Residents Block Santiago de Cuba Street with Garbage in Protest

In Santiago de Cuba's Mariana de la Torre neighborhood, residents took matters into their own hands by completely blocking off Cristina Street with piles of garbage. This drastic measure was a protest against the failure of state services, including the communal waste management and the Electric Company, to address ongoing issues.

Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada reported on his Facebook page that the community resorted to this action after enduring several days with mountains of uncollected trash, which local authorities had neglected.

The situation reached a critical point when technicians from the Electric Company announced they were unable to restore power in the area due to the rubbish obstructing access to lines and transformers.

"Enough is enough," declared the residents, who used debris and containers to blockade the street, effectively stopping vehicle passage to compel a response from the authorities.

The road closure attracted the attention of law enforcement and local officials, though it remains unclear whether the Electric Company or waste management services have begun cleanup or repair efforts, according to the independent reporter.

This protest highlights the collapse of basic services in Santiago de Cuba and the desperation of citizens, who resort to direct action to demand fundamental rights like garbage collection and electricity supply.

Images and videos shared by Mayeta Labrada on social media reveal the residents' frustration, as they complain of unbearable odors, mosquitoes, and filth.

"This is not an isolated incident; it's the Cuban reality," the reporter noted.

In recent months, several neighborhoods in Santiago have faced health crises due to accumulating waste and a rise in vector-borne diseases such as those spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, amidst a severe economic and energy crisis causing widespread blackouts and shortages.