A passenger named Melissa Pérez took to Facebook to express her frustration over the conditions she faced during a bus trip from Santiago de Cuba to Havana. Her account reveals that the journey extended nearly 20 hours due to multiple breakdowns.
The post, shared on Sunday in the "Ómnibus arrendados" group, detailed how the bus departed the previous day at 2:00 PM, with an expected arrival at Villa Nueva terminal by 6:00 AM. However, by morning, they were still far from their destination.
According to her complaint, the bus was forced to stop six times during the night because of mechanical issues. Beyond these technical failures, Pérez described the bus's condition as dreadful, highlighting the presence of cockroaches, leaks in one of the air conditioning systems, and stifling heat inside the vehicle.
"I am outraged because the ticket costs 17,000 pesos, not one or two," she wrote, pointing out the high fare.
Pérez criticized the lack of proper vehicle inspections before embarking on long-distance trips, especially considering that children and adults are onboard. Her complaint also targeted the service promoters who, as she claimed, give glowing reviews when selling tickets, despite the actual state of the transport.
Her story underscores the challenges passengers face on interprovincial routes in Cuba, where the deteriorating state of vehicles and a shortage of spare parts often lead to delays and cancellations.
Following the regime's suspension of most interprovincial transportation, the responsibility for moving people has fallen largely to the private sector, which frequently fails to provide adequate conditions.
Challenges of Interprovincial Travel in Cuba
What caused the extended travel time from Santiago to Havana?
The extended travel time was primarily due to six mechanical breakdowns during the journey.
What issues did Melissa Pérez report about the bus conditions?
Pérez reported the presence of cockroaches, air conditioning leaks, and high temperatures inside the bus.
How does the current transportation situation in Cuba affect travelers?
Travelers often face delays and cancellations due to the poor condition of vehicles and a lack of spare parts, exacerbated by the regime's suspension of most interprovincial transport.