A video shared by the Facebook page "Holguín Memories" reveals the dire state of Calle Mariana de la Torre, which is now littered with garbage, debris, and waste piling up on the sidewalks. This citizen report highlights the ongoing decline of a city once praised as one of the cleanest in Cuba.
The video, tagged with the sardonic hashtag #ciudaddelosparques, has garnered over 51,000 views and sparked 122 outraged comments. Cubans took to social media to express their dismay, declaring, "Holguín is a total dump."
This footage is not an isolated incident but rather the latest indication of a worsening situation documented for months. Back in April, reports emerged of trash fires igniting nightly across various Holguín neighborhoods, releasing toxic smoke as plastics and organic waste are burned due to inconsistent collection services.
In May, the once-beloved children's park, Los Caballitos, was transformed into an unofficial dumpsite after its demolition, with no replacement plan in place. "Where is the government's action?" a local resident questioned in the comments.
On May 30, it was reported that Holguín's sewage system has been overflowing for over a year in several areas, with no resolution offered by authorities.
Then, on June 2, a viral video displayed the Holguín Sports Center in a state of neglect: overgrown weeds, toppled posts, missing fences, and pools filled with stagnant, foul water. The footage, viewed over 40,000 times, drew reactions like "it hurts to see it like this" from concerned Cubans.
Adding to the distress, authorities recently evicted small businesses and street vendors from the "Los Chinos" market, a site plagued for years by complaints of accumulated trash, sewage, and foul odors.
The collapse of Holguín is symptomatic of a broader national crisis. Across the country, garbage collection dropped to 24.9 million cubic meters in 2023, representing just 92% of the previous year's volume.
In Havana, daily waste generation exceeds 30,000 cubic meters, yet the city struggles with only about 10,000 containers, many in poor condition, and a vehicle fleet operating at just 40% to 57% capacity.
Cubans on social media reject official explanations blaming the U.S. embargo, instead pointing to the institutional neglect by the regime as the root cause of the disaster.
The issue is not new: complaints about dirty streets and vacant lots in Holguín date back to 2018, but by 2026, the situation has worsened, turning the historic "City of Parks" into a symbol of the breakdown of communal services in Cuba.
Understanding the Crisis in Holguín
What sparked the recent outcry about Holguín's condition?
A video showing Calle Mariana de la Torre covered in garbage and debris, shared on Facebook, highlighted the city's deteriorating condition, sparking widespread outrage among citizens.
How are the waste management issues affecting Holguín?
Inconsistent waste collection has led to nightly trash fires and the transformation of public spaces, like the former children's park Los Caballitos, into makeshift dumpsites.
What are the broader implications of the communal service breakdown in Cuba?
The situation in Holguín reflects a national crisis, with significant drops in garbage collection volumes and inadequate infrastructure in key cities like Havana, exacerbating the issue.