In the rural settlement of Real Campiña, located in the Aguada de Pasajeros municipality of Cienfuegos province, scores of residents took to the streets on Saturday, demanding the restoration of their electricity service. According to Martí Noticias, the community had been completely without power for five consecutive days.
The protest erupted spontaneously as demonstrators banged pots and blew horns to voice their frustration. The crowd gathered in front of two significant local power symbols: the presidency office of the Popular Council and the local Communist Party office. Yet, authorities were unable to provide any immediate solutions.
Griceida Morejón, a local resident, clarified the sole catalyst for the protest: "Yes, it was about the electricity; we have water as usual." She further explained that the growing frustration stemmed from the area’s decreasing priority on the official power restoration list: "We started in fourth place, dropped to tenth, and then from first to thirty-first. It was too much. We had been without power for about five days, since Tuesday."
A resident's message shared on social media encapsulated the community's mood: "We can't take it anymore."
Another resident, Aurelia Martínez, confirmed the power was finally restored on Sunday morning: "They turned it back on around 9:30 or 10, since Tuesday." She also highlighted the atmosphere of fear that lingered after the protest: "We were sitting on the porch, heard the noise, people making a fuss, but we went inside and stayed uninvolved."
As of the latest reports, there were no known arrests, though residents maintained a noticeable silence and were reluctant to delve deeper into the incident.
Real Campiña has faced a string of crises recently. Last June, the community endured 27 days without potable water and experienced power outages lasting up to three days due to a turbine malfunction.
In July, an accident involving a truck crashing into the Vietnam substation in Aguada de Pasajeros left over 9,000 customers without electricity.
In August, dozens of residents in Cienfuegos protested in front of the Provincial Government building amidst a police presence.
The Real Campiña protest occurred a day after residents of Santa Rita in the Jiguaní municipality, Granma, took to the streets, chanting "We want power!" Similarly, in October, residents of Cabañas in Artemisa staged two days of protests over the same issue.
Understanding the Power Outages in Cuba
What prompted the protest in Real Campiña?
The protest was triggered by a five-day total power outage in the community, prompting residents to demand the restoration of electricity.
How have recent crises affected Real Campiña?
Real Campiña has faced significant challenges, including a 27-day lack of potable water in June and frequent power outages due to infrastructure issues.
Were there any arrests following the protest?
As of the latest updates, no arrests have been reported, although residents are maintaining silence regarding the protest details.