Raúl Rodríguez, a Cuban sports journalist, recently shared on social media a poignant commentary on the stark contradictions present in modern-day Havana. Using a series of photographs, Rodríguez, a seasoned and prominent radio broadcaster, juxtaposed the lavish hotels erected by the regime against the everyday scenes of overflowing garbage littering Havana's street corners.
"The Two Havanas: One is admirable, barely maintained, and occasionally spruced up to endure; the other is suffering, in desperate need of attention," he wrote, describing what he calls "scenes from any given day in the sweltering August of 2025." He explained that some images were taken from a bus intended for tourists, while others highlight the visible decay in the depths of Havana's 15 municipalities.
Painful Contrast
Rodríguez's post underscores the duality of a city where the regime pours millions into hotel infrastructure while its citizens contend with trash accumulation, lack of basic services, power outages, and a life steeped in deprivation. His visual testimony adds to the increasing number of reports on social media, where Cubans document the deterioration of entire neighborhoods under a government that continues to broadcast a narrative of "achievements" abroad, while the internal reality reveals a landscape of neglect and shortages.
Havana: A Mirror of Present-Day Cuba
Poverty in Cuba is evident at every corner. Families manage to survive with the bare minimum amid blackouts, food shortages, and salaries that fall short of covering even basic needs. The population is trapped in an unending crisis, exacerbated by inflation and the mass exodus of young people fleeing the misery in search of a dignified future abroad.
Once a source of pride, Havana's architecture, like that of several Cuban cities, now lies in ruins. Colonial buildings and 20th-century structures are crumbling due to lack of maintenance, leaving numerous families homeless. Collapses have become a common occurrence, while the regime offers few real solutions and blames the "blockade" for its own neglect and mismanagement.
Ironically, the communist government invests millions in building and promoting luxury hotels for foreign tourists, while hospitals lack medicine, medical equipment is outdated, and patients must supply their own syringes and antibiotics to receive care. This contradiction highlights the regime's priority: to attract foreign currency to sustain its power, even as the Cuban people remain entrenched in deep-seated hardship.
Understanding the Realities of Havana's Contrasting Worlds
What are the main issues faced by Havana's residents?
Havana's residents grapple with overflowing garbage, lack of basic services, frequent power outages, food shortages, and inadequate salaries that fail to meet basic needs.
How does the Cuban regime prioritize its investments?
The Cuban regime prioritizes investments in constructing luxury hotels to attract foreign tourists, aiming to generate foreign currency, while neglecting essential services and infrastructure for the local population.
What impact does inflation have on the Cuban population?
Inflation exacerbates the economic struggles of the Cuban population, making it increasingly difficult for families to afford basic necessities and contributing to the ongoing crisis.