Open Letter to Cuban Regime: "This Isn't the Country I Want to Live In"

On May 30th, Cuban actor Hamlet Paredes Grau took to Facebook to publish a heartfelt open letter addressing the Cuban government. In this message, he starkly outlines the dire circumstances faced by the island's population: power outages lasting up to 19 hours, widespread hunger, insufficient wages, and a repressive climate that stifles any attempt to speak out. "Today, I reach out to the hearts of those who govern us, whispering both pain and hope," Paredes begins, emphasizing his desire for solutions, not conflict.

Writing from a place of "humanity" and adhering, as he states, to the Cuban Constitution, the artist firmly declares that he cannot remain silent while his fellow citizens suffer. A critical issue highlighted by Paredes is Cuba's energy crisis. He points out that provinces like Santiago de Cuba endure blackouts that stretch to 19 hours daily, impacting nearly half the nation. He attributes this to the neglect of thermal power plants and a lack of investment in sustainable solutions, dismissing the embargo as a mere excuse.

"Without power, there's no water, food spoils, hospitals come to a standstill," the actor summarizes. He questions the absence of commitment to renewable energy, noting the repeated unfulfilled promises each year. "For the third year in a row, fewer blackouts were promised, but reality is darker than ever," he laments.

Widespread Hunger and Economic Strain

Paredes highlights alarming statistics and examples of food insecurity. "Eighty-eight percent of us live in extreme poverty," he asserts, citing 2024 data. Seven out of ten Cubans have reduced their meal intake due to food scarcity, and the ration book no longer serves its basic purpose. Informal market prices are exorbitant: a kilo of rice costs 1,500 CUP, a liter of oil 2,000 CUP, and meat up to 3,500 CUP, while the average state salary is just 2,100 CUP.

The actor recalls that in February 2024, the government requested powdered milk from the World Food Program for young children, which he described as a "silent scream" of insufficient food supplies.

Economic Policies Under Fire

The critique extends to the regime's economic policies. With the average state salary equating to a mere $6 at the informal exchange rate, Paredes points out that the inflation since the 2021 monetary reform has slashed Cubans' purchasing power in half. The price hikes in gas and electricity in 2024 only added economic pressure on families. "How does the government justify its measures that further impoverish us?" the actor questions, noting that the country's real GDP mirrors that of 2013, describing it as "a lost decade."

Paredes directly addresses institutions like the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI) and the Ministry of Food (MINAL), demanding accountability for the evident lack of food, rising poverty, and the neglect of the most vulnerable.

Escalating Violence and Repression

His letter also warns about increasing violence, particularly in areas plagued by darkness and desperation. It mentions 54 femicides reported in 2023 and criticizes the use of fear as a control tactic. Paredes condemns Decree-Law 35 and the Social Communication Law as tools to silence dissent, with over 1,000 political prisoners by 2025, according to Prisoners Defenders.

He cites the case of Mayelín Rodríguez Prado, sentenced to 15 years in prison for broadcasting protests, as an example of the steep price for expressing dissenting views.

In a tone that's firm yet respectful, Paredes questions the role of the country's leaders, accusing them of not sharing the people's hardships. "We see them on screen, with faces that show neither the hunger nor exhaustion of those who endure endless lines or cook with firewood," he writes.

Reviewing the past five years, the actor summarizes the government's major decisions as a "heavy yoke" on the people: the monetary reform that decimated purchasing power; tariff hikes without service improvements; obstacles to private entrepreneurship; and restrictions on freedom of speech and dialogue.

Despite all this, his letter is not an attack but a plea: “We want food on the table, light in our homes, internet that isn’t a luxury, and the freedom to speak without fear.” Paredes’ post has resonated on social media, with many Cubans sharing his message as a reflection of their shared reality. Although the actor admits to feeling afraid for writing it, he says the suffering of his loved ones pains him more. “This isn’t the country I want to live in; I don’t know how to be any other way; this is how I was raised,” he concludes.