Beatriz Johnson, the first secretary of the Party in Santiago de Cuba, participated in a ritual on Tuesday during the final day of the iconic Caribbean Festival.
In a video shared on Facebook by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, Johnson is seen on the street, surrounded by a circle of women dressed in white who dance and sing around her, while shaking herbs over her head. One of the women took her hands and spun her around, eventually lifting her arms above her head and releasing her, as dozens of onlookers watched the intriguing scene in front of the old City Hall building.
As the people of Santiago de Cuba struggle to survive amidst severe food and transportation shortages and prolonged power outages, their top leader tries to project an image of closeness by participating in a religious cultural spectacle.
Controversial Festival Amid Crisis
Johnson's performance was one of the last acts before the closing of an event that many citizens believe should not have been held at this time. However, for Johnson and her team, it was more important to allocate the scarce resources to the festival despite the hardships and shortages.
Recently, Beatriz Johnson joined a sweet potato planting during a visit to the municipality of Palma Soriano, a moment shared on social media as an "example to follow." The governor of Santiago de Cuba, Manuel Falcón, shared an image of Johnson "bending her back" in a furrow at El Sitio alongside farmers, although the latter were not visible in the photograph.
According to the governor, Johnson has participated in harvests, coffee collection, and voluntary work since she was a child, and now "with her usual humility, she put her hands to the earth."
The PPC secretary, who lives in one of the few areas of Santiago that does not suffer from blackouts or water shortages, close to the Plaza de la Revolución and a military zone, urged people in March to "remain calm" in the face of the water supply crisis.
"People should know that they will get a little bit of water tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after, but no one should despair," she said in a work meeting.
Just days earlier, when people took to the streets to protest food shortages and blackouts, she offered a series of explanations that she later said were understood by the citizens. However, protests resumed just hours later.
Beatriz Johnson and the Caribbean Festival: Key Questions
Given the recent events at the Caribbean Festival in Santiago de Cuba, many are left with questions about Beatriz Johnson's participation and the broader context. Here are some important questions and answers about this situation.
Why did Beatriz Johnson participate in the Caribbean Festival?
Beatriz Johnson participated in the Caribbean Festival to project an image of closeness and cultural engagement with the people of Santiago de Cuba, despite the ongoing crises.
What was the public's reaction to her participation?
Many citizens criticized the event, believing that the resources allocated to the festival could have been better used to address the pressing issues of food shortages and power outages.
How has Beatriz Johnson addressed the current crises?
Beatriz Johnson has urged citizens to remain calm and patient, promising that water and other resources would eventually be provided, though this has not alleviated the ongoing public discontent.