Cuban broadcaster and presenter Laritza Camacho has once again shone a spotlight on the severe and long-standing waste management crisis plaguing Cuba. In a recent Facebook post, she delves into how the issue extends beyond mere aesthetics, impacting public health, the economy, and the nation's infrastructure deterioration.
Through a lengthy, reflective, and deeply ironic post, Camacho contrasts the eco-friendly recycling solutions adopted worldwide with the unhygienic conditions on Cuban streets. According to her, these streets are burdened with "piles of trash," while the government fails to offer an effective response or allow private entrepreneurs to present sustainable solutions. "Cuba could indeed be a top exporter of waste... because, admittedly, we have trash to spare. However, perhaps there's no money to process it, and clearly, no awareness," she remarked.
Health Hazards and a Lack of Medicine: A Deadly Mix
Beyond the visual and environmental impact, the broadcaster highlighted the health risks stemming from the current scenario. Cuba is currently facing its most severe public health crisis in decades, characterized by medication shortages, a lack of specialized personnel, and deteriorating infrastructure.
Camacho enumerated the immediate consequences of neglected and polluted urban environments as “stench and rats, hepatitis, and viruses from decomposing organic matter.” Her post also includes a call to action with concrete proposals: establish waste-collecting SMEs, set up basic sorting systems, implement community composters, and turn waste into job opportunities. “That mixed garbage generates neither income, nor civic awareness, nor happiness,” she lamented.
Direct Critique of Official Rhetoric
In her characteristically straightforward style, Laritza Camacho used irony to critique the use of political propaganda in the face of everyday problems. “The bales wouldn’t need to say 'Homeland or Death'... every piece of trash collected prevents deaths, diseases, and pests... hence, they are good for the homeland,” she asserted. She even suggested a slogan, admitting she wouldn’t mind if it genuinely solved the issue: “Trash against the blockade!”
Camacho is no stranger to such denunciations. She has previously addressed sensitive topics on social media like scarcity, bureaucracy, and abandoned public services, all from a citizen’s perspective that blends humor, critique, and proposals.
“Calling All, Regardless of Beliefs”
Her post concludes with an urgent plea to authorities and society to stop ignoring a problem that has been unresolved for decades: “To those who own the streets, I say it is URGENT (...) lest we start arguing over the trash... which, at least in Cuba, is more than enough.”
In a time where resources are scarce and neglect mounts at every corner, Laritza Camacho’s message echoes the obvious: waste is no longer just refuse; it is a symptom.
Insight into Cuba's Waste Management Crisis
How is the waste issue in Cuba affecting public health?
The waste problem in Cuba poses significant health risks, including the spread of diseases like hepatitis and other viruses due to decomposing organic matter, as well as infestations of rats and other pests in urban areas.
What solutions does Laritza Camacho propose for Cuba's waste crisis?
Camacho suggests establishing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for waste collection, implementing basic sorting systems, creating community composters, and transforming waste into job opportunities as practical solutions to the crisis.