A recent complaint from Palma Soriano, shared by CiberCuba News, has sparked a wave of reactions among Cubans both on the island and abroad. The heart-wrenching and courageous account describes an extreme situation: total lack of supplies, fear of retaliation, dire poverty, and governmental neglect. As many users have expressed, this reality is not unique to Palma but is a widespread issue across Cuba.
Desperation in Palma Soriano
The anonymous complainant detailed how the eastern city, once a stronghold of opposition, now lives in fear and utter destitution. "Here, they are waiting to imprison anyone who stands up... That’s why no one rises, but there is great discontent," they wrote. The account also spoke of food shortages, the disappearance of cooking oil, the inability to purchase potable water, and a son suffering from HIV who doesn't even receive a basic diet.
The testimony concluded with a poignant statement that encapsulates the despair and danger: "For speaking out and telling the truth, I risk being prosecuted because we don't have freedom of speech."
A Nationwide Crisis
The comments poured in, with hundreds of people confirming the described situation and sharing their own pieces of a collective tragedy. "You’ve only spoken the truth... it’s not just Palma Soriano, it’s all of Cuba that dies a little more each day in the most painful and unpleasant way," wrote M.C.P.
A user identified as N.M.B. was blunt: "The entire country is in the same situation, or rather, the people... and yet they continue to ask an aging and tired population for 'resistance'." From Holguín to Nuevitas, and across the west, the narratives are the same: hunger, shortages, blackouts, fear, repression. "Here in the west, there are root vegetables, but they are so expensive that few can buy them," said M.P.G. "The cemetery is full," commented another. "What they are doing to us is criminal."
A Cry for Freedom
Despair is mingled with the courage of those who refuse to remain silent. "This is the harsh reality of Cubans: pure misery... workers toil for a whole month for nothing," lamented Y.V. "That doesn't mean we don't love our island, no: it's those who govern it. They have everything; it’s the people who suffer," asserted M.R.C.
Even from abroad, some have expressed their pain and frustration. "I lived in Cuba for eight years... It’s a crime what they do to those people, and the worst part is that the world seems to care little," wrote S.C., a Spaniard with a history on the island.
Amidst the impotence, a common desire rises: the end of a regime that has delayed promised changes for decades. "Out with the communists from Cuba, Cuba belongs to the people, the people want freedom," exclaimed N.M.O. As another comment, echoing many others, summarized: "We can’t take it anymore. This is not living, it’s surviving."
Understanding the Struggles in Cuba
What are the main issues highlighted in the complaint from Palma Soriano?
The complaint highlights severe shortages of essential goods, fear of government retaliation, extreme poverty, and a lack of governmental support.
How are Cubans reacting to the situation described?
Cubans are expressing outrage and confirming the widespread nature of these issues across the country, calling for significant political change.
What is the sentiment among Cubans regarding the current government?
There is a strong sentiment of discontent and a desire for freedom from the communist regime that has long been in power.