A resident of Bayamo has taken to Facebook to express his frustration, revealing that his neighborhood has been without a full day of electricity for years, a situation he describes as "driving us insane."
Juan Luis Vasallo Palomo, who goes by "El Quijote Bayamés" on social media, recorded a video shedding light on a harsh reality that he claims affects numerous circuits throughout the province: endless nights in darkness, mere flickers of electricity for four hours when they're "lucky," and spoiled food due to lack of refrigeration.
"This is unbearable, suffocating, a complete disrespect to all of us living in these circuits," Vasallo Palomo declares in the video, filmed at 3:00 pm on a day when his home was still without power.
He shared his concern about a piece of chicken he had been gifted, fearing it would spoil before power was restored.
Vasallo Palomo highlights that residents without reliable electricity service must purchase food daily, only buying what they plan to cook immediately, as they cannot store anything without refrigeration.
His complaint aligns with findings from the 2025 National Food Security Survey, which reports that over 80% of households in Granma have lost refrigerated food due to power outages.
The resident sarcastically questions the accolades given to Granma's Electric Company, which has been recognized as a National Vanguard Collective. "Why build so many solar parks? I don't know what they're doing with these solar parks," he questions, referring to the 144 solar parks installed in Cuba that fail to address nighttime shortages or the systemic collapse.
"It's unbelievable that we are begging for electricity in the 21st century. I think this only happens in this country," he adds.
His testimony comes just days after Cuba experienced its eighth nationwide blackout of 2026 on September 18, leaving more than nine million people without electricity for approximately 32 hours. In Granma, some circuits endured over 60 hours without service.
Vasallo Palomo also points to fear as a silencing force among the population. "People have gotten used to it and don't speak out due to fear. This needs to be said," he remarks, pondering the impact if a high-ranking official had to endure such conditions: "It would be necessary for a major Party secretary or some minister to live here."
He concludes the video by capturing the despair of those suffering through the crisis: "Folks, there's not a sane soul left in this country."
Understanding the Electricity Crisis in Cuba
What is causing the electricity shortages in Bayamo?
The electricity shortages in Bayamo are primarily due to structural issues in the power system and the inability of solar parks to compensate for nighttime energy deficits.
How are residents coping with the lack of electricity?
Residents are forced to buy only what they can cook immediately since they cannot store food without refrigeration. They endure long periods in darkness and rely on sporadic electricity.
What are the wider implications of the electricity crisis in Cuba?
The electricity crisis has led to significant food loss, increased frustration among residents, and questions regarding the effectiveness of government initiatives like solar parks.