Cuba’s Fuel Crisis Cancels May 1 Celebrations in Havana
Cuba Postpones May 1 Labor and Solidarity Day Activities
Due to the ongoing fuel crisis and bad weather conditions in the country, the commemoration events for “May 1 Labor and Solidarity Day” have been postponed in Cuba. The Cuban Central Union Employees’ Union announced that the events have been postponed until Friday, May 5, due to heavy rains. It was stated that concerts and fair events will be held as the weather allows and that May 5 will be declared a “business holiday” to celebrate this occasion.
Opposition media claimed that the reason for the postponement was not only the bad weather conditions but also due to fuel shortages and economic difficulties. In many universities in Cuba, face-to-face classes have been suspended, fuel sales are only made with ration cards, and public vehicles carrying passengers have been given priority.
May 1 events held in Revolution Square every year since the 1959 Revolution, with exceptions, were canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, hundreds of people took to the streets in Cuba on July 13, 2021, protesting the worsening economic conditions and fuel shortages.
Although the commemoration events for “May 1 Labor and Solidarity Day” have been postponed, the Cuban government assures that they will proceed with the events as soon as the weather conditions improve.
