Yamilé Ramos Cordero, the first secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party in Pinar del Río, faced a wave of public outrage on Saturday, May 17, in the Hermanos Cruz neighborhood, also known as "El Calero," in the capital city. Residents took to the streets, banging pots and chanting slogans to voice their discontent over persistent power outages.
The protesters, clearly frustrated, highlighted the extended daily power cuts amid a severe energy crisis affecting much of the country. Videos circulating on social media show Ramos Cordero attempting to calm the situation and engage with some of the protesters. A particularly tense exchange, captured in a video shared by journalist José Raúl Gallego, shows a local woman confronting the party official about the uneven distribution of power cuts.
She remarked, "Perhaps, in this regard, we are not the most affected, because we know neighboring municipalities are suffering too. But in the Pinar del Río area, Pinar del Río municipality, I think P526 is one." The official had previously responded to concerns by stating that "they had to wait until the country had oil to solve their problems," a remark that was met with boos and disappointment from the crowd.
Growing Unrest Amid Energy Shortfalls
The unrest in "El Calero" underscores the mounting tension between citizens and local authorities as the prolonged energy crisis continues, with some areas experiencing up to 18 hours of outages daily. In Pinar del Río, numerous citizen reports indicate that power cuts have been particularly severe in specific circuits, fueling perceptions of arbitrariness and lack of transparency.
State media has yet to address this protest, but the incident has resonated strongly on social media, where users expressed solidarity with the demonstrators and criticized the authorities' disconnect from the everyday realities faced by Cubans.
Historical Context of Citizen Protests
The scenes in Pinar del Río are reminiscent of events a year ago in Santiago de Cuba. There, the first secretary of the PCC in that province, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, also tried to quell a crowd angered by food and basic service shortages. During a protest in the Veguita de Galo neighborhood, Santiago residents shouted, "We don't want talk!" and "We want food!" interrupting Johnson's speeches, first from a rooftop and then as she walked through the streets.
In response to demands, the official promised the distribution of three pounds of rice and four pounds of sugar, a measure met with skepticism given the depth of the region's food crisis.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis and Public Response
What sparked the protest in Pinar del Río?
Residents in Pinar del Río protested due to prolonged power outages affecting their daily lives, which are part of a wider energy crisis impacting the country.
How did Yamilé Ramos Cordero respond to the protest?
She attempted to engage with the protesters, responding that the resolution of their issues was contingent on the country's ability to secure oil, which was met with dissatisfaction from the crowd.
How does this protest compare to past protests in Cuba?
The Pinar del Río protest is reminiscent of previous demonstrations, such as those in Santiago de Cuba, where citizens have also protested shortages of food and basic services.