Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, the former spy turned advocate for the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), has once again underscored that in Cuba, solidarity only holds value when it bears the revolutionary stamp—and is free from the "likes" of satellites and hypocrites.
He clearly expressed this sentiment himself. On his Facebook account, he penned a post with his characteristic mix of cynicism and moral superiority: "It's night, and in an orderly manner, coordinated with the #CDRCuba, without drama, without making anyone cry for 'likes', in affected communities of the Sierra Maestra, the caravan of Mipymes 'El Almirante' and 'Productos Lácteos CID', from Artemisa, distributes solidarity aid."
Meanwhile, countless Cubans and diaspora members organize aid campaigns, share links, photos, or videos to raise awareness about the tragedy and fundraise for real help. Hernández Nordelo—the same individual who in June 2023 turned the delivery of a couple of boxes of imported mango juice into a political event during the floods in the East—now decides to lecture on humility and "low profile".
The former spy, well-versed in the double-speak liturgy from his time in prison and within the Party halls—and who claims expertise in the "belly of the beast" to highlight that the "beast" knows his insides—now seeks to impart ethics to those who lend a helping hand, while he appropriates the work of others and politically capitalizes on it under the hashtag #TodosSomosCederistas.
Of course, in Cuba, solidarity only counts if it passes through the regime's filter.
The Televised Modesty
The irony reaches a tragicomic level when, just hours after his pompous post, the National Television News (NTV) dedicated a prime-time segment to the same Mipymes Hernández Nordelo praised as examples of "solidarity without drama": El Almirante and Productos Lácteos CID.
The video showcases trucks loaded with tons of aid, cameras in close-up, bustling uniformed personnel, and, naturally, the ever-present CDR coordinating "in an orderly manner."
The message is clear: televised, institutional charity is applauded; grassroots civil society efforts are censored or ridiculed.
Hernández Nordelo, of course, omits that the "new economic actors" and their successful enterprises operate thanks to licenses granted by Miguel Díaz-Canel’s "continuity" government, controlled by GAESA's military-business apparatus and, in many cases, run by proxies or relatives of officials.
In essence, most of them are tangible evidence that the Cuban regime is keen on building State capitalism with a green-olive guayabera.
Thus, while the State fails to provide even a sheet to the afflicted, the same privileged entrepreneurs who profit in dollars appear as saviors on national television. And leading the chorus is Hernández Nordelo: the new "synergy manager" between the weary revolution and the energetic, obedient entrepreneurs.
The Cederista Gospel According to Saint Gerardo of the Mipyme
This is not the first time the ex-spy attempts to craft epic tales out of misery. In June 2023, he pompously celebrated a Mipyme's donation of imported mango juice boxes to eastern Cuba's flood victims.
A minor detail: in Cuba, mango harvests rot due to the state-run Acopio enterprise's inefficiency, while farmers watch their crops disintegrate in bureaucracy.
Yet, this did not stop Hernández Nordelo from turning the anecdote into a solidarity epic. In his universe, solidarity must be managed by the regime, blessed by the CDR, and disseminated by Cubadebate, not organized by ordinary Cubans, churches, or emigrants.
For him, charity without a photo is virtuous, and charity with a photo—when not orchestrated by him—is "seeking likes."
The Fear-Induced Solidarity
Ultimately, what Hernández Nordelo celebrates is not generosity, but obedience. The private companies that "join in" do so because they know they must if they want to continue operating.
In a country where every business license hinges on political loyalty, charity becomes an act of survival. And the CDR, that dinosaur reeking of ideological mold, is recycled as a propaganda platform for the "new socialist economy."
The result is grotesque: a regime that crushed private initiative for six decades now boasts about its patriotic entrepreneurs; a former spy who preaches austerity from social media while appearing at events with lights, cameras, and hashtags; a regime that calls "solidarity" what is essentially a public relations campaign to veil the State's collapse.
If You Don't Like the Sermon...
Hernández Nordelo embodies the paradox of a country where misery is managed as a spectacle. He applauds what he controls, despises what he cannot.
He preaches humility with the news behind him, moralizes while posing for the camera, and turns every act of solidarity into propaganda of failure.
In San Gerardo's Cuba of the Mipyme, solidarity is owned, entrepreneurs have a party, and charity has its liturgy. And if you don't like the sermon, no worries: the CDR will sugarcoat it.
Understanding Gerardo Hernández's Role in Cuban Solidarity
What is Gerardo Hernández's position on solidarity in Cuba?
Gerardo Hernández champions solidarity that aligns with the revolutionary cause, dismissing efforts that seek public approval or do not pass through the regime's channels.
How does the Cuban government control private enterprise?
The Cuban government grants licenses to private enterprises, often controlled by military-business entities like GAESA, ensuring that these businesses align with political loyalty.
Why is televised charity favored in Cuba?
Televised charity is favored because it allows the regime to showcase its control over solidarity initiatives, contrasting with grassroots efforts that challenge its narrative.