Cuban comedian Otto Ortiz has recently shed light on the dire circumstances faced by residents of a twelve-story building in Nuevo Vedado, Havana. A significant electrical fault has left parts of the building without power, elevators, and water supply for lengthy periods.
In a Facebook post, Ortiz described the situation at the "12 plantas del Azúcar," located at Tulipán and 45, which has been plagued by a loss of one electrical phase for several days.
Even when the electricity is restored after extended outages, certain apartments remain powerless due to this issue.
"Imagine being without electricity for over 20 hours, and when it finally returns, your apartment remains dark because of the phase failure. For some, this means 40 or 60 hours without power," Ortiz lamented.
The lack of electricity has a ripple effect throughout the building: elevators are inoperative, and water doesn't reach the upper floors, forcing residents to carry water up the stairs and dispose of waste in the same manner.
The Agony of Daily Life in a High-Rise
"Living in a twelve-story building, especially on floors six and above, has turned into an unbearable ordeal," Ortiz expressed.
Normally trying to infuse humor into everyday challenges, Ortiz admitted this time he couldn't find any comedic relief in the situation.
The comedian criticized the local Electric Company and authorities, questioning the protracted nature of a problem affecting numerous families without a lasting solution.
"Blaming everything on the embargo doesn't excuse the negligence and apathy towards the people," he declared.
Failures in Leadership and Public Service
Ortiz also called out public officials and the local delegate, emphasizing their duty to address and resolve community issues.
"No one is stepping up for the community; the building is without power, water, and elevators. Hundreds of families, thousands of individuals, are trapped in a situation with no way out," he wrote.
The comedian highlighted the presence of children, the elderly, and individuals with physical challenges, for whom climbing numerous flights of stairs or hauling water is even more burdensome.
According to Ortiz, these breakdowns are not new. He asserted that even after replacing the transformer, the cycle of failure continues.
"It's become a constant struggle; they replace the transformer, and soon enough it breaks down again, restarting the cycle of collective misery," he noted.
A Grim Outlook on Cuba's Reality
This time, Ortiz concluded his remarks without humor, offering a somber reflection on the harsh realities of life in Cuba: "There was a time when we could look forward to tomorrow, but now... now it's better not to think about the future."
Though known for his comedic talent, Ortiz frequently uses social media to highlight the hardships of daily life in Cuba.
In July, he sarcastically commented on receiving only 45 minutes of electricity after a long outage, ending his critique with the phrase: "We owe everything we are to socialism."
Earlier, he humorously highlighted the lengthy queues for gasoline in Havana, revealing his spot as number 1,620 in one line and 15,551 in another for purchasing fuel in dollars.
More recently, in August, Ortiz used satire to draw attention to the high cost of oil in Cuba, wearing a bottle around his neck as if it were a symbol of wealth.
Understanding the Crisis in Nuevo Vedado
What is causing the prolonged power outages in the Nuevo Vedado building?
The building is experiencing a loss of one electrical phase, which leaves some apartments without power even when electricity is restored after outages.
How are residents coping with the lack of elevators and water supply?
Residents are forced to carry water up the stairs and dispose of waste without the use of elevators, which is particularly challenging for those on higher floors.
What criticisms did Otto Ortiz raise regarding the handling of this situation?
Otto Ortiz criticized the Electric Company and local authorities for their apathy and negligence, questioning why the issue remains unresolved when it affects so many families.