Havana/With casseroles and shouting “Put the current, pinga” and “Díaz-Canel, Singoo”, the residents of Gibara, in the province of Holguín, took the streets on Saturday night after a long day without electricity. With cans and casseroles Accompanying their slogans, the protesters claimed “the current” desperate for an energy crisis that seems to have no end.
In a video, despite the darkness, dozens of people are perceived outside their homes and the cacerozo is heard. “All day without current, they put it 30 minutes and nothing,” laments the man. In another filming, several protesters are seen defending some young people from being arrested by a policeman: “No people!” Shout. “That is what is needed here,” says a woman’s voice in another video. The scene occurs in one of the main streets of the town that is surprisingly illuminated while the rest of Gibara remains dark.
In a video in gloom, disseminated by the journalist Mario J. Pentón, another Cuban who is defined as “of the elderly”, Describe your ordeal Without electricity, with an allergy to mosquitoes that keeps it locked and with fear of being chopped by the floods of insects that stalk everywhere. “It’s time to leave for the street as in Nepal,” says the woman who does not specify from which province her message sends.
The local medium Gibaravisión It has been one of the few to cover the protest, although it has subtracted importance ensuring that it was a dialogue between the neighbors and the authorities “based on empathy and respect.” In its report, the local channel alleges that “a group of residents of the Güirito in Gibara, affected by the complex electro-energy situation left the homes to express their disagreements from a position of respect and dialogue.” The authorities responded to the “questions” and “the population returned to their homes.”
“Currently, the Blanca Villa remains calm and with its usual tranquility,” the medium finished, which shared images and Videos From the town to show that the streets were empty, although they were still in the dark.
He also denounced the “politicization” and “manipulation” of the facts in social networks, and called Cubans to inform themselves with “reliable sources.”
Since last Wednesday, the National Electric System (SEN) collapsed, the electricity hours that Cubans have had scarce. Although the authorities They celebrated too soon The “recovery” of the country, a large part of the homes is still in a blackout or with an unstable service.
The spirits have been climbing temperature throughout the island after the energy collapse and popular tension is felt all over. The closure of many private businesses, the cancellation of medical consultations, the suspension of classes in numerous schools and spoiled food in refrigerators have put the patience of Cubans to the limit.
At the beginning of August, Holguín starred Another protest. In the town of Cajimaya, in the municipality of Mayarí, the neighbors took to the streets to claim water, food and other essential services. In several images and videos shared then on social networks, the moment in which the police arrested several of the protesters was recorded.
Shortly before, in June, something similar happened in Guanabacoa, in La Capita. Then, the neighborhood protest ended with a fire and a dozen detainees. The trigger was a blackout, added to the lack of water, which pushed residents of the Barreto, Teguete and Potosí neighborhoods to go out between shouts of “Freedom!” and the noise of crashed bottles against the pavement.
Police quickly charged with several of the protesters. Among them was Sunamis Quintero Garcíaa young mother who, according to witnesses, did not participate directly in the protest. “She was sitting on the portal. When she saw that the police began to shout ‘Libertad! Long live Cuba Libre!
Also in May they were reported protests In Granma, Cienfuegos, Ciego de Ávila and Santiago de Cuba. In all demonstrations, including this Saturday, Cubans only claim their most basic rights.
