Eight years have passed since Hurricane Matthew swept through Guantánamo, yet many affected residents are still receiving cardboard from the government to replace damaged roofs. This was highlighted by a resident from the Maisí municipality during a report on state television, as he demanded accountability and solutions.
"It's been eight years since Matthew, and all I'm given is a cardboard roof. What can you do with a cardboard roof? I don't get the answers I need; they just leave me hanging," he lamented. The man emphasized that he had to purchase expensive tiles himself because the government never provided any assistance after the cyclone destroyed the roof of his home. "I'm there with just a few tiles trying to cover a room," he noted.
An elderly woman, who lost her entire house, disclosed that the authorities only gave her a tarp and a roll of cardboard. "We patched up a small section with pieces of tiles and now they gave me a tarp," she stated.
A local leader in Maisí revealed that there are still 407 families who experienced total collapses of their homes due to Hurricane Matthew and are still, eight years later, living in what the government calls "temporary facilities." This situation worsened with additional damage from Hurricane Oscar on October 20. It ranks as the second-most affected municipality in terms of partial and total roof and home collapses.
In October 2020, four years after Matthew hit the city of Baracoa, residents were still waiting for the promised government assistance to repair their homes, having only been sold some tiles. Two years prior, the regime had managed to rebuild merely 945 of the 3,529 houses destroyed in the municipality. Authorities warned that the housing stock would take five years to recover—assuming no further hurricanes—and urged residents to participate in construction efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions about Housing Recovery in Guantánamo
Why are residents in Guantánamo still living in temporary shelters?
Many residents are still in temporary shelters due to the government's slow response in rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Matthew, compounded by additional damage from subsequent hurricanes like Oscar.
What assistance has the government provided to those affected by Hurricane Matthew?
The government has provided minimal aid, such as tarps and cardboard materials, leaving many to fend for themselves by purchasing expensive tiles to repair their homes.
How many homes have been rebuilt since Hurricane Matthew hit Guantánamo?
As of two years ago, the government had only rebuilt 945 of the 3,529 houses destroyed in the municipality of Baracoa, showing a slow recovery process.