A post by a Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) leader intended to highlight community efforts in Tapaste, Mayabeque, quickly transformed into a platform for residents to voice grievances about the lack of water, frequent power outages, and a dengue outbreak in the area.
Marisol Fuentes Ferrer, a member of the Central Committee and the Provincial Bureau of the PCC in Mayabeque, shared several photos on Facebook showing activities in Zone 240204 of Tapaste, a district within San José de las Lajas, on Friday.
"We are working hard with popular participation to find solutions to problems and expand services for the population," the official stated in her post, which was tagged with #LaPatriaSeDefiende and #100AñosConFidel.
The images depicted community gatherings and events, yet many locals seized the opportunity to question the government's priorities and express the challenges they face daily.
Community Outcry Over Basic Needs
One commenter remarked, "Instead of playing toy soldiers, they should fix the water pump. Tapaste has been without water for almost a month now."
Another individual pointed out that the well, known as "Caribe," hasn't been operational for over a month and highlighted severe electrical issues in some areas following a transformer breakdown.
Residents Demand Action Amid Crisis
A woman identifying herself as a Tapaste resident directly addressed supporters of the official activities.
"Do you know how long this town has been without water, and not a single truck has come? Are you aware some areas have been without electricity for over 20 days? Have you walked through our streets that have turned into dirt roads? I live in Tapaste, love my town, and it pains me to see it in ruins with its people struggling," she wrote.
The complaints extended to health concerns, with several users reporting numerous dengue cases and questioning the absence of fumigation efforts.
"Almost the entire town has dengue, and there's no fumigation because there's no fuel, but somehow there's fuel for other things," commented another user.
Social Media as a Tool for Accountability
Expressions such as "bread and circuses," "lights, camera, action," and "circus without bread" surfaced among the responses, as users criticized the disparity between the PCC's publicized images and the real issues they face.
The situation described by residents aligns with the ongoing energy and water crisis affecting Mayabeque in 2026, where power outages have lasted up to 66 consecutive hours in Güines and over 24 hours in San José de las Lajas. Since 87% of the country's water pumping system relies on the electrical grid, prolonged outages inevitably impact water supply.
This is compounded by worsening health conditions in Cuba. On Saturday, the Ministry of Public Health acknowledged a rise in cases of dengue, diarrheal diseases, hepatitis, and respiratory infections nationwide.
The post, which aimed to showcase "popular participation" in Tapaste, inadvertently highlighted another form of participation: dozens of locals using the platform to demand solutions to their community's fundamental issues.
Mayabeque's Struggles: Key Questions Answered
What are the main issues faced by Tapaste residents?
Tapaste residents are dealing with a lack of water, frequent power outages, and a dengue outbreak.
How are residents expressing their concerns?
Residents are using social media, particularly Facebook, to voice their grievances and demand action from local authorities.
What is the PCC's response to these issues?
The PCC is promoting community activities and claiming to work on expanding services, though residents are critical of their priorities.
What impact do power outages have on water supply?
Since 87% of Cuba's water pumping system relies on electricity, extended power cuts directly affect the availability of water.