Cuban students protest the state of university education during the energy crisis

Описание: (9 Mar 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Havana, Cuba - 09 March 2026
1. Students protesting, sitting on the steps of University of Havana speaking with with professors UPSOUND (Spanish) no name given, students:
Woman, student: "It's working slowly. It's not working."
Man, student: "You should be sitting here with us, come sit with us."
2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Marian Hernández, Vice President at University of Havana:
"There are some things we can solve. We have some authority, but we can't give you a solution. However, in the case of the University of Havana, we have offered—through the various faculties—to address any type of issue because, at least based on what we have received, the primary intention is to satisfy academic needs."
3. Students protesting UPSOUND (Spanish) Woman, student:
"This sit-in, I’m afraid, is almost a last resort."
4. First Deputy Minister of Higher Education Modesto Ricardo Gómez, speaking to media
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Modesto Ricardo Gómez, First Deputy Minister of Higher Education:
“We are facing a completely unfavorable situation in the country from the standpoint of the material and financial resources needed to sustain the processes here. One of those is precisely education, and specifically, higher education. Today we have been tremendously affected by the criminal and genocidal blockade of the United States government.”
6. Various of people waiting for public transportation
7. Students protesting UPSOUND (Spanish) Woman, student:
"We aren’t martyrs for any side; we are university students. So, none of us intended to be here. but there has been no other way."
STORYLINE:
An impromptu sit-in protest at the steps of Havana University on Monday drew a few students concerned about their education amid an energy crisis that has reduced classes and is paralyzing the country.

The fuel blockade imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in January is affecting all aspects of life in the country.

Power outages and transportation shutdowns have forced the university to reduce the number of classes or hold them online, though many students are also struggling with slow and unreliable Internet.

Under umbrellas to protect from the scorching sun, the students insisted they just wanted to talk and refused to move.

"This sit-in, I’m afraid, is almost a last resort. None of us, to be honest, wanted to wake up early in the dark, fix a pot of coffee, and sit here under the sun. We aren’t martyrs for any side; we are university students. So, none of us intended to be here, but there has been no other way," said one of the students who didn’t want to be identified by name.

First Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Modesto Ricardo Gómez, stepped out to speak to the students.

He acknowledged the financial difficulties affecting higher education made worse by the current crisis.

“Today we have been tremendously affected by the criminal and genocidal blockade of the United States government, which, without a thought for the people or our youth, is truly massacring an entire society,” said Gómez.

On the main streets of Havana, many people had to walk to work or go shopping. Gasoline is rationed to 20 liters per car, and getting a fill-up involves an elaborate appointment process that can take weeks.

During a summit in Florida with other Latin American and Caribbean conservatives over the weekend, President Trump said the U.S. will turn its attention to Cuba after the war with Iran.


“Great change will soon be coming to Cuba,” he said, adding that “they’re very much at the end of the line.”















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