Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz declared on Saturday that the recent initiatives to tackle waste collection in Havana represent "a turning point," despite the fact that over half of the city's local councils continue to grapple with garbage accumulation on their streets. According to a report by state-run Televisión Cubana, these remarks were made during a meeting led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, attended by high-ranking government and Communist Party officials. The gathering aimed to assess the outcomes of a week-long intervention addressing long-standing issues such as waste and water supply in the capital.
The figures discussed during the meeting revealed that only 52 out of Havana's 106 local councils have been successfully cleared of garbage. Areas such as Diez de Octubre, Marianao, Habana del Este, and La Lisa remain severely affected despite ongoing operations and official appeals. Compounding these challenges is the persistent water crisis in districts like Arroyo Naranjo, San Miguel del Padrón, and Boyeros, where thousands of residents continue to await solutions.
Calls for Community Involvement
Marrero emphasized the importance of maintaining cleanliness in workplaces and their surroundings, urging community members to actively participate in sanitation efforts. However, he did not address the underlying causes contributing to the dire situation, nor did he provide explanations for the chronic lack of resources, inefficiency of municipal services, or the years-long garbage buildup in many areas of the city.
A New Phase of Effort
Marrero proposed the beginning of a new phase focused on reclaiming lost ground and advancing towards sustainable services. Yet, as citizens express on social media and even the regime acknowledges, achieving sustainability remains an old and unresolved challenge. Meanwhile, Roberto Morales Ojeda, the organizational secretary of the PCC Central Committee, admitted to ongoing deficiencies but chose to commend the efforts of party and government cadres, highlighting the clearance of areas burdened with years of accumulated waste.
The official rhetoric once again leaned on calls for discipline, control, and popular mobilization, avoiding institutional accountability for the declining services and severe hygiene and epidemiological crisis facing the city. Citizen dissatisfaction continues to mount, fueled by the perception that solutions rely on "exceptional moments" rather than efficient and consistent public management.
Simultaneously, the appalling sanitary conditions have contributed to a rise in arboviral diseases, which, although the regime denies it, have already claimed lives.
Understanding Havana's Waste Management Challenges
What areas in Havana are most affected by waste accumulation?
The municipalities of Diez de Octubre, Marianao, Habana del Este, and La Lisa are among the most affected by waste accumulation in Havana.
What are the proposed solutions for Havana's waste management issues?
The Cuban government, led by Manuel Marrero, suggests a new phase focused on improving and maintaining clean environments, urging community involvement and aiming for sustainable service management.
How has the waste management crisis affected public health in Havana?
The poor sanitary conditions have led to a rise in arboviral diseases, which have resulted in fatalities, despite official denials of the severity of the situation.