Cuban actor Luis Ángel Batista took to social media to voice a powerful critique of the dire living conditions faced by the people on the island. He highlighted the ongoing blackouts, unsanitary conditions, and a rising tide of violence that plague everyday life in Cuba.
Broadcasting from Havana, Batista painted a grim picture of daily life for thousands of Cubans. He described nighttime power outages during the sweltering summer, leaving the sick and children to suffer in the heat. He spoke of sewage pits, decomposing waste, and an unresolved potable water leak on Playa's 76th Avenue that has persisted for over 15 years.
"You must have a sick liver. Cutting off electricity when so many people are trying to sleep in order to work the next day and find meaning in their lives? (...) I am met with the stench of one of the countless sewage pits that are part of our lives, where we sink deeper into an environment of rot and unsanitariness every day," Batista wrote.
The actor did not hold back in his criticism of Cuban authorities, condemning the escalating insecurity on the streets. He pointed out the numerous assaults, murders, and femicides affecting the population, contrasting sharply with the safety and privileges enjoyed by the leaders.
"Are we supposed to wait for more women, elderly, or students to be murdered? (...) You and your loved ones walk the streets very safely and protected, but be careful, don’t forget that more human beings live on this land who deserve protection and respect," he questioned.
Reflecting on his childhood, Batista recalled the revolutionary slogans he was taught, which he claims never materialized into a stable or dignified future. "I was a child, and they made me repeat every morning 'we will be like Che.' What did they mean? I didn't understand. (...) Today, I look at that pit and that camouflaged waste of pure water, and I can't sleep sitting outside my mother's house in complete darkness. I ask myself so many questions," he remarked.
His post concluded with a heartfelt message of disillusionment and a direct challenge to the rulers, accusing them of perpetuating a failed doctrine at the people's expense. "You keep trying to maintain a system that divides the most precious part of a society: the family. Do you really eat and sleep peacefully in your mansions? God bless you, I still can’t sleep," he added.
Batista's reflection has resonated widely on social media, with many followers relating to his denunciation and sharing it as a snapshot of the everyday pain experienced on the island. Here, blackouts can last up to 30 hours, there is no widespread access to food, and hospitals operate without basic resources.
Cuban Living Conditions and Social Issues
What issues did Luis Ángel Batista highlight about life in Cuba?
Luis Ángel Batista pointed out the recurring power outages, unsanitary conditions with sewage and waste, and rising violence, including assaults and femicides.
How did Batista criticize the Cuban authorities?
Batista criticized the authorities for failing to ensure safety on the streets and contrasted their protected lives with the insecurity faced by ordinary citizens.
What childhood memory did Batista reflect on?
He recalled being taught revolutionary slogans daily as a child, which he says never led to a stable or dignified future.