Blackouts Continue to Test Cubans
HAVANA TIMES – Although there hasn’t been a nationwide blackout in 2025 like those that occurred in the second half of 2024, daily power outages continue to define the chaotic situation in Cuba, with almost inhuman impacts—especially outside the capital.
Most parts of the country are without electricity for an average of 15 hours a day, a situation even worse than during the so-called Special Period (1990s crisis), when alternating eight-hour cycles were imposed.
This week, the government admitted that the problem is also affecting water supplies. State television reported that nearly three million people, about one-third of the island’s current population, were affected in recent days, with more than a quarter of them over 60 years old.
The crisis has sparked several large protests in the interior of the country, though none in Havana have yet been truly massive.
The capital has a far less aggressive blackout plan, usually not exceeding five hours without power, though it can happen more than once a day, including in the early morning.
However, last Tuesday saw a fairly significant revolt in Centro Habana, one of the city’s most densely populated municipalities.
According to official data, about 248,000 people in Havana lacked regular water supply because the power cuts disabled the pumping system—and all this amid reports of severe drought.
Experts estimate that the Cuban regime would need between 8 and 10 billion US dollars to overhaul the power grid—worn down by decades of use, lack of maintenance, and shortages of foreign currency to import essential materials—without even counting the fuel needed for daily operation.
In response, residents of Reina Street blocked traffic and built improvised barricades to demand immediate answers and concrete solutions from Miguel Díaz-Canel’s dictatorship.
The protesters shut down the busy avenue using empty buckets and other objects to denounce the lack of access to this basic service, which had been arriving only sporadically for about 15 days in thousands of homes in the area.
As usual, the protest ended with the arrival of police officers and two water trucks—known as pipas—to distribute water. Once again, it became clear that rebellion is the only thing that makes the authorities react to prevent bigger problems.
These crumbs continue to work, but the time has come to demand a complete change of regime—because that will be the only definitive solution, not just for this crisis, but for the numerous problems faced by ordinary Cubans.
This same month, protests have broken out in several provinces, many driven by the same lack of drinking water and prolonged blackouts—but they are quelled using the same formula.
Tourism decline continues
Meanwhile, Cuba continues to suffer from a decline in tourism—especially from Russia, which had come to the rescue after the pandemic and amid closer ties between the two countries that brought bilateral agreements, direct flights, and active promotion of Cuba as a Caribbean destination for Russian travelers.
Nevertheless, the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) reported that between January and July 2025, only 71,797 Russian tourists arrived, a 41.8% decrease compared to the same period last year, when there were 123,351.
Overall, between January and July 2025, Cuba received 1,123,987 international visitors—a 23.2% decline compared to the same period in 2024 (338,922 fewer tourists), with Russians accounting for the largest share of the drop.
Canada remains the leading market but also saw a 23.1% decrease, making it difficult to reach the projected goal of 2.6 million visitors this year.
Even specialists doubt whether Cuba will reach the 2.2 million visitors recorded in 2024—a figure already considered one of the worst in 17 years, excluding the Covid-19 pandemic years.
If the main engine of the Cuban economy doesn’t deliver as expected, it is logical to foresee a worsening of the overall situation, where citizens increasingly depend on money or goods sent by relatives abroad—mainly from the United States.
This is why the call circulating in Miami to stop sending remittances is gaining traction, urging people to cut off this lifeline because, one way or another, those dollars end up in the hands of the dictatorship, though people find countless unofficial ways to send money anyway.
It is the classic dilemma faced by Cuban emigrants for decades: help the family or cut off the regime. The government masks its role in remittance and package agencies, but everyone knows that in this country, you have no choice but to go through them, as the saying goes. You can send a few dollars to your family through third parties, but not food packages, power generators, or motorcycles, for example.
Thus, the resilience of the Cuban people is tested daily, suffocated by their harsh reality yet fearful of the regime’s fierce repression of any hint of a popular uprising, knowing that such an uprising is the only thing that could remove it from power.
