Cuban nun Sister Nadieska Almeida, who leads the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Cuba, voiced her concerns on Friday about the staged presentation in Bejucal orchestrated for President Miguel Díaz-Canel's visit to the city in Mayabeque province.
President Díaz-Canel visited the area on Thursday to oversee the reopening of the National Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, a facility originally inaugurated by Fidel Castro in 1990. In the guest book, Díaz-Canel noted that the reopening "is a commitment to continuity and the ongoing defense of social justice."
However, Sister Nadieska saw not an achievement, but an illusion. "Since before yesterday, in my beloved city of Bejucal, many of us were surprised to have electricity for more than 24 hours, all because of the president's visit to reopen a center that already existed," she remarked.
"In preparation for this visit, streets were repaired, weeds were cleared, trash was collected, and buildings were painted... all the deceit we use to mask the reality we live in," wrote the nun, sharing her thoughts on Father Alberto Reyes' Facebook profile.
The gravity of her complaint is underscored when juxtaposing it with the daily hardships she describes. Sister Nadieska highlights that some neighborhoods in Bejucal have gone over 40 days without power due to transformer failures and the lack of replacements. This crisis is not isolated: communities across the nation report power outages lasting from 16 to 20 hours, with some areas facing weeks without electricity due to local breakdowns.
Beyond the blackouts, other shortages further compound their struggles. "Workers cannot withdraw their full salaries from the bank due to a cash shortage, experiencing the humiliating ordeal of receiving only a portion each month; when they are paid in low-denomination bills, many businesses refuse them," she explained. She also pointed out that retirees endure endless lines to collect their pensions, and entire families face hunger.
Compounding these issues, Bejucal's Rosa Elena Simeón Negrín Comprehensive Teaching Polyclinic was reported to have overflowing hazardous waste containers, as highlighted on Facebook by Pedro Luis González Acevedo, who shared a photo of two Ministry of Public Health (Minsap) containers brimming with garbage.
In the educational sector, Sister Nadieska observed that "our children, adolescents, and young people waste precious time due to a lack of teachers, leading to widespread ignorance from an early age." Her assertion is backed by data: the 2026-2027 school year began with over 20,000 teaching positions unfilled, and teachers typically earn less than 12 dollars a month at the informal exchange rate.
Faced with this stark contrast, Sister Nadieska posed a question encapsulating her entire critique: "In these more than 24 hours, the municipal and provincial governments have shown that you can achieve what you want when you decide to do so. So, can you, or can't you?" She foretold the aftermath once the official party departs: "The worst part is that once the visit concludes, we'll return to darkness and continue facing the same issues."
This statement adds to her history of public criticism. In June, Sister Nadieska condemned the Cuban government's package of 176 economic measures; in August, she spoke of her "dreams of a Cuba free from dictatorship," and in September, she described the "falling hands syndrome" that, in her opinion, has gripped a population exhausted by scarcity.
The text ends with an appeal for dialogue and a declaration of faith: "I hope the government allows itself to hear the truth, to listen to those who suffer [...] I remain confident; God is greater than all the governments on earth, and I trust in Him. I know His providence for this people rises before the sun and will continue to uphold and care for us until we become true artisans of our freedom."
Understanding Sister Nadieska Almeida's Critique
What did Sister Nadieska Almeida criticize about the president's visit to Bejucal?
Sister Nadieska criticized the superficial preparations made for President Díaz-Canel's visit, such as temporary electricity supply and cosmetic city cleanups, which she viewed as deceitful attempts to mask the ongoing struggles faced by residents.
How does Sister Nadieska describe the everyday challenges in Bejucal?
She describes severe power outages, banking issues, and hunger, alongside educational shortcomings, highlighting the long-term struggles that residents face in the absence of meaningful governmental intervention.