Diliamne Jouve González, popularly known as La Dura, has urged the Cuban diaspora to halt sending mobile top-ups in response to the recent price hikes by the state-run monopoly, ETECSA. The influencer called upon fellow Cuban influencers to support this stance, emphasizing the grievances of those still residing on the island. "It's time for influencers to join in the decision made by our brothers on the island, considering the surge in ETECSA's USD pricing," La Dura expressed in an Instagram story.
She further highlighted the request of Cubans on the island to stop sending top-ups as a means to pressure the government into acknowledging the exploitation faced by the Cuban people. La Dura also urged influencers to stop playing both sides. "You can't claim to support freedom while promoting services that sustain a regime many have fled," she stated. "Neutrality on matters impacting millions is not an option," she added.
Last Friday, ETECSA, the Cuban state telecommunications monopoly, shifted its main mobile internet services to USD, significantly restricting access to services in the local currency. This move, widely perceived as a form of social exclusion and economic coercion, has been met with fierce criticism from both island residents and the Cuban exile community.
Manuel Viera, a lawyer, voiced his indignation on Facebook, declaring, "I refuse to have even a single cent sent to ETECSA in my name. I don't want top-ups. I want ETECSA to starve, even if it means never using a cell phone again." Viera described ETECSA as an "anti-people" company thriving in an "anti-people" economy, catering exclusively to those with dollar access, while the average Cuban endures blackouts, shortages, and poverty.
"We need a Cuba built for the Cubans who suffer and are unwilling to work under such conditions," he asserted.
In the wake of widespread public backlash against these measures, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel broke his silence with a brief thread on X (formerly Twitter), pledging to provide explanations and assuring that the government has taken vulnerable sectors into consideration.
ETECSA Price Hike and Cuban Community Response
Why is La Dura urging Cubans abroad to stop sending top-ups?
La Dura is calling for an end to sending top-ups as a protest against ETECSA's recent price hikes, which she and others view as exploitative towards the Cuban people.
What changes did ETECSA implement that caused backlash?
ETECSA shifted its primary mobile internet services to USD, drastically limiting access for those using the local currency, which many perceive as a move that excludes and pressures the population economically.
How has the Cuban government responded to the criticism?
Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel addressed the public's concerns on social media, promising explanations and stating that the government has considered the needs of vulnerable groups.