Cuban broadcaster Laritza Camacho took to Facebook to rally her fellow islanders, urging them to engage in what she calls a "business of fresh ideas" within their communities. Her post includes a pointed remark at the regime: "let's clear away the stinking trash and the lies that govern us."
Her message vividly captures two pressing issues that Camacho has consistently highlighted throughout the year: the physical decay of Cuban streets, where garbage piles up with no state intervention, and the hollow official rhetoric that fails to address these challenges.
Camacho, known for her work on radio and television, begins her post with a stark portrayal of the mass exodus depleting the nation: "In silence, we've been exporting our dreams, loves, children, parents, uncles, neighbors, partners... An uncontrolled, perilous, and deeply painful exportation."
Her use of "exportation" to describe the departure of people is intentional. By labeling Cubans as "exportable and profitable goods," Laritza flips the regime's narrative, framing emigration as the state's business at the expense of the nation's familial bonds.
"This export has brought foreign currency to the island, mixed with long periods of separation, broken families, and nostalgia hiding tears in handkerchiefs," she writes, adding, "We are numbers that add up in the general ledger but subtract from the silent census of absences and pandemics."
Camacho also acknowledges those who couldn't leave: "The wheel spun 360 degrees and returned to the starting point, but in a different time. We then realized that the train, the plane, the ship, the gazelle, and even the rikimbili had already left."
Amid such circumstances, the actress advocates for collective action from within: "I'm not looking for investors. I'm looking for Cubans who don't close the window and pretend ignorance, wonderful people who don't run in the opposite direction of what's right."
Her publication aligns with a critical stance that she has consistently maintained. On July 11, she openly stated, "I oppose the Cuban government because the Cuban government is against Cuba. Nothing works in my country." By August 5, her message to the officials was even more direct: "Just leave; we don't need you."
At the end of July, she painted a picture of Havana as a capital plagued by a lack of transportation, accumulated trash, building collapses, and residents collecting water with buckets.
Understanding Laritza Camacho's Call for Change
What does Laritza Camacho mean by a "business of fresh ideas"?
Camacho is encouraging Cubans to unite and collectively address the issues in their communities, such as waste management and challenging the oppressive narratives of the regime.
How does Camacho view the emigration of Cubans?
She sees it as an "exportation" of people, which she describes as a state-driven business that profits at the cost of breaking familial ties and causing deep emotional pain.
What is Camacho's stance on the Cuban government?
Camacho is openly critical of the Cuban government, stating that it is ineffective and detrimental to the country, and has called for officials to step down.