The Cuban Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, was set to address the nation about the ongoing "energy emergency" faced by the Cuban regime. However, his unexpected briefing had to be postponed this Thursday due to "technical difficulties" with the television signal. Originally scheduled for 8:30 PM, as announced by Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel via his social media, Marrero Cruz's appearance alongside officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mines was delayed until nearly midnight. This was when connection issues between the central studios of Cuban Television and those in Santiago de Cuba—where the Prime Minister was located—were finally resolved.
"The broadcast of Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz regarding the country's energy crisis, initially announced by the Cuban head of state on X for 8:30 PM, will be aired on the National radio and television network once technical difficulties are resolved between the links in Havana and Santiago de Cuba," stated the presenters of the Cuban Television News (NTV) at the end of their broadcast.
Blame Shifted to U.S. Policies
In his message, Díaz-Canel attributed the main cause of the energy crisis to the "intensification of the economic war and the financial and energy blockade by the United States." He claimed these actions have hindered the importation of fuel and other essential resources needed for the operation of the electrical industry. Nevertheless, his announcement of the leaders' appearance to provide explanations only fueled more outrage among citizens, who are dealing with not only prolonged power outages but also a lack of basic services.
Public Frustration Mounts
"Good afternoon, President. I must tell you that here in Cienfuegos, people cannot access that information due to the lack of power; almost the entire province is without electricity for 12 hours, and in some areas, more than 12 hours," responded a Cuban citizen on the leader's social media page.
The wave of such comments compelled the Cuban regime to announce that the briefing would be rebroadcast in several segments throughout Friday, including during the "Buenos Días" show and at 2 PM, after the midday news.