Guillermo Carmona Rodríguez, a journalist for the official newspaper Girón, recently shared the ordeal his family faced while attempting to bury his grandmother in Matanzas. The lack of fuel and state bureaucracy nearly prevented a timely funeral.
Following the grandmother's passing, the family arranged all necessary procedures to transport her to the family vault in Manguito, a small town near Colón. What should have been straightforward turned into a nightmare when the funeral home informed them of insufficient fuel for the transport.
"At the funeral home, I asked if the car outside would take us, only to be told that it had little fuel and to wait for the next one. An hour later, a new vehicle arrived, yet again, they explained there wasn't enough gas," Carmona recounted in his report.
The employees explained that although fuel was available, they needed government authorization to refill at a service station. The complication arose because only a specific government official could approve the gas dispatch, but he was unreachable, with his phone either off or out of coverage.
Carmona lamented the authorities' lack of foresight in a country where the energy crisis has been a longstanding issue. He criticized that such problems could be avoided if officials implemented effective measures, like allowing service stations to operate independently or designating specific gas stations for urgent services such as funerals, ambulances, and critical patients.
The journalist also denounced that his family wasn't even allowed to purchase fuel independently, as the state system prohibits it. Desperation grew as time passed without resolution, leaving his grandmother's body at the funeral home.
After hours of waiting, a service station finally managed to fuel a vehicle, allowing the transport to proceed. However, the delay left the family frustrated and powerless, as they simply wished to bid farewell to their loved one without further complications.
The funeral car driver confirmed to Carmona that such situations are more common than believed, as fuel shortages regularly impact funeral services, causing delays and distress during sensitive times.
"Even dying becomes an entanglement, a bureaucratic process, a tropical surrealism," Carmona reflected, warning that this issue not only affects funerals but could also occur with ambulances and other vital medical services.
His testimony highlights how the energy crisis and state inefficiency continue to affect even the most painful moments, reminding Cubans that obstacles exist even in death.
Amazingly, in Cuba, the energy crisis and fuel scarcity often lead to distressing situations like this, affecting life's most sensitive moments. In January, a group of Cubans had to carry a coffin by hand to the cemetery in Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río, due to the absence of a hearse.
The shocking scene, which unfolded in the municipality's streets, was captured on video and shared on social media, sparking outrage among citizens. In December, the decline of funeral services in Cuba was evident in Alquízar, Artemisa province, where a resident's body remained at home for five hours awaiting transport to the funeral home.
Challenges of Funeral Services in Cuba
What issues did Guillermo Carmona Rodríguez report about funeral services in Cuba?
Guillermo Carmona Rodríguez reported that his family faced significant delays in burying his grandmother due to a lack of fuel and bureaucratic hurdles, highlighting the inefficiency of the state's systems.
How does the fuel shortage affect funeral and medical services in Cuba?
The fuel shortage leads to delays in funeral and medical services, causing distress and complications during critical times. This is due to the need for government authorization to access fuel, which often results in inefficiencies.