Architect Bertín Díaz: "The Key to Rebuilding Cuba Lies in Financial Resources"

Cuban architect Edelberto 'Bertín' Díaz, now residing in Panama, argues that the critical question concerning Cuba's reconstruction isn't about the availability of materials, workforce, or industry, but rather if there will be financial resources to initiate the process. In an interview with CiberCuba, he discussed the urban future of the island and the prospects for its cities.

Díaz bluntly states, "The issue is whether there are funds." He elaborates, "The world doesn't turn on its axis by rotation and translation. It moves by dollars. If dollars are present, people follow. Without dollars, my friend, I love you, but you're on your own."

Learning from Panama's Experience

To illustrate his point, Díaz draws on his personal experience in Panama. He arrived in the country in 2000, shortly after the United States handed over the Canal. He describes a city filled with "For Sale" signs and a general sense of stagnation.

Everything changed with the citizen consultation on the Canal's expansion, approved in 2006, involving a $5.25 billion investment: "People started flocking in," he recalls. "Once the starting gun is fired, all sorts of individuals begin to appear."

Drawing Parallels with Cuba

Díaz sees a direct parallel with Cuba: "If at some point people sense, major companies sense there's money for building roads in Cuba... The asphalt issue becomes secondary. Those who will set up the asphalt factory will follow," he stated.

The debate on financing a potential reconstruction involves substantial figures. Cuban-American businessman Carlos Saladrigas estimated in March 2026 that rebuilding Cuba would cost between $6 billion and $10 billion just for the initial stabilization phase. Essential to attracting such investment are legal security, a free market, and democratic openness—conditions lacking in today's Cuba, deterring any serious capital.

Material Availability: A Realistic Perspective

On the availability of materials, Bertín Díaz takes an optimistic yet realistic stance. He acknowledges that Cuba has quarries for stone extraction and installed capacity for producing blocks and steel, citing "La Antillana de Acero" as an example, though he admits equipment like crushing cylinders might be missing.

"You have quarries to extract stones. It's there. Maybe you don't have the cylinders to crush them," he says. His argument is that these shortcomings are secondary because with money, the technology providers follow. "That's how the world operates. This shouldn't be a concern."

Addressing Environmental Challenges

This vision contrasts sharply with current realities. Cuba's housing crisis deepens without signs of improvement: in 2024, 5.5 times fewer homes were built than in 1984, cement production runs at 10% capacity, and 35% of the housing stock is in fair or poor condition. The government itself admitted failing to meet construction plans due to shortages of cement and steel.

In his interview with CiberCuba, Díaz also emphasizes environmental policies as a prerequisite for any serious reconstruction. "Regarding the environmental issue, it's not about seeking European investment, it's about making it a requirement," he states. He criticizes Cuba for discharging untreated sewage directly into the coast and calls for control over chemical pollutants, mining management, and clear vehicle policies.

All of this, he argues, aligns with a vision for the country: "There is no other vision for the country but as a service nation. If you want to provide, first and foremost, a good quality of life for your population and then for visitors."