Overflowing Trash and Illness Plague Santa Marta, Just Steps from Varadero

In stark contrast to the tourist allure of Varadero, the nearby town of Santa Marta in Matanzas province is grappling with a severe waste management crisis and a surge in health issues. Despite the glaring severity of the situation, local authorities continue to turn a blind eye, shirking responsibility and action. This negligence has left Santa Marta's residents to endure worsening conditions, a problem highlighted by journalist Regla Bárbara Llorente Querol from Radio Varadero.

Llorente's recent social media post, which included photos and video evidence, sheds light on the dire circumstances in Santa Marta. The town, a critical hub for both Varadero locals and tourists, suffers from rampant garbage accumulation, with no effective interventions from relevant authorities. The journalist shared images capturing the appalling state of areas near Avenida Primera and highlighted the troubling conditions around the Policlínico Ramón Martínez and the local daycare center, both of which demand urgent attention.

Describing her firsthand observations, Llorente expressed shock at the extent of the problem, noting the frequent illnesses among her friends and their families. She criticized the widespread apathy, questioning how such negligence could persist without urgent resolution. Although she acknowledged challenges like limited fuel and resources, Llorente emphasized that the core issue stems from neglect and a failure by institutions to uphold their responsibilities.

The journalist also pointed to a lack of awareness and civic responsibility among residents as contributing factors to the trash problem. She highlighted the recurrence of large-scale dumps in numerous cities across Cuba and the rise in diseases like dengue, Zika, and hepatitis due to unsanitary conditions. Llorente warned of the high transmissibility of these illnesses and the critical shortage of essential medications, forcing Cubans to rely on an informal market that is expanding unchecked.

Llorente stressed the inadequacy of current measures and urged immediate, comprehensive action to prevent a public health crisis. She outlined some current efforts, such as inspections and community clean-ups, but argued that only a coordinated sanitation initiative involving specialists and proper equipment would suffice. She called on the government and agencies like ARENTUR to address the situation, emphasizing the need for more trash collectors, a glaring issue during her inspection.

The journalist's bold revelation prompted a wave of responses from Santa Marta and Cárdenas residents, who shared firsthand accounts and images of similar issues affecting their neighborhoods. A local worker lamented the decline of Santa Marta, citing long power outages and a lack of representation as contributing factors. Meanwhile, the community group Vecinos de Cárdenas echoed these concerns, highlighting the temporary nature of current solutions and the pervasive presence of trash.

Other testimonies bolstered Llorente's claims, describing Cárdenas as overwhelmed by garbage and illness. Former UPEC president Yirmara Torres Hernández supported Llorente's observations, noting that Santa Marta's plight mirrors that of many Cuban towns, where systemic neglect has become the norm.