Sancti Spíritus: A City Shrouded in Darkness and Lost Futures for Youth

As power outages become a common occurrence, the darkness enveloping the city of Sancti Spíritus extends beyond electrical failures, casting a profound shadow over cultural life, safety, and the future of its young residents. Sayli Alba Álvarez, a concerned mother, shared her experience on Facebook, recounting a night when she and her son, burdened with their belongings, sought refuge at a friend's house near the pediatric hospital in search of light. Her son had a crucial math exam the next day, and he needed a good night's sleep.

Álvarez, who is also employed at the Provincial Book and Literature Center, painted a scene reminiscent of a horror film: deserted streets, devoid of lights, noise, or life, with only the soft whispers of a few neighbors on the sidewalks. "The city is eerily silent now. There's no sound of a TV or radio—it's a complete, dark silence. In a tiny park near the School of Economics, young people and couples on scooters were gathered, kissing... but even they were shrouded in darkness. Some illuminated themselves with flashlights or gadgets while reggaeton and other music played without discretion," she recounted.

This scenario is not an anomaly but the norm. According to Álvarez, there are no open cultural centers, bars, cafes, or cinemas. In a city that recently celebrated its 511th anniversary, nighttime options are limited to a dimly lit park, reeking of beer and fear—the last place a mother wants her child to frequent once he gains independence.

She pondered, "Why should university students pursue their studies if their only fulfillment will be spiritual? Where can the youth go at night in such a mysterious, cramped, dark, and dangerous city? What awaits my child when he grows up? I've never felt such deep darkness as I did while searching for light across the city."

However, this reflection isn't solely about a blackout; it's about a city plunged into darkness in every sense. "What can a musician and a teacher offer their child? Only defeat—the overwhelming defeat of reality, of darkness, the ingenuity of surviving on 240 pesos of daily bread. We have nothing to hold him here except for love, which doesn't satisfy physical hunger. My city is invisible. My city is erased. I didn't see its park or my library. My city is dead, and I've run to hide," Álvarez declared.

Countless testimonies on social media document how daily life in Cuba has turned into an exercise in endurance amid the prolonged absence of electricity and a reality marked by scarcity, frustration, and a lack of prospects. Older adults attest to the "terrible sense of hopelessness" they feel living in Cuba at their age, amidst power cuts, food shortages, and lack of medicine.

Younger people, meanwhile, resort to sleeping on the rooftops of their homes due to the absence of electricity at night, illustrating the daily struggle faced by hundreds of thousands amid the energy crisis.

During a Thursday tour of Granma and Camagüey, President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged power outages lasting over 20 hours, affecting entire communities. The energy crisis in Cuba has sparked an unprecedented wave of public outrage, as blackouts in some parts of the country now exceed 24 continuous hours, pushing the population to the brink of physical and emotional exhaustion.

This Friday, June 20, Cuba faces another day of energy emergency, marked by massive blackouts nationwide. The Electric Union of Cuba (UNE) estimates a peak demand of 3,500 MW against an available supply of only 1,910 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,590 MW.