The official newspaper ¡Ahora!, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party in Holguín, voiced criticism on Saturday towards several state entities in the province for systematically failing to fulfill their legal obligations to respond to both journalists and citizens.
This acknowledgment is particularly noteworthy as it emerges from the official media apparatus itself, rather than from independent outlets or opposition groups.
Systematic Negligence and Lack of Accountability
The article argues that "the issue isn't the absence of regulations, but rather the consistent disregard for those regulations, with no accountability enforced."
Among the entities repeatedly highlighted in the "Aquí" section are the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (Inder), the Water Supply and Sewerage services, the Commerce, Transit, Roads, and Communal systems.
Additional agencies with pending requests include the Directorate of Labor and Social Security, Railways, the Cultural Complex Plaza de la Marqueta, Finance and Pricing, the Directorate of Video Halls, health services in Gibara and Holguín, the National Institute of Territorial Planning and Urban Development (Inotu), and Housing.
Concrete Examples of Institutional Silence
The newspaper provides specific cases illustrating the extent of this institutional silence. In 2025, Yuliana Rosabal Castillo from Nuevo Llano, Holguín, reported a septic tank overflow onto public roads, paid 280 pesos for the service, but received neither a solution nor a response.
Similarly, residents were left without explanations for months after inquiring about the interruption of a flashing light atop Loma de la Cruz.
Legal Framework and Institutional Practices
This issue persists despite Cuban legal frameworks establishing specific deadlines and obligations. Social Communication Law 162/2023 mandates that public officials manage communication "promptly, opportunely, transparently, and truthfully."
The Transparency and Public Information Access Law 168/2024, effective since July, sets a 15-working-day deadline for addressing requests.
Additionally, the Complaints and Petitions System Law 167/2023, effective since March 2025, stipulates a 30-day deadline for responding to citizen complaints.
These laws, cited by ¡Ahora!, leave little room to justify an institution's decision to simply not respond.
Silence as a Management Tool
Despite the legal framework, the weekly describes this practice as widespread. According to the article, "entities, shielded by the lack of effective control mechanisms, have turned silence into a management tool."
Faustino Fonseca, president of the Institute of Information and Social Communication in Holguín, acknowledged that the legislation permits media to take legal action against those hindering information access, though no concrete measures against the mentioned entities were announced.
Meanwhile, Germán Veloz Placencia, president of the Union of Journalists in the province, stated that any information not classified as national security can be legally published.
This denunciation exposes a difficult-to-ignore contradiction within the institutional discourse. Despite having recent laws promising transparency, information access, and attention to complaints, an official publication admits that numerous entities consistently fail to meet these obligations without repercussions.
Deep-Seated Issues in State-Run Media
In light of the profound credibility crisis of Cuban state media, official journalist Abdiel Bermúdez admitted in July that it has "a huge debt with the country's everyday history." Additionally, in March, actor Luis Alberto García criticized the media's silence regarding social protests.
None of these self-critiques, however, address the root of the problem: the Communist Party's absolute control over what is published and what remains silent, further reinforced by Decree 160, which prohibits journalism outside the state apparatus.
Cuba ranks 160th out of 180 countries in the 2026 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, marking the second-worst position in the Americas.
Understanding Institutional Silence in Cuba
Why is the acknowledgment by ¡Ahora! significant?
The acknowledgment is significant because it comes from the official media itself, highlighting systemic issues within the state entities, which is unusual for government-controlled outlets.
What laws are mentioned regarding transparency and communication?
Laws mentioned include Social Communication Law 162/2023, Transparency and Public Information Access Law 168/2024, and Complaints and Petitions System Law 167/2023, each outlining specific obligations for state entities to respond to public inquiries.
What is the implication of Decree 160?
Decree 160 prohibits journalism outside the state apparatus, ensuring the Communist Party's control over media narratives and limiting the scope for independent journalism in Cuba.