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Cuban Cemetery in Disrepair: State Media Unveils Startling Images

Wednesday, July 2, 2025 by Sophia Martinez

Cuban Cemetery in Disrepair: State Media Unveils Startling Images
San Rafael Cemetery in the city of Colón, Matanzas - Image by © Facebook/Periódico Girón

The San Rafael Cemetery in Colón, Matanzas, starkly illustrates the neglect plaguing cemeteries across Cuba. This revelation comes from a report by state media featuring shocking images and accounts from frustrated workers and residents. Originally constructed in the 1920s, this burial ground should serve as a peaceful resting place. However, it now displays a distressing scene of open ossuaries, exposed bones, destroyed chapels, and a severely unsanitary environment. These conditions are vividly captured in images shared on Facebook by the newspaper Periódico Girón, which also published the full report on their website.

In the report, former gravedigger Jesús Agustín Fleites Martínez shared that exhumations in his time were conducted with gloves, alcohol, and ossuaries provided by the company. Today, however, gravediggers lack basic protective gear, and ossuaries must be purchased at exorbitant prices. Luis Alberto Fernández González, the current administrator, admitted to staff shortages—only 14 out of 19 positions are filled—and the difficulty of maintaining the cemetery on a monthly salary of 2,600 pesos.

Hygiene inspector Gladys Rodríguez Reyes confirmed that the cemetery fails to meet health standards. It lacks facilities for staff hygiene, tools are in disrepair, and the absence of fencing allows easy access for animals and unauthorized individuals, worsening the situation. The accumulation of trash and the spread of mosquitoes transform the cemetery into a public health hazard.

The report includes accounts from families who condemn the looting of vaults and the dilapidation of mausoleums. Among them, Ana describes the cemetery's condition as “heartbreaking,” and Sergio revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, parts of a newly built communal vault for the disease's victims were stolen.

Despite promises to fix the perimeter fence and cremation area, issues remain unresolved after years of neglect. Interviewed citizens suggest volunteer work and educational campaigns to highlight the site's heritage value, while calling on the Necrological Services company and the local government to fulfill their responsibilities in maintaining the cemetery's dignity.

Deplorable Conditions of Cemeteries

In February 2025, attention was drawn to the dire state of the Guantánamo cemetery after a video surfaced showing open graves, rampant overgrowth, and a strong stench. Last December, reports emerged of an unusual and appalling scenario at the Felton cemetery in Holguín, where a fallen tree lay across several graves, with local authorities yet to take action to remove it.

Understanding the Neglect of Cuban Cemeteries

What are the main issues facing the San Rafael Cemetery in Colón?

The San Rafael Cemetery is plagued by open ossuaries, exposed bones, destroyed chapels, and unsanitary conditions. There is also a lack of basic protective gear for gravediggers and insufficient staff.

How have local authorities responded to the cemetery's condition?

Despite promises to address issues such as the perimeter fence and cremation area, local authorities have yet to resolve these problems, leaving the cemetery in a state of neglect.

What health hazards are associated with the current state of the cemetery?

The cemetery poses public health risks due to the accumulation of trash, proliferation of mosquitoes, and lack of proper sanitation facilities.

What solutions have been proposed by the local community?

Community members suggest organizing volunteer efforts and educational campaigns to emphasize the cemetery's cultural importance and urge authorities to take responsibility for its upkeep.

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