Hungry people sweating in the dark will lose their fear of Cuban prisons.I
But can you imagine how awful Cuban prisons must be.
Enough is enough!! When will the Cuban population rise up and go to the streets en masse. All such dictatorships come to an abrupt end when the latter occurs.
Bribing the population with water trucks is not a solution.
Sick and tired of hearing the same old story from the US based Cubans. Change has to erupt within Cuba.
The pinchos have planes loaded with cash, the senile Raul Castro is still calling the shots. The rest of the squad are stealing everything and enriching themselves.
Old Cuban Generals who were in Angola have sacks of uncut diamonds under their beds but can’t do anything with them..
“Blood diamonds”…
The only reason Fidel assisted Angola…sacks of diamonds that he had successfully cut in Antwerp.
Come on Cuban people WAKE UP before you all die of starvation.
The USA has unwittingly supported the communist governments. It might not seem so, however, by allowing so many of the most capable Cubans to migrate they have left behind those that were and are less likely to protest and lead to government overthrow.
Look at the demographics, so many in Cuba now are seniors. Think, which portion of any population anywhere leads to government overthrow.
The outside world can assist but Cubans have to be willing to fight and either end up in jail or worse, if they want the regime to fall. The outside world isn’t going to do it for them.
To: Marilyn Coad
Your words, thoughts and presentation was very touching and moving.
Obviously, as I (also a senior), you too have travelled to this “Island Prison”, one would deduce, several times before.
Yes… The “Cuban People” are humble, kind and extremely considerate, without question !!
I believe it is said… If a person of “thirst” comes to your “door”, give them water. If they are “hungry”, give them food.
Their “F***ing Government” gives them neither… Nothing… Nada. Not even “Crumbs” !!
The Dilemma:
The general Cuban population carries within themselves, “Hope” each second, minute, and hour. Yet they currently have to live, Day after Day, with a “Hopeless Regime”.
Shame on these “Slave Master Pigs”… They are “Bastards and Devils” of the lowest of low forms… To call them “Disgusting” would be far too complimentary.
This article does call “it”, as “it” is, for sure !!
May the “waters” of the Caribbean Ocean “part soon”… So this magnificent population can “walk onwards” to the Promised Lands and a better life. The “time” is “NOW” !!
Toronto, Canada.
Stay united in putting pressure on that gang of thugs. More civilians than army, they don’t have the capacity to put whole population in jail.
Nothing will be changed in Cuba till this reckless regime changes
I am amazed at the honesty of this article. Never before have I read that the regime must be terminated for the survival of the Cuban people. No truer words have been said although everyone knows it but doesn’t voice it. It is human suffering! Inhumane especially with the very high temperatures this year and drought, not to have electricity to cook with or have a fan to cool you at night. Meanwhile the regime stores food and water. How arrogant to pull up with water trucks only when the people are at their wits end. Why couldn’t they have delivered it to the people before it came to that. To be denied the basics of food and water is a human crime and should be punishable. I would love to return to Cuba but as a senior I could not endure the lack of electricity, food and medical care, it’s too risky. It is difficult to deny money and care packages to family and friends in Cuba but I agree your only helping the regime.. They pay the people in pesos but sell food, supplies in the American dollar. The Cuban people are so beaten down, it is a shame because the people themselves are genuine but when they have nothing and see no hope your going to see a rise in crime. The Cuba I knew I was never fearful but now there are home invasions, stealing of animals, and desperate people. Until the corrupt regime is gone there is absolutely no hope for the people. They have not seen a spec of rice even though the Vietnamese are farming rice there. No rations anymore. Would someone tell them that ruling with an Iron Hand is outdated and so is submissiveness. God put us on this earth to be kind and help one another not to treat a human being as a prisoner without a voice. I pray one day soon things will change for the beautiful people in Cuba. Thanks for letting me share my opinion.