In the midst of what is arguably the most severe crisis Cuba has faced in decades, a Havana resident has taken to Facebook to voice her belief that the island's primary hindrance to progress is internal.
"The problem in Cuba is within us," declared Yisell Boutros Guerrero in a video that has garnered nearly 73,000 views, capturing attention with its candid message.
In her seven-minute clip, tagged with #abajotodo, Boutros Guerrero emphasizes her conviction that no external force will resolve issues that Cubans themselves are unwilling to confront.
The catalyst for her outcry was an incident she labeled as hypocritical: friends of hers installed a private power generator in her neighborhood, prompting local residents to start a petition against it.
Boutros Guerrero describes these residents as government officials who "live in mansions," possess "modern cars with B plates," and have solar panels and water heaters in their homes, while the majority of the population endures months without reliable electricity.
"We have the right to live like human beings, yet we don't," she asserts in the video, highlighting the hypocrisy of those who complain about the noise of a generator while enjoying energy privileges that most cannot afford.
The video emerges at a time when Cuba is experiencing its worst power crisis in decades. In July 2026, the power generation deficit reached 2,341 MW, leading to blackouts lasting up to 72 hours in some provinces.
This dire situation has sparked a wave of pot-banging protests in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Cienfuegos, with neighborhoods like Lawton, El Vedado, Centro Habana, Guanabacoa, and Old Havana becoming centers of unrest.
Boutros Guerrero had previously been noted on July 22 for sharing footage of pot-banging, street bonfires, and protests in La Cumbre and Colón.
On the same Saturday that she posted her video, residents of Lawton took to the streets with pots and fire extinguishers during another night of outages, aligning with a call for a nationwide protest.
The author is clear about her independence from any external organizations or funding.
"No one motivates me; my life motivates me, the struggles I endure motivate me. I don't need to be sent toothpaste or soap from the United States," she states, emphasizing that her sole reason for speaking out is her daily indignation.
Her criticism extends beyond the government. Boutros Guerrero also targets the complacency of many Cubans: "I don’t understand why people would rather attend political events, go to receive a meaningless diploma, or maintain a job or salary that doesn't even reach 3,000 Cuban pesos, which is barely enough for a carton of eggs."
The Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded a record 107 street protests in June 2026, with 82 occurring in Havana. In May, national protests peaked at 1,311, the highest ever documented in a single month.
Boutros Guerrero is part of a growing trend of Cubans using social media as a platform to voice grievances from within the island, yet her message is distinct in that it holds society accountable as well.
"There is a significant issue of awareness and an even larger problem of inequality," she concludes, closing with a warning that doubles as a promise: "I won't keep this poison inside me."
Understanding Cuba's Internal Challenges
What sparked Yisell Boutros Guerrero's criticism?
Her criticism was sparked by an incident she deemed hypocritical, where neighbors began a petition against friends who installed a private power generator, despite enjoying their own energy privileges.
How has the power crisis affected Cuba?
Cuba is facing its worst power crisis in decades, with a power generation deficit leading to blackouts lasting up to 72 hours in some provinces, sparking widespread protests.
What message does Boutros Guerrero convey in her video?
Boutros Guerrero's video conveys that Cuba's problems are internal, emphasizing the need for Cubans to address these issues themselves rather than relying on external solutions.