Residents Protest Power Outages in Central Havana

By Dave Sherwood

HAVANA (Reuters) – Just three or four city blocks in Central Havana remained without electricity on Monday evening, creating an unusual protest amid the otherwise vibrant atmosphere of the Cuban capital.

The Protest

Near the intersection of Campanario and Salud streets, dozens of residents chanted "We want light!" while banging pots with metal spoons. Their frustration stemmed from four days without electricity after a significant collapse of Cuba's power grid on Friday.

Cuba's grid operator managed to restore power to much of Havana by nightfall on Monday, following a extensive grid failure that left 10 million people in the dark. By midday Tuesday, officials reported that about 90% of Havana had regained power, although blackouts are expected to persist.

Ongoing Issues

The island's oil-fired power plants, which are outdated, have faced a crisis this year due to diminishing oil imports from Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico.

Resident Marley Gonzalez expressed her despair, stating, "We've gone four days without electricity. Our food is going bad. Our kids are suffering. We don't have … water."

Long blackouts of 18 to 20 hours a day have become common in Cuba's provinces, where an unprecedented economic crisis has exacerbated shortages of food, water, fuel, and medicine.

The recent blackouts in Havana, previously limited, represent a significant change for the densely populated capital.

Voices of Frustration

During the protest, several individuals characterized the prolonged outages as the last straw amid numerous calamities.

Housewife Ramona Martinez, 37, highlighted her struggles with an insufficient monthly government stipend, stating, "It's not even enough for a bag of (powdered) milk."

Residents like Alcer Alfonso shared personal struggles during the event, pointing out the needs of their families.

With the vicinity around Campanario Street in disrepair—littered with trash and deep potholes—the residents’ patience was wearing thin.

Government Response

President Miguel Diaz-Canel addressed the public several days prior to the protest, urging citizens to express grievances with "discipline" while condemning any acts that could disrupt public peace.

Although the police were present, they did not confront the demonstrators. Resident Leyke Milay Puentes observed how neighboring areas were lit while hers remained dark, expressing frustration over the disparity.