de Diez de Octubre in Havana, demanding solutions to the blackouts.
This Saturday, Cuba is bracing for widespread outages ahead of July 26, with the Electric Union forecasting a 2,160 MW shortfall at peak time, against a demand of 3,200 MW and a mere 1,070 MW available.
Cuban Power Outage Crisis: Questions and Insights
What prompted the restoration of power in Vista Hermosa?
The power was restored after a group of mothers from the neighborhood approached government and Communist Party offices to report prolonged outages and suspected illegal electricity sales.
What is the main accusation regarding the electricity issue?
The main accusation is that of corruption, with allegations that electricity was being sold illegally, diverting supply to businesses for money while residents suffered from extended power cuts.
How have women participated in addressing the power crisis in Cuba?
Women, particularly mothers, have led protests and actions to demand solutions to the power crisis, becoming prominent figures in the fight against corruption and advocating for their communities.