Carlos Alfonso, the founder and director of the band Síntesis, along with Ele Valdés, a singer and keyboardist with the group since 1976, have described Cuba's electrical crisis as a "mass psychological torture" in a Facebook post that triggered a flood of reactions from Cubans exhausted by the ongoing blackouts.
"What closely resembles mass psychological torture is the arbitrary and unannounced power outages. It's unbelievable that they ask us to endure this torturous situation!" wrote Carlos Alfonso, aged 76, and Ele Valdés, 74, directly criticizing the official narrative that demands Cubans withstand the crisis.
This is not the first time the pair have spoken out against the power outages and the dire conditions in Cuba. Last October, they publicly shared their experience of suffering through three power cuts in a single day, calling the situation "inhumane" and stating that the pervasive darkness "saps their will."
Government Acknowledges the Crisis
Their latest statement comes at a particularly dire moment in Cuba's energy crisis. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero admitted to the National Assembly that the prolonged blackouts remain the country's "main problem." However, weeks earlier, he had blamed the U.S. embargo for two consecutive collapses of the electrical system, even questioning if Cuba was facing "genocide."
Public Frustration Boils Over
The comments on the post mirrored the frustration of those living through this ordeal daily. One user lamented, "I've been without power for over 30 hours, and without water. From my house, I can see parts of Havana that aren't hospitals but have electricity."
Another described the usual routine: "20 or 24 hours without power for just two or three of service; that's if you're lucky and a transformer doesn't fail, which could mean three days or more."
The anger toward the official call to "endure" was unanimous. "Endurance for us; for them, light and a good life!" one commenter responded, while another summed up the collective exhaustion: "They disable us from living a useful life, always desperately waiting for a power restoration that may or may not happen, whenever they decide."
One comment directly addressed the pessimism generated by the government's own statements: "It's too much, and Marrero says the worst is yet to come."
"It's criminal what they're doing to the people," concluded one of the commenters, encapsulating the sentiments of hundreds of Cubans who reacted to the post.
Legacy of Síntesis
Founded in Havana in 1976, Síntesis is one of the most iconic groups in Cuban music. The band blends Afro-Cuban roots and Yoruba chants with rock, jazz, and symphonic music. In 2022, they won the Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album for "Ancestros Sinfónico," alongside X Alfonso and Eme Alfonso, children of Carlos Alfonso and Ele Valdés.
Common Concerns About Cuba's Energy Crisis
What are the main causes of the frequent blackouts in Cuba?
The frequent blackouts in Cuba are primarily attributed to the aging infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and fuel shortages exacerbated by the U.S. embargo.
How are Cuban citizens reacting to repeated power outages?
Cuban citizens are expressing deep frustration and exhaustion due to the repeated power outages, often voicing their anger and despair through social media and public statements.
What measures has the Cuban government proposed to address the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has acknowledged the severity of the crisis but has largely attributed the issues to the U.S. embargo, with limited specific measures proposed to resolve the underlying infrastructure problems.