The Reparto Militar neighborhood in Guisa, located in Cuba's Granma province, recently became the scene of a heated confrontation between local residents and officials over the ongoing energy crisis affecting the region. The incident sparked a wave of reactions on social media after videos surfaced showing residents voicing their frustrations to officials who were not identified by the independent outlet elTOQUE.
According to elTOQUE's social media reports, the community previously received electricity from a hydropower station at the El Corojo dam. However, a transformer malfunction has rendered this energy source unusable. As a result, officials proposed connecting the neighborhood to the National Electric System (SEN) as an alternative. This suggestion did not sit well with residents, who were wary of the severe “blackouts” plaguing users of the national grid.
Community Rejects Proposed Solution
Reports on social media indicated that the residents opposed this measure, cautioning that it could exacerbate power outages in an area that had enjoyed relatively stable electricity supply. Videos shared online depicted residents passionately defending their rights and challenging the explanations provided by local officials. The footage revealed deep dissatisfaction and concerns over a potential decline in their quality of life due to the uncertain energy situation.
Yudelkis Ortiz, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in Granma, acknowledged visiting the Reparto Militar in a Facebook post. Ortiz stated that discussions during her visit addressed the energy crisis and recent earthquakes in the area but avoided direct reference to the disputes shown in the videos. Her remarks, which highlighted the "affection of the community's children," were criticized for lacking specificity regarding the residents' demands.
Historical Context of Discontent
Known also as Reparto Guillermo González, the Reparto Militar is situated at the entrance of the municipality along the Guisa-Bayamo highway and is home to over 2,000 people. The energy crisis in this community reflects a growing dissatisfaction among the populace, who demand effective and transparent solutions to the persistent outages and failures in the electrical system. Meanwhile, the atmosphere of discontent remains palpable, and officials face mounting pressure to provide remedies that alleviate the situation.
The residents of Guisa have previously been at the forefront of expressing their dissatisfaction. In May 2022, facilities belonging to the CIMEX corporation and the Telecommunications Company of Cuba (ETECSA) were vandalized during a blackout in Guisa. Earlier this March, dozens of Granma residents took to the streets in Bayamo, prompting the regime to deploy its Special Forces (Avispas Negras) and close several streets.
Journalist Mario J Pentón shared images of the city under military presence, reporting continued disruptions in internet service. These events occurred amid other widespread protests in Santiago de Cuba, where demonstrators marched, chanting slogans like "We are hungry," "Food and Electricity," "No more talk," and "Homeland and Life."