Laritza Camacho Slams Extravagance of 23 y 12 Gathering: "People Can't Even Get to Work"

Cuban broadcaster Laritza Camacho took to Facebook to voice her disapproval of the official event held at the intersection of 23 y 12 in El Vedado, Havana, in celebration of the 65th anniversary of the proclamation of the socialist nature of the Revolution.

The actress, also known for her outspoken views, criticized the lavish spending on an event in a country where people struggle to commute due to a lack of transportation.

Camacho described her experience passing by the site the day before the gathering, which was led by Miguel Díaz-Canel: "Traffic was already blocked off for today's event. Dancers were rehearsing, and final preparations were underway."

While acknowledging the historical significance of the date, she didn't shy away from her critique: "An event commemorating the victory at Girón. An event to reaffirm the socialist nature of the revolution. These are undeniable truths. Girón was a monumental victory."

Highlighting the Contradictions

Camacho pointedly addressed what she sees as the core contradiction of the regime: "The socialist nature is clearly visible in the waste of scarce resources on marches, demonstrations, events, and gatherings... at a time when people can't even make it to work, where everything is exhausting."

With her trademark irony, Camacho summed up her stance in a line that leaves no room for doubt: "Shouting, slogans, and waste—what a fine character!"

Challenging the Official Narrative

She also targeted the government's narrative blaming the country's woes on the U.S. embargo, with sarcasm that's self-evident: "No one can ever block our slogans. Down with the blockade!"

Her post concluded with her characteristic humor: "At my age, I don't become bionic but rather ironic. The world has turned into a reggaeton, my friend."

The event was presided over by Díaz-Canel, who in his speech reaffirmed socialism as the only path for Cuba, although he had to concede the severity of the crisis by admitting there's a "total lack of fuel for almost everything."

Transportation Crisis in Cuba

The event's execution involved the Provincial Road Safety Commission of Havana ordering the complete closure of streets in the area starting at five in the morning.

Camacho's critique resonates strongly amid Cuba's severe transportation crisis: the public system meets only 42% of its targets, and Havana's urban transit has been paralyzed since February 6 due to fuel shortages.

Bus production on the island plummeted from 473 units in 2019 to a mere 12 projected for 2026, marking a drastic 97.5% decline, as noted by economist Pedro Monreal.

Known for her role as a host on the Cuban TV show "Mediodía en TV," Camacho has long used her social media platforms to highlight the regime's contradictions.

In July 2021, following the 11J protests, she publicly demanded apologies and the resignation of Díaz-Canel for ordering the crackdown on protesters.

Earlier this year, she fiercely responded to official journalist Arleen Rodríguez when Rodríguez attempted to justify power outages by invoking José Martí: "Keep playing around, but don't play with Martí where his people dwell."