Renowned Cuban singer Osmani García has disclosed that the Cuban government prevented him from traveling to the island to say goodbye to his cousin Naibel, who tragically passed away at Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital in Havana. She died following an emergency cesarean section, which was performed without the necessary medical resources.
García shared his sorrow in a Facebook live session after visiting fellow musician Willy Chirino in Miami, where they are collaborating on a new song calling for Cuba's freedom. "I couldn't even attend my own cousin's funeral," García lamented. "She went to the hospital to give birth, they didn't have the equipment for her X-ray, she had pneumonia, they performed a C-section, and she never woke up to meet her child."
The singer explained that his family requested discretion to avoid potential repercussions. "Even my cousin, who had just given birth, like Naibel. They told me, 'We want to mourn in peace. Because in the end, if they imprison me, besides losing my daughter, they also killed my girl,'” he recounted.
García revealed that he has lost "more than 10 family members in the last two years," emphasizing that this unfortunate reality is shared by many others. "I don't like turning this into news, but those close to me know how many relatives I've lost, just like all Cubans," he emphasized.
Since 2014, García has been barred from entering Cuba after the cultural authorities prohibited him from performing there. According to him, he only managed to perform once more in 2015 before the ban was made permanent, which ultimately prevented him from attending his cousin's funeral.
This incident follows a recent case where the regime blocked Baby Lores from entering Cuba while trying to visit his critically ill mother. Both artists have publicly voiced their support for military intervention in Cuba, a stance that has led to migration restrictions by the regime without formal legal proceedings.
The Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, where García's cousin died, is experiencing a severe operational crisis. A report by the Los Angeles Times highlighted that the hospital lacks basic supplies like syringes, gauzes, and anesthetics, and its CT scanner has been out of order for some time. Nationally, only a third of Cuba's essential medicines were available this month, with more than 100,000 people awaiting surgeries in August, including 12,000 children.
The live session took place after García returned from Willy Chirino's home, where the legendary musician is recording a collective anthem with contributions from El Chacal, Amaury Gutiérrez, and Emilio Frías. García announced his involvement in Chirino's project the day before, calling it "an honor to be part of something so special." The song is expected to be released in November.
García reiterated his call for military intervention in Cuba, a stance he has consistently advocated. In June, he directly addressed Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, and on October 1, he participated in a demonstration outside the White House under the banner "Finish the job." He also mentioned receiving two invitations to events hosted by President Trump.
Osmani García and Cuba's Migration Restrictions
Why was Osmani García not allowed to travel to Cuba?
Osmani García has been prohibited from entering Cuba since 2014 due to a ban imposed by the regime's cultural authorities, preventing him from performing and participating in events on the island.
What are the current conditions at Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital?
Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital is facing a severe crisis, lacking basic medical supplies like syringes and anesthetics, with its CT scanner out of order. This reflects a broader national shortage of essential medicines in Cuba.
How have Osmani García and other artists responded to the Cuban regime?
Osmani García and other artists like Baby Lores have publicly supported military intervention in Cuba, which has led to travel restrictions imposed by the regime. They continue to advocate for change and raise awareness through their music and public statements.