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Why is Havana Always the Priority? Public Outcry Forces Regime to Distribute Minibuses Across Provinces

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 by Emily Vargas

In response to widespread backlash over the decision to allocate 100 new minibuses solely to Havana, Cuba's Ministry of Transport has been compelled to reconsider its initial plan. Recently, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, head of the ministry, announced via Facebook that the initial distribution strategy would be altered following significant public complaints. He revealed that only half of these vehicles would now remain in the capital.

Rodríguez Dávila emphasized that the rest of the minibuses would be dispatched to other provinces with higher urban traffic demands. According to the revised plan, 50 minibuses will stay in Havana, while Santiago de Cuba will receive 20, Holguín 10, Camagüey 10, Villa Clara 5, and Ciego de Ávila 5. This decision attempts to rationalize the initial focus on Havana by highlighting that the city accounts for about 50% of the nation's urban traffic.

Nonetheless, this shift underscores the social pressure from citizens weary of the centralization and unequal distribution of public resources. Another common grievance has been that provinces receive deteriorated vehicles that have already served their time in Havana. This time, it involved 67 non-operational "gacela" minibuses. Although the minister refuted claims of a discriminatory policy, he admitted this approach is a matter of "making do with what we have" amid resource scarcity.

Provinces Left with Outdated Vehicles

Rodríguez Dávila also praised the inventive spirit of provincial innovators, suggesting they could breathe new life into these used vehicles under less demanding conditions. Criticisms have also targeted the poor current state of the "gacela" service in the capital, citing irregular schedules, route deviations, poor maintenance, and unrealistic fares that drivers offset with unregulated nighttime services.

The ministry itself acknowledged that the service has been a source of complaints and disciplinary actions, promising to establish a task force to explore potential improvements. However, they cautioned that the system would remain unchanged for the time being.

Challenges Facing New Minibuses

The new minibuses are set to operate during the day on routes different from the current ones, connecting high-traffic areas like hospitals and transit hubs. They will charge a fixed fare of 20 pesos per segment, refrain from offering nighttime service, and start their routes with empty vehicles. Maintenance will be managed by the provider's workshop network, with funding from the Public Transport Development Fund.

Despite this partial redesign, the Ministry clarified that not all provinces would receive minibuses due to the necessity of having at least five vehicles per route to ensure service viability. Consequently, many regions will continue awaiting resolutions as the administration seeks to quell public dissatisfaction with measures that appear more reactionary than strategic.

Transportation Crisis Reaches Boiling Point

Havana's public transportation crisis has become critical, with numerous routes halted, vehicles out of service, and a populace increasingly exasperated by the lack of concrete solutions. The collapse of the "gacelas," which have vanished from several city areas due to fuel shortages, has left entire communities without mobility options.

The Ministry of Transport has attempted to project control over the situation, yet its messages have been contradictory. While issuing public warnings to private drivers for allegedly violating regulations, it fails to provide effective solutions to ensure the stability and functionality of the state-run system. Further complicating matters, energy shortages have impaired the operation of alternative transportation like electric tricycles, rendering these solutions unsustainable long-term.

Official statistics offer little comfort, showing a steep decline in transportation capacity, with millions fewer trips and a vehicle fleet diminished to a barely functional level.

Key Questions About Cuba's Transportation Struggles

Why were only half of the new minibuses allocated to Havana?

Initially, all 100 minibuses were planned for Havana, but public outcry over centralization led to a revised plan where only 50 remain in the capital to address its significant urban traffic, while the rest are distributed to other provinces.

What are the complaints about the current "gacela" services in Havana?

Complaints include irregular schedules, route deviations, poor maintenance, and unrealistic fares, forcing drivers to offer unregulated nighttime services to compensate.

What challenges do new minibuses face in operation?

The new minibuses have a fixed fare, operate only during the day, and require a minimum of five vehicles per route. Maintenance is managed by the provider's workshop network.

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