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Honesty Shines in Havana: Driver Returns Lost Wallet Found on Public Transport

Saturday, February 1, 2025 by Oscar Guevara

Honesty Shines in Havana: Driver Returns Lost Wallet Found on Public Transport
Gacela (Metrotaxi) in Havana (reference image) - Image © Facebook Taxis-Cuba Empresarial / Olga Salomón

A remarkable act of integrity and community spirit has captivated social media users across Cuba. A driver of a "gacela" in Havana returned a wallet that had been lost by a passenger days earlier. Olga Salomón, a Facebook user, shared her story, detailing the series of events.

According to Salomón, the driver of the Route 1 gacela, identified by car number 35, notified a passenger dressed in ETECSA uniform that he had found a wallet left behind in his vehicle some days ago. The informed passenger took immediate action, working to locate the wallet's owner. Her swift efforts led to contacting Salomón, providing her with the driver's information and the identification of the gacela.

The following day, the driver personally visited Olga Salomón's home to return the wallet, which was completely intact with all documents and personal items, including a gold chain with her name.

In her post, Olga expressed gratitude towards both the driver and a worker from the ETECSA Supervision Department at 19 and B, whose quick response was crucial in retrieving the lost item. "We show that we are one family," Salomón wrote.

Community Praises Driver's Integrity

This honest gesture has been widely praised on social media, where many have lauded the driver's ethics and the teamwork of those who helped ensure the wallet's return to its rightful owner.

Uplifting Moments in Cuba

Instances like these aren't uncommon among Havana's "gacela" drivers. In 2023, Javier García Aldao, another gacela driver on Route 3, returned a lost wallet to Gerardo Izquierdo, a researcher at the Cuban Institute of Anthropology, who had misplaced it after leaving work.

These incidents highlight that, despite daily challenges in Cuba, honesty and solidarity remain cherished values within society, even though such occurrences are becoming less frequent.

Honesty and Public Transport in Cuba

How did the driver manage to return the lost wallet?

The driver notified a passenger wearing an ETECSA uniform, who then took the initiative to locate the wallet's owner, Olga Salomón. The driver later personally delivered the wallet to her home.

What was the reaction on social media to this act of honesty?

Social media users widely praised the driver's integrity and the collaborative efforts that led to the wallet's return, celebrating it as a demonstration of community values.

Are such acts of honesty common in Cuba?

While these acts demonstrate that honesty and solidarity are still valued in Cuban society, such occurrences are becoming more rare amidst the country's ongoing challenges.

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