The Escolapios Fathers of Guanabacoa broke their silence on Sunday with a public denunciation on Facebook, demanding the immediate return of their old cloister and school, warning that the city's historical heritage is crumbling due to the regime's neglect.
"As Escolapios Fathers of Guanabacoa, we speak out against the unbearable: the utter neglect by Municipal Education and Municipal Government is reducing a Cuban treasure to ashes and rubble," states the announcement.
The building in question is the former cloister of the Colegio de las Escuelas Pías, an architectural jewel from the 18th century that is part of Guanabacoa's Historic Center. It was declared a National Monument in 1990 and holds Grade I Heritage Protection, the highest category in Cuba.
In 1857, the Escolapios established the first Normal School for Teachers in Cuba and Latin America there. The property was nationalized in 1961 under the Law of Nationalization of Education and was subsequently repurposed for various uses by the state: a music school, dental office, dining hall, and municipal offices.
The timeline of decay is devastating. In October 2025, criminals looted the church, stealing candelabras from the Blessed Sacrament, ornaments