For nearly a year, the residents of Monterrey in the San Miguel del Padrón district of Havana have been grappling with persistent nighttime power outages, water supply issues, and unreliable phone service, with little to no intervention from authorities.
In a Facebook post shared on Thursday on behalf of the community, Yoel Sánchez Pérez detailed how locals have repeatedly reached out to the Unión Eléctrica (UNE), Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A (Etecsa), the Community Services Company, and local government offices, only to be met with ineffective responses.
"All the institutions—UNE, Etecsa, Community Services—respond to our complaints with empty promises and finger-pointing. Their explanations lack logic, displaying clear indifference and a failure to provide solutions," the post emphasized.
The situation is particularly dire during the early hours, as residents report that electricity is non-existent, forcing families to use charcoal for cooking.
"We have to wake up to light the charcoal because there's not a single night when we have power," they lamented.
While acknowledging the widespread crisis across Cuba, Monterrey's residents feel their neighborhood is at a greater disadvantage compared to others also struggling with basic service deficiencies.
"We want everyone to have electricity, connectivity, and water. But if that's not possible, Monterrey deserves to be on equal footing with other communities," they asserted.
Impact of Power Outages on Water Supply
The MR450 circuit, supplying Monterrey alongside Luyanó Moderno and La Corea, experienced another outage on Saturday at 5:57 PM due to a generation shortfall. The power cuts severely impact water distribution, as the Benigno and El Gato sources, which supply water to the area, halt operations without electricity. The Benigno source alone serves approximately 58,000 people in the municipality.
Residents claim their grievances have gone unaddressed for nearly a year and demand that authorities move beyond excuses to effectively tackle the community's challenges.
Widespread Service Failures Across Havana
In San Francisco de Paula, also within San Miguel del Padrón, residents have endured over a month with only an hour of electricity per day, and some streets have been without water for about six months, according to a recent complaint.
Back in July, residents of Mirador del Diezmero, another area within the same district, reported over ten days without water or electricity, leading to conflicts among neighbors desperate for a bucket of water.
On Thursday, more than 309,000 Havana residents were still experiencing water supply issues, although this was a decrease from the over 500,000 affected earlier in the month, as per Aguas de La Habana data.
Adding to the service woes is the controversy over electricity distribution among circuits. This system, implemented in July to replace block outages, has fueled suspicions of favoritism and corruption within the electrical companies. In this environment, the Communist Party’s Organization Secretary, Roberto Morales Ojeda, acknowledged reports of misconduct, attributing them to "four or five" employees.
Common Concerns About Power and Water Issues in Havana
What are the main issues faced by Monterrey residents in Havana?
Residents in Monterrey are dealing with continuous nighttime power outages, disruptions in water supply, and poor phone service without effective resolutions from the authorities.
How do power outages affect water supply in Monterrey?
Power outages halt the operation of water sources like Benigno and El Gato, which are vital for water distribution, affecting approximately 58,000 residents in the area.
What has been the response of Cuban authorities to these issues?
Authorities have been criticized for offering demagogic responses and failing to provide logical solutions, leading to growing frustration among residents.