Pedro Jorge Velázquez, known on social media as "El Necio," is a pro-government journalist who once again attempted to paint a rosy picture of life in Cuba. Yet, inadvertently, he revealed a truth all too familiar to many Cubans—a nearly deserted Havana, devoid of public transportation and bustling streets.
In a video released on February 14, Velázquez, a mouthpiece for the regime, filmed himself standing in the middle of a Havana street. He tried to defend the lack of activity by blaming the usual scapegoat—the "blockade," specifically mentioning the "Trump-era oil blockade."
"There's hardly anyone out here... the road is nearly empty. There's no transportation due to Trump's oil blockade," he claimed while panning over the desolate scene.
The most controversial moment came when, despite showing a lifeless city, Velázquez insisted that Cubans aren't sad, as if the daily struggles are fictitious tales crafted by outsiders.
"Are people in Cuba sad? Are they walking with their heads down? No, brother... you don't know Cuba," he declared.
To bolster his argument, Velázquez walked to a park and pointed to a few children, repeatedly stating, "You see those kids there," as if their presence alone proved everything was fine.
For countless Cubans, whether on the island or abroad, this narrative is nearly insulting, seemingly designed to dismiss the social exhaustion, transportation breakdowns, energy crises, and emotional strain in a country where survival has become an endless routine.
While the regime continues to peddle "resilience" and "joy," the reality—even captured by their own spokespersons—tells a different story: empty streets, people confined to their homes due to fuel shortages, power outages, or sheer hopelessness.
A Propaganda Mouthpiece
Velázquez is not just another face in the pro-regime media landscape. Known for staunchly defending the government and attacking its critics, "El Necio" has frequently been accused of acting as a political operative on social media.
Recently, the United States imposed visa restrictions on him, as confirmed by U.S. government sources to Martí Noticias, due to his alleged involvement in harassment campaigns against diplomats in Cuba, particularly targeting Mike Hammer, the chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Havana.
The report linked him to sharing sensitive content, including images showing diplomatic license plates and vehicles.
In response to the sanctions, Velázquez dismissed their significance, claiming he never had any intention of visiting the United States, attempting to portray himself as a victim.
"Visiting that country has never crossed my mind... with so much humanism in my country's neighborhoods," he said.
"Don't Be Fooled," While Showing Emptiness
Ironically, Velázquez concluded his broadcast with a statement that has come to haunt his own narrative.
"This is Cuba, folks. Don't be fooled," he said.
In a sense, he spoke the truth: what his video captured was not prosperity or vibrancy, but a city seemingly frozen in time, with daily life reduced to its bare essentials.
For thousands of Cubans waiting hours for a bus, walking miles due to lack of transport, or living caught between blackouts and shortages, the claim that "people aren't sad" sounds less like optimism and more like mockery.
Understanding the Reality of Life in Havana
What did Pedro Jorge Velázquez claim about the streets of Havana?
Pedro Jorge Velázquez claimed that the streets of Havana were nearly empty due to the "Trump-era oil blockade," and not because of issues within Cuba itself.
How did Velázquez justify his claim that Cubans are not sad?
Velázquez pointed to children playing in a park as evidence that everything was fine and insisted that Cubans are not as sad as portrayed by outsiders.
What sanctions did the United States impose on Velázquez?
The United States imposed visa restrictions on Velázquez due to his alleged involvement in harassment campaigns against U.S. diplomats in Cuba.