This Sunday, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel extended his best wishes to Cuban mothers, delivering a message starkly contrasting with the harsh and somber reality faced by much of the country. "Happy Mother's Day, Cuban Mother, master of everyday life, you who create and sustain life with the passion and beauty of artists," he wrote on the social media platform X. "Thank you for so much. Here is our embrace," added the leader, seemingly oblivious to the harsh reality confronting mothers daily in their struggle to "create and sustain life," which involves grappling with the difficulties of putting food on the table, securing clothing and shoes for their children, and numerous other challenges.
This Mother's Day, countless mothers on the island celebrated amidst prolonged power outages, food and medicine shortages, and families shattered by the migration of their children seeking better opportunities abroad. For thousands of women, Mother's Day was not synonymous with celebration, but rather a day marked by absence, the weight of responsibilities, and uncertainty.
In many households, motherhood remains an act of daily survival rather than a day of recognition. Joining in the sentiment, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez also expressed, on the same platform, "Warm congratulations to all Cuban mothers, examples of love, resilience, creativity, and sacrifice on this Mother's Day." At least this Cuban official acknowledged, albeit in a romanticized tone, that mothers on the island are paragons of resilience, creativity, and sacrifice. What he failed to mention is how much more they could give if they lived with dignity and without so many deprivations.
As a supposed gift to Cuban mothers, the regime offered a special present: the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant synchronized this Saturday after undergoing maintenance, aiming to "ease" the energy crisis in Cuba so that women could enjoy their day. Previously, the government had announced its intention to complete maintenance and connect the unitary block to the system to improve the crisis this Sunday.
Challenges Facing Cuban Mothers
What hardships do Cuban mothers face daily?
Cuban mothers grapple with severe food and medicine shortages, prolonged power outages, and the emotional toll of having family members migrate in search of better opportunities.
How did the Cuban government attempt to improve Mother's Day for Cuban women?
The government synchronized the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, aiming to alleviate the energy crisis and allow women to enjoy Mother's Day with fewer interruptions.
What message did Bruno Rodríguez convey to Cuban mothers?
Bruno Rodríguez extended warm congratulations to all Cuban mothers, recognizing them as examples of love, resilience, creativity, and sacrifice.