Sister Nadieska Almeida, head of the Daughters of Charity in Cuba, has voiced a powerful critique on Facebook, titled "Stiff-Necked People," directly addressing the 176 economic measures recently sanctioned by the National Assembly.
The post, shared by Father Kenny Fernández Delgado, sharply criticizes the regime for reinstating activities it once banned, persecuted, and even jailed citizens over—activities seen as a path to prosperity.
"We find ourselves once again in the endless cycle of correction and promises. We hear the rhetoric of resistance and 'Yes, we can,' as we continue to 'build socialism,'" the nun writes, condemning the government's insincere rhetoric that accompanies these reforms.
Sister Nadieska points to the core contradiction: attempting economic openness without dismantling the authoritarian political system that sustains it.
"They cling to a failing system, even admitting it's flawed. (...) They are used to thinking and deciding for us. No one with a different mindset is allowed to voice dissent; this is one of their biggest mistakes, the inability to engage with differing opinions," she noted.
The nun challenges the regime with a poignant question reflecting the people's exhaustion: "Do you not see an entire nation paying the price for all your measures and decisions that must constantly be corrected because none are valid?"
Her depiction of Cuban reality is stark: "Look at the faces of the people, observe the physical and mental deterioration of an entire nation, listen to the cries of desperation from mothers for their children, approach the bars imprisoning those whose desire for freedom overcame their fear."
The U.S. Department of State dismissed the 176 measures as mere "superficial smoke signals," indicating they do not represent real structural change.
Sister Nadieska rejects the regime's patchwork approach and accuses the government of being unable or unwilling to ensure a new way of living for the Cuban people.
"Many of us have expressed that we want new changes, but without you. (...) We don't want patches; we want new clothes made from new fabric. We are tired of being the subjects of trial and error experiments," she declared.
In closing, Sister Nadieska demands an unequivocal action: "Leave, show respect for this weary and harassed people. Enough is enough. The suffering you have inflicted on us must come to an end."
Sister Nadieska's voice joins a growing chorus of ecclesiastical criticism against the regime's new economic measures.
Father Alberto Reyes stated, "The solution is not in freeing the economy, but in freeing the citizen," while the Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba cautioned on Sunday that those who "believe they have the right to do anything because of power" cause harm.
In January, the Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops called for "urgent changes" and structural political, social, and economic reforms to prevent an outbreak of violence.
This is not the first time Sister Nadieska has spoken out with such force. In March 2025, she highlighted the suffering of mothers without food, political prisoners, and the sick without medicine, and in December of that same year, she identified the totalitarian system as responsible for the moral and social decay of the Island.
Cuban Economic Measures: Questions and Answers
What are the 176 economic measures recently approved by Cuba?
The 176 measures are a set of economic reforms approved by Cuba's National Assembly, aiming to revitalize the nation's economy. However, critics argue they are insufficient for real change.
Why does Sister Nadieska Almeida oppose these measures?
Sister Nadieska opposes the measures because she believes they are hypocritical and insufficient, maintaining an ineffective system without allowing true economic freedom.
What has been the response of the Catholic Church in Cuba to these measures?
The Catholic Church in Cuba, including Sister Nadieska and other clergy, has been increasingly critical, calling for urgent political, social, and economic reforms to prevent further suffering.