A resident of Holguín, specifically from the municipality of Mayarí, issued a unique challenge to Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel this Wednesday: to live like an ordinary Cuban citizen for a month. "I don't think he can handle it," commented William Pico on Facebook while sharing a video of someone cooking chicken in a pressure cooker placed over a wood-fired stove. "We're eating meat here, delicious!" Pico exclaimed.
"I challenge Díaz-Canel to spend a month like this," the Holguín resident stated, hinting that the leader, detached from the daily struggles of ordinary people, wouldn't endure the hardships faced by millions of Cubans.
Recently, Díaz-Canel claimed in a televised appearance that he is not out of touch with the people, although he admitted that his primary source for understanding public opinion comes from his friends and family. "None of us live detached from the people. I am in a family, friendship, and work environment where people have the same problems as the population because they are part of the people," he said.
"Therefore, my friends and family, in the best sense, also complain that the situation is tough and share those sentiments with us," he added.
The "tough situation" that Cubans, and apparently the leader, endure includes scarcity, inflation, power outages, and more recently, the need to cook massively with wood and charcoal. The severe energy crisis combined with the fuel shortage on the island continues to produce surreal images for the 21st century, such as a mother resorting to cooking with wood in the middle of a central street in the city of Holguín.
A video shared on social media shows the woman watching over a pressure cooker on a wood fire, preparing some food.
Challenges Facing Ordinary Cubans
To provide further insight into the daily challenges faced by ordinary Cubans, here are some frequently asked questions and answers:
What are the main issues affecting ordinary Cubans?
The main issues include scarcity of basic goods, high inflation, frequent power outages, and a reliance on wood and charcoal for cooking due to fuel shortages.
How did Díaz-Canel respond to the criticism of being out of touch?
Díaz-Canel claimed in a televised appearance that he is not out of touch with the people, stating that he lives in an environment where people share the same problems as the general population.