Renowned Cuban actor Luis Alberto García Novoa took to social media this Wednesday with a sardonic wager that quickly captured the public's mood of exasperation. He predicted that the National Electric System (SEN) and ETECSA would collapse again on July 25 and 26, just as they did earlier this month on the 10th and 11th.
“On July 10 and 11, the SEN and ETECSA went limp. Probably the same will happen on the 25th and 26th. Right? I'm taking bets,” García quipped on his Facebook page, triggering a flood of ironic and resigned comments.
Significant Dates and Power Outages
July 25 and 26 hold considerable significance in Cuba's official calendar. These dates mark the 73rd anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks, with this year's main event scheduled in Pinar del Río—a province currently grappling with blackouts lasting between 20 and 40 hours daily.
García's wager isn’t baseless. On July 10, the SEN experienced its fourth total collapse of the year, plunging millions across the island into darkness. Just two days before that, on July 8, the regime recorded the SEN’s largest historical deficit: 2,341 MW.
ETECSA and SEN Failures
The massive blackout, alongside outages exceeding 24 hours in several areas, also led to disruptions in ETECSA’s services. Comments on García's post combined skepticism over the electrical crisis with direct references to Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel's controversial philosophical response in a recent RT en Español interview.
In that interview, Díaz-Canel used a metaphor by Fernando Birri, popularized by Eduardo Galeano, to address whether Cuba could overcome its crisis: “Utopia is on the horizon. When we walk two steps, utopia moves two steps back. What is the purpose of utopia? To keep us moving forward.”
Public Reaction and Satire
This phrase became instant fodder for satire. Diana Fernandez wagered “two utopias and ten horizons.” Alain Daniel Riveron Gonzalez humorously remarked, “Of course, I don't think the SEN and ETECSA will rise on the 25th and 26th. Erectile dysfunction isn't cured that quickly.”
Roberto Diaz succinctly encapsulated the regime’s logic with four words: “For the circus, everything always works.”
Some comments hinted at potential manipulation of power supply based on political convenience. Susana Madrigal Aguila speculated, “They might provide more hours of light during times that allow people to enjoy mass activities and interviews related to the anniversary, where there’s so much color and popular ‘enthusiasm.’”
Marcia Mirtha Hernández Ramírez concluded the conversation with a certainty few dared to challenge: “Maybe, perhaps, who knows. But that the SEN and ETECSA constantly make our lives difficult, that’s for sure.”
Understanding Cuba's Power Challenges
Why are July 25 and 26 significant in Cuba?
These dates commemorate the anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks, important events in Cuba's revolutionary history.
What caused the widespread blackouts on July 10?
The National Electric System experienced its fourth total collapse of the year, compounded by a historical deficit of 2,341 MW recorded on July 8.
What was the public's reaction to García's bet?
The public responded with a mix of irony and skepticism, referencing both the current electrical crisis and the Cuban leader's recent philosophical remarks.