This week, a Facebook page called Preserving Heritage brought attention to a 72-year-old woman who, after waiting between three to five hours to collect her pension at the bank branch on Los Maceos Street in Guantánamo, resorted to using the ruins of an old stable due to the lack of nearby public restrooms.
According to their post made on Monday, the elderly woman left home before dawn and stood under the scorching sun alongside other seniors, men, and women who face the same predicament.
The publication criticized the fact that such a basic physiological need must be addressed in abandoned spaces, pointing out that the real issue lies in the city's inadequate infrastructure.
Residents commented on the post, highlighting other locations where people are forced to relieve themselves in corners, such as the walls of the Plaza 11 de Abril, various spots in Antonio Maceo Park, La Guantanamera Park, and the surroundings of the Santa Catalina de Ricci Cathedral.
Regarding Plaza 11 de Abril, a user expressed outrage over the persistent foul odor affecting such a prominent site for visitors.
Wider Implications for Guantánamo
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that Guantánamo also receives daily visitors from the municipalities of Manuel Tames, Yateras, San Antonio del Sur, Imías, and Maisí. These individuals travel to the provincial capital for banking transactions, buying medications, or attending hospitals, often waiting for hours in lines without any sanitary facilities nearby.
The province is home to approximately 68,000 retirees who rely on an inefficient banking system that extends wait times to several hours or even days.
Compounded Challenges
This issue is compounded by the fact that some areas endure water shortages for up to 25 days and power outages exceeding 20 hours daily, further complicating the operation of any sanitary services.
Comments also reflected skepticism about a potential solution. A local resident questioned the feasibility of having public restrooms when even hospital facilities are in deplorable conditions and there are consistent water supply issues.
Another citizen linked the lack of restroom facilities to broader shortages of electricity, medicine, food, and cash that the population faces.
A Nationwide Problem
The absence of public restrooms is not unique to Guantánamo. In 2020, Santiago de Cuba acknowledged having only two public restrooms for a city with nearly half a million residents.
In Nueva Gerona, Isla de la Juventud, a report from 2025 highlighted the poor conditions of the sole available restroom on the boulevard, which remained unlit and closed at night.
In light of this, Preserving Heritage proposed establishing a network of "Friendly Sanitary Points" by utilizing restrooms in cafés, restaurants, rental homes, and other private businesses.
Proposed Solutions
The proposal suggests forming agreements with the Municipal Government, offering tax incentives, and providing official signage to identify businesses that allow access to their sanitary facilities.
The initiative also includes creating a physical and digital map of available locations and suggests launching a pilot project around Los Maceos, markets, the Bus Terminal, and José Martí Park. Citizens supported the proposal and urged it to be presented to municipal authorities.
"Public restrooms are not a luxury. They are urban infrastructure. They are public health. They are accessibility. They are equity. Above all, they are a fundamental matter of human dignity," concluded the text, which several citizens requested be forwarded to municipal authorities.
Addressing Sanitation Challenges in Guantánamo
Why is the lack of public restrooms a significant issue in Guantánamo?
The absence of public restrooms forces residents and visitors to use abandoned places to fulfill basic needs, highlighting the city's inadequate infrastructure and impacting public health and dignity.
What factors contribute to the restroom shortage in Guantánamo?
Contributing factors include a high number of daily visitors from surrounding municipalities, inefficient banking systems, frequent water shortages, and extended power outages, all of which hinder the establishment and maintenance of sanitary facilities.
What solutions have been proposed to address this issue?
The proposal includes creating a network of "Friendly Sanitary Points" by partnering with private businesses and providing incentives and official signage, alongside launching a pilot project in key areas of the city.