600 Street Sweepers Mobilized to Clean Up Havana for Its Anniversary

Havana's authorities have deployed 77 street sweeping brigades, comprising around 600 workers, as part of a special operation to clean up the capital in anticipation of its 506th anniversary on November 16.

This initiative was put forward during a meeting with Havana's leadership, led by Miguel Díaz-Canel along with Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa, and other officials.

The stated aim is to enhance the collection of urban solid waste and clean the main avenues, squares, and high-traffic areas amid a garbage crisis that has sparked strong public criticism.

During the meeting, it was highlighted that in the past week, 93,043 liters of fuel were used to transport 96,500 cubic meters of waste. This, according to the official report, indicates "greater efficiency" in resource use, reducing the consumption rate from 1.05 to 0.96 liters per cubic meter.

Initially, the new sweeping brigades will focus on the principal streets of the 15 municipalities, as well as important plazas and areas vital for social life and transit.

Efforts to restore the "iconic trade of street sweeping" include refurbishing their carts, improving wages, and ensuring meals, uniforms, protective gear, and cleaning tools, in a bid to "dignify" this work in the capital.

Concurrently, authorities noted it as "encouraging" that in some local communities, families are beginning to develop the habit of disposing of their garbage only when the collection truck arrives, though they warned that this practice relies on strict adherence to the collection schedule.

Díaz-Canel emphasized that service stability will only be achievable through consistent organization and strict route management, and he called for punctuality to gain the population's "understanding and sensitivity."

The report also included a section on tackling crime and social indiscipline at major landfills: it was reported that 1,159 fines, amounting to over 500,000 pesos, were issued, with arrests made for illegal raw material collection and charges for spreading epidemics, along with home searches and the demolition of makeshift shelters used for storing items extracted from garbage bins.

Additionally, updates on the rehabilitation of crematories in Santiago de las Vegas and Guanabacoa, the operation of equipment in Berroa, and repairs in 22 of the 24 funeral homes in the capital, as well as cleaning operations in 16 municipal cemeteries, were included in the improvement program for Necrological Services.

The deployment of the 600 street sweepers occurs amidst the so-called "Operation Clean-Up," led by soldiers, officers, and civilian workers of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) to "enhance" the capital's sanitary conditions, alongside the "Operation Bell," a pilot plan for nighttime garbage collection in areas with underground electrical services.

Nevertheless, structural resource shortages and accumulated inefficiencies have so far hindered a sustainable solution to Havana's urban waste problem.

While the official Granma newspaper claims the capital is moving toward a "smart and sustainable city model," residents counter with images of overflowing bins, littered streets and sidewalks, crumbling buildings, and chaotic transportation, starkly contrasting with official rhetoric.

Cubadebate's call for celebrating Havana's 506th anniversary triggered a deluge of critical and sarcastic comments, with many residents recalling that they live in a city where the government "cannot manage to collect the garbage, ensure even minimally efficient transport, or provide a simple paracetamol."

In the health sector, the official report states that the capital has seen a decrease in febrile cases and an increase in screenings, along with more anti-vector actions. The plan is for over 1,500 mosquito campaign operators to be activated, and for the number of fumigation "bazookas" to rise from about 450 to more than 750, aiming to cover over 82% of locales within two weeks.

However, the city's environmental situation—marked by micro-landfills and stagnant water—has facilitated the spread of vectors and diseases, making sanitation a particularly pressing issue for residents.

With Havana's 506th anniversary as a backdrop, the announcement of the 77 street sweeping brigades aims to convey the message that "results are achieved when there is demand and control."

Still, for many of Havana's residents, the real challenge will be seeing if this initiative extends beyond the symbolic date and whether the city's cleanliness ceases to be an emergency operation and becomes a stable, efficient service that meets the needs of a city that, despite its history and appeal, has long been plagued by a deep urban management crisis.