In Maisí, Guantánamo, several communities and an entire local council have been left in the dark for nearly a month, lacking both telephone and television services. This situation stems from a faulty transformer on the Sierra Verde tower, and despite assurances from authorities that the issue would be resolved, residents continue to wait.
Roelmis Leyva, a resident of the area, took to the Facebook group "Revolico Maisí" to voice his frustration, explaining that the necessary equipment must be transported from Guantánamo city. However, weeks have dragged on without resolution.
"It’s been almost a month that the Sierra Verde tower has been out of service, leaving several communities and a whole local council without phone or TV because of a burned-out transformer," Leyva wrote.
He typically refrains from making public complaints, but stated that his patience has run out. Leyva even approached the local Communist Party's first secretary, who assured him the issue would be fixed "tomorrow." Yet, that promise remains unfulfilled.
“What 'tomorrow' are they talking about? Why has nearly a month passed and we’re still here?” he questioned.
Additionally, Leyva criticized the Basic Electrical Organization (OBE) for not reallocating transformers that are assigned to private businesses but are allegedly "not fulfilling any purpose," suggesting one could be used temporarily to restore communications.
"Why not use one of those to solve this major communication issue?" he asked.
Leyva believes the prolonged problem is not just due to a lack of resources. "The real issue lies with bureaucrats who lack commitment to the community," he asserted.
This situation occurs in a province where the shortage of transformers has been officially acknowledged. In June, the National Electric Union reported that Guantánamo had eight damaged units, including two in Maisí, with no spare parts available anywhere in the country.
Guantánamo has faced some of the worst energy crises in 2026. In June, a failure in the 110 kV line connecting it to Santiago de Cuba plunged the province into darkness, with blackouts lasting over 30 hours at times.
Just days before Leyva's complaint, the eastern region of Cuba was disconnected from the National Electric System (SEN) due to fluctuations in transmission lines, causing three thermoelectric units to go offline. This left Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo without power, highlighting the fragility of the area's energy infrastructure.
Social media has become a frequent avenue for pressuring authorities over prolonged outages. In July, a viral complaint led the UNE to act in a Guantánamo neighborhood that had been without power for 21 days.
However, in Maisí, neither the extended wait nor direct appeals to local officials have yet restored phone and TV services to the affected communities.
"There are problems with solutions," Leyva concluded. "The big issue is the bureaucrats who lack commitment to the people."
Understanding the Communication Crisis in Maisí, Guantánamo
What is causing the communication outage in Maisí, Guantánamo?
The outage is due to a malfunctioning transformer on the Sierra Verde tower, which has left the area without telephone and television services.
How have residents been affected by the lack of services?
Residents are experiencing significant communication challenges, unable to access phone or TV services, which impacts their daily lives and ability to stay informed.
What efforts have been made to resolve the issue?
Authorities have promised to fix the problem, and residents have raised the issue with local leaders, but no effective action has been taken so far.