Cuban Woman's Comment on Enjoying Havana's Power Outages Goes Viral

The statement made by a Cuban woman expressing her satisfaction over power outages in Havana has gained significant traction on social media. Mercedes Pérez, from Cienfuegos, sparked intense debate and garnered nearly 3,000 reactions on Facebook after conveying her delight at the capital's electricity cuts, amid the recent national power grid collapse.

Her comment was a response to a CiberCuba article titled "Less than two percent of customers in Havana have electricity," published on March 16, following a blackout that plunged all of Cuba into darkness due to a breakdown at a major substation in the capital.

In the comments section, Pérez stated, "I'm glad that the people in Havana are without power, let them suffer and struggle, because those in the provinces always get the short end of the stick; there's never any power here, 38 hours without electricity, let the Havanans suffer, I'm happy they have nothing."

The comment quickly went viral, drawing a wave of criticism, though many users defended her sentiment. Responses highlighted the need for empathy and unity among Cubans facing the severe crisis engulfing the nation.

"What are you talking about? We Havanans aren't to blame for what your president does, we're in the same boat. I was without power for three days, and it gets cut every day here too. Your president has it, but we don't," a woman expressed.

Meanwhile, a self-employed worker remarked that Pérez's comment reflects the "anthropological damage caused by decades of division and social control" under the Castro regime. "This mindset is also part of the damage done by communism. Look at what the CDRs are—created to control and divide the people. As the saying goes: divide and conquer. That's how they have us pitted against each other," he emphasized.

Other internet users expressed sadness and disappointment at the lack of solidarity among compatriots. "That hatred is part of what's keeping us where we are," a father wrote. "Lady, aim your anger at the government, which is to blame, not the people of Havana."

"She’s just envious. We are also human beings. What happens in the provinces happens here too. We need to unite, not turn against each other," said another user.

"Your misfortunes aren't caused by the people of Havana, you fool (...). Go to the PCC, to Díaz-Canel's house, visit the director of Mines, your hatred is misdirected," someone else suggested.

"This is the extent of Cuban stupidity; she's not against those who take it away but against others who are also suffering. Because of stupid people like this, this dictatorship in Cuba exists. We are our own worst enemy, we're screwed," a musician reiterated.

An emigrant lamented the tone of the post and urged for resentment to be set aside: "With so much need throughout the country, and she's rejoicing in another Cuban's misfortune... How sad. That's not how you build a better country."

Historical Inequality

For months, prolonged power outages have plagued Cuba, plunging the nation into an unprecedented energy crisis and revealing the deep inequalities in electricity distribution between Havana and the rest of the provinces. In interior cities, blackouts can last over 15 hours daily, while in the capital, they're typically shorter.

This discrepancy has fueled discontent among provincial residents, who accuse the government of preferential treatment towards Havana at the expense of the rest of the nation.

"You can see the national balance. The four hours they take away from Havana is what the heroic city can enjoy, with the rest of the day in darkness," a Santiago resident remarked last December, alluding to the historic centralization of power in the capital.

In November, Havana's Electric Company announced that due to a generation deficit in the National Electric System (SEN), "emergency" supply cuts were necessary. Nevertheless, the figures continue to demonstrate a disparity many consider unjust.

The perception that Havana is favored is not new, but the worsening crisis has made this gap increasingly infuriating for millions of Cubans. The regime has downplayed capital blackouts for years for political and image reasons, aware that government headquarters, strategic institutions, and embassies are located there.

While the government maintains a vague discourse without openly acknowledging the imbalance in service distribution, the energy centralization has deepened the feeling of neglect in the country's interior.

The populace continues to pay the price for decades of mismanagement: in the countryside, in cities, in Havana, and throughout the nation. However, the power cuts starkly highlight the deep fissures in a model that has favored some while neglecting others. For millions of Cubans in the provinces, it’s not just about light or darkness; it's a reflection of a fragmented and unequal country, where energy justice remains, like so many other things, an unfulfilled promise.

A Reflection of Social Unrest and Fracture

The comment by the Cienfuegos resident, beyond the immediate controversy, underscores the growing social fracture and regional tensions fueled by years of centralism, scarcity, and accumulated frustration. For many, it's a painful reminder of the structural crisis' impact on relationships among citizens themselves.

As power outages, inflation, and the shortage of food and medicines affect all provinces equally, awareness is growing that the true culprit for these hardships is the political and economic system that has led the country to its current state—not the citizens of any particular region.

This episode has also allowed many Cubans to express their desire for unity, respect, and mutual solidarity, at a time when, according to comments, "we can no longer remain divided while the country collapses."