The Electric Company of Santiago de Cuba has reinstalled a public streetlight that was initially placed for a visit by Díaz-Canel to the town of Baire. Following the official event, workers had removed the light, sparking public outcry. The company opted to "correct" their actions after CiberCuba published a protest from local women who confronted state officials about being left in darkness once more.
"Update, folks! They’ve put the streetlight back! And that's not all—every light removed in this town will be returned. Big thanks to everyone for sharing," announced a user named Ruth María in the Facebook group "Revolico Baire."
Earlier, Ruth had shared a video showing Baire residents, from the Contramaestre municipality, criticizing the company for installing a lamp on a street pole for Díaz-Canel's event, only to remove it after the usual photos were taken. She clarified she faced no issues with the police or state security due to her post. "I simply showed that you shouldn’t stay silent in the face of injustice, that change is possible, and the people's voice must be heard," she stated. Various affected residents agreed with her.
"Here, whoever complains and reports on social media, it's confirmed that's how some things get resolved," expressed a young model.
"That's how it should be. Most of the country's problems stem from the audacity of the leaders," emphasized a laboratory technician.
"Stay silent, and you'll be left without streetlights," assured one woman.
It appears this isn't the first instance of streetlights being installed for political events in Baire and then removed. According to a person involved in the installation, who claimed ties to the military, this practice occurs whenever there is a Communist Party event due to the scarcity of streetlights nationwide. Consequently, Baire's street might not be illuminated again until more lights are supposedly imported, a scenario quite improbable given Cuba's current situation.
"Lies upon lies. Ultimately, it worked. These social media platforms are powerful," commented an engineer on the Revolico post.
"Oh my God! So the explanation the guy gave, was it all lies?" questioned a woman.
"See how they deceive the people? And they claimed there were no more streetlights. They're all disrespectful," noted another.
On the day of the protest, the leader of the team responsible for leaving Baire's 15th Street in darkness explained that they weren't taking the streetlight itself but "what's inside," meaning the luminaire.
"But how are we supposed to light our streets if you remove that lamp?" asked the affected residents.
The operations chief clarified that the lamp previously at that corner had a damaged transformer. The official response was that the country lacks luminaires. "Lamps are being used for events. It's been explained to the delegates that we have certain issues, and there are no lamps to replace them. We’ll now move this lamp to Los Negros and so on. Unfortunately, that's our situation. We have to take it and use it for another event," the director noted in a conciliatory tone.
Understanding the Streetlight Controversy in Baire
Why were the streetlights removed after Díaz-Canel's visit?
The streetlights were removed because they were temporarily installed for a political event, and due to a shortage of luminaires, they are reused for other events.
How did residents of Baire respond to the removal of streetlights?
Residents of Baire protested the removal on social media, which led to public pressure on the Electric Company, resulting in the reinstallation of the streetlights.
What was the official explanation for the lack of streetlights in Cuba?
Officials claimed that there is a shortage of luminaires in the country, and streetlights are moved around to accommodate different events.