A steady supply of water, small cups of coffee, and a deep sense of gratitude have been a constant for the linemen from Sancti Spíritus province, who have tirelessly worked to restore power in the Buenavista community, located in the Playa municipality of Havana. This follows the aftermath of Hurricane Rafael, which recently struck the western part of Cuba.
Idalmis Vargas Tamayo, a local resident, shared with the Cuban News Agency that alongside the provisions she offered the electrical workers, she also extended warmth and appreciation. She noted that witnessing them laboring atop poles for countless hours without pause stirred concern among her and her fellow community members, who were severely impacted by the fallen poles and trees.
Yanet González Molina, another community resident, also contributed her support to the linemen from the Sancti Spíritus brigade. According to José Placencia Ortiz, the brigade leader, the team arrived in the capital on November 5th, ahead of the hurricane's landfall in Artemisa, to assist with recovery efforts post-storm.
Community Support Amidst Challenges
Placencia emphasized the critical role of local support amidst the challenging conditions left by Rafael in Havana. Despite the heartfelt community solidarity shown towards the Sancti Spíritus workers, there remains significant criticism directed at the Cuban government for the delays in restoring electrical service in Havana.
More than six days after Hurricane Rafael's impact on western Cuba, Havana's situation remains challenging, with thousands still lacking electricity due to storm damage. Nevertheless, the Havana Electric Company announced on social media that power had been restored to 95% of the city, benefiting over 823,000 customers.
Despite these efforts, power outages continue to plague the entire country due to equipment failures and a generation deficit, further complicating daily life for Cuban families.
Government Response Under Scrutiny
Amid this scenario, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel visited several areas in Havana affected by Hurricane Rafael this past Saturday in an effort to oversee recovery efforts addressing the damage to infrastructure and essential services.
The official account of the Cuban Presidency on social media tracked the leader's visits to various parts of the capital, including his stop at the Eduardo García Delgado pre-university school. There, workers, students, and residents have been compelled to engage in cleanup and restoration activities.
This visit marks another attempt by Díaz-Canel to repair the negative image left by his administration's handling of the crisis in Guantánamo following Hurricane Oscar.