Under the Facebook alias LaSai Dela Vida, a Cuban woman sparked a wave of reactions on Friday night with a sharp and satirical post about the dire situation in Cuba. She addressed frequent power outages, water shortages, surging prices, and a soaring dollar, all while the regime's delegation jetted off to New York for a spectacle at the United Nations.
Her post begins with a biting irony that hooks readers: "Don't believe everything they say about Cuba on social media. Here in Cuba, we're doing fine; everyone's happy because our 'leaders' use the 'little' monetary funds to briefly go to the UN and stand up for the people, because that's why we 'elected' them."
She directly references the incident that shook the UN General Assembly on October 27, when Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla physically approached the podium where U.S. Ambassador Michael Waltz was speaking during the annual embargo debate. LaSai Dela Vida refers to it as "that mess at the UN" and adds with a blend of humor and frustration that the island's leaders "also had to invest a good amount of money in buying Ecoflow to resell... God forgive me, today I'm struggling with words."
Economic Crisis Deepens
The core of her message links the energy crisis to the devaluation of the peso: "This year, they couldn't even change the time because here, the only thing that can change easily is the dollar's price, $5 every 8 hours, because the illness you have, we don't want to cure it, but let it reach its terminal phase."
The comment is timely: on October 24, the government halted the planned time change for November 1, deciding to keep daylight saving time until November 2027 to prevent an estimated 126 MW increase in blackouts during peak consumption hours by leveraging sunlight.
Meanwhile, the dollar traded at 883 Cuban pesos in the informal market on Saturday morning, up 120 pesos from a month ago. The official exchange rate from the Central Bank remains at 768 CUP, creating a gap of over 115 pesos compared to the market reality.
Inflation and Scarcity
Official inter-annual inflation in Cuba reached 28.44% in September 2026, with food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rising 42.66% compared to the previous year, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
LaSai Dela Vida translates these figures into everyday life with a brutal honesty her followers recognize: "We raise food prices because you can't store anything in the fridge, so why do you want to eat? Do you have water to flush?" Over 2.7 million Cubans faced water supply interruptions in early October, according to hydraulic sector authorities. In some Havana neighborhoods and other provinces, outages lasted weeks, even months.
UN Vote and Public Reaction
She uses guavas —priced at 300 pesos per pound— as a metaphor for the UN vote: "How beautiful the guavas are at $300 a pound! How nice to vote against... if we could vote! One hundred and fifty-something rotten guavas in favor... One guava in favor of me not losing hope of one day having powdered milk, water, and electricity to make a smoothie!"
The sarcasm is grounded in reality: the anti-embargo resolution was approved on October 28 with just 130 votes, the lowest since 1992, compared to 165 in 2025 and 187 in 2024.
Reactions to her post range from laughter to tears. "A lot of irony and a lot of truth... keep writing," noted one user. Another summed up the collective mood in four words: "I laugh, but it's to cry." A third was more direct: "It's a harsh reflection, but true. You can't cover the sun with a finger."
LaSai Dela Vida's conclusion about blackouts as supposed diplomatic punishment says it all: "Now, because of the embarrassment they were caused, they cut the power for everyone because they have to save to return to the UN and retaliate because here, no one surrenders."
Indeed, laughter to keep from crying.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Struggles
What are the main issues highlighted by LaSai Dela Vida in her post?
LaSai Dela Vida's post critiques the power outages, water shortages, escalating prices, and the rising dollar value in Cuba, amidst the regime's international appearances.
How has the Cuban government responded to the energy crisis?
The Cuban government suspended the time change to leverage daylight and reduce peak-hour blackouts, maintaining daylight saving time until November 2027.
What is the impact of the dollar's rise in the informal market?
The dollar's increase to 883 pesos in the informal market highlights the disparity with the official rate and exacerbates inflation, affecting the cost of living for Cubans.
Why is the UN vote significant in LaSai Dela Vida's post?
The UN vote serves as a metaphor for international support and highlights the regime's priorities, contrasting with the struggles faced by ordinary Cubans.