Cuba Unveils Ministry of Blackouts to Formally Schedule the Darkness
With fuel too scarce to keep the lights on, officials say they can at least keep the outages punctual.
Unable to secure enough fuel to prevent further blackouts, Cuba's government has announced the creation of a new Ministry of Blackouts, tasked not with restoring power but with organizing its absence into an orderly national program.
The ministry's first initiative is a color-coded calendar assigning each neighborhood a designated hour of darkness, complete with a countdown clock so residents can watch the lights go out together rather than be surprised by it.
"We cannot promise electricity, but we can promise punctuality," said a ministry spokesperson, before excusing themselves to attend a meeting about whether the countdown clock itself should be included in the blackout schedule.
Officials say the program will eventually expand to include commemorative moments of silence, synchronized candle-lighting ceremonies, and an annual parade celebrating the neighborhood that has gone the longest without power.
Critics have asked why the fuel shortages cannot simply be addressed directly. The ministry says it has scheduled a meeting to discuss forming a committee to consider the question.