Last May, Cuba was shaken by a wave of protests and citizen complaints, registering a total of 716 demonstrations, according to reports from the Cuban Conflict Observatory (OCC).
This number represents an increase of 11.6% compared to the 633 registered in April, and a 10.2% compared to those registered in Marcha month in which massive demonstrations took place in different parts of the national territory, known as 17M.
The constant electrical blackouts, with cuts of up to 20 hours, were the main catalyst for these protests, which materialized in banging pots and pans, graffiti, “plantings” and a barrage of complaints on social networks and the media.
The Public Services category dominated the protests, accumulating 169 events, driven by the energy crisis. Daily deficits in electricity generation reached up to 1,500 megawatts, seriously affecting the daily lives of Cubans. In contrast, protests for Repressive Acts totaled 145, while Challenges to the Police State reached 132.
Although Havana, with its 233 protests, was the epicenter of the demonstrations, discontent spread throughout the island.
Temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius and the lack of electricity for entire days led the population to take to the streets in search of answers.
In Santiago de Cuba, for example, ‘protest congas’ were recorded in five different neighborhoods, while in Baracoa (Guantánamo) people demanded electricity and food in street demonstrations.
Discontent over the blackouts also manifested itself in various forms of protests in other locations.
In Las Tunas and La Lisa (Havana) banging pots and pans were heard during the power outages, and in Juraguá (Cienfuegos) and Camino de La Habana (Sancti Spíritus), the population also mobilized.
Social networks became a battlefield where citizens expressed their frustration and demanded immediate solutions.
To contain the popular effervescence, the regime intensified repression. 145 repressive acts were reported, which included intimidating deployments of the police and special forces known as Black Berets of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT).
These actions sought to dissuade the population from continuing with the demonstrations, although they did not manage to calm the citizens’ spirits.
The food crisis and citizen insecurity
The Food, Inflation and Agriculture category registered 94 protests, reflecting the serious food situation in the country.
Deliveries of the basic basket were limited to a few pounds of rice and legumes, while the prices of essential products such as oil, bread and eggs continued to rise.
Entire families were forced to spend more than 70% of their income on food, leading some to resort to extreme practices to survive, such as scavenging for scraps or even hunting stray animals.
Although the Citizen Insecurity category remained stable with 82 protests, the OCC recorded 16 murders and homicides during the month, including femicides and acts of violence motivated by robberies or settling scores.
Reports of missing persons and robberies were also recurrent, exacerbating the feeling of insecurity in the population.
Public health, epidemiological situation and other social conflicts
Public Health protests continued, with patients increasingly reliant on social media, public charity and the informal market for medical care.
The situation in hospitals is deplorable, with recent outbreaks of diseases such as tuberculosis and Oropouche fever worsening the health crisis.
The OCC also recorded 48 protests related to other social conflicts, including the loneliness of mothers whose children have emigrated, neglect in nursing homes and lenient sentences for pedophiles.
The living conditions of the most vulnerable Cubans continue to deteriorate, with many turning to precarious jobs to survive.
Given this panorama, the Catholic priest of Esmeralda, Alberto Reyes Piasexpressed in a post on May 24 that Cuba needs a change in the system.
According to Reyes Pías, it is not enough to solve the immediate problems of electrical supply or power; The country requires a profound transformation that allows citizens to regain ownership of their lives and the freedom to build their future.
In summary, the month of May in Cuba was marked by an intensification of social discontent, with a significant increase in protests and citizen complaints. The energy and food crisis, together with growing insecurity and the deplorable situation of public and health services, have led Cubans to demand profound changes in their country.
Note: This summary presents an overview of the situation in Cuba during the month of May, based on reports from the Cuban Conflict Observatory (OCC). The information reflects the severity of the crises faced by the population and the regime’s response to growing citizen demands.
