Residents of the "Las Flores" Military District within the "El Caney" Council in Santiago de Cuba have reportedly set a garbage dump on fire in protest against the ongoing waste crisis in the city. The locals have repeatedly voiced their complaints to the Communal Services and other government bodies about the accumulation of trash in the area, but the problem remains unsolved, as reported by local journalist Yosmany Mayeta on Facebook.
"We informed them in time," a man can be heard saying in a video of one of the burning dumpsters posted by Mayeta. According to his report, the fire came dangerously close to nearby homes, although no structural damage was reported. Firefighters arrived quickly and managed to extinguish the flames before they could spread.
Due to the lack of government and Communal Services solutions, some residents have resorted to setting trash piles ablaze: "This is the only way to get the firefighters here, and then they clean up the garbage," commented those affected. Residents warn that the garbage piles grow daily, and the company responsible for waste management seems to ignore the citizens' complaints, prompting them to take matters into their own hands.
Two days ago, similar incidents of garbage fires were also reported in Santiago de Cuba as a form of protest. The waste crisis is not limited to Santiago; other Cuban cities are also affected. Recently, a garbage fire was reported in the Mantilla neighborhood of Havana.
A recent study indicates that the government fails to collect the equivalent of three Olympic-sized swimming pools of trash each day in Havana, creating an environment conducive to the spread of diseases. On July 24, it was reported that the Provincial Directorate of Communal Services is facing a crisis of equipment shortages, exacerbating the situation further.
Amidst this context, the government announced it is seeking foreign investment to mitigate the waste management crisis; however, no effective solutions have been implemented so far, while citizens' complaints about this issue continue to pile up.
Santiago de Cuba Garbage Crisis: Key Questions Answered
This section aims to address some pressing questions related to the ongoing garbage crisis in Santiago de Cuba and the broader implications for waste management in Cuba.
Why are residents setting garbage dumps on fire in Santiago de Cuba?
Residents are setting garbage dumps on fire as a form of protest against the government's failure to address the waste accumulation problem. They believe this is the only way to prompt action from the authorities.
What are the health implications of the garbage crisis in Havana?
The failure to collect massive amounts of trash daily in Havana creates an environment ripe for the proliferation of diseases, posing significant health risks to the population.
What steps is the Cuban government taking to address the waste management crisis?
The Cuban government has announced efforts to seek foreign investment to help mitigate the waste management crisis, but so far, no effective solutions have been implemented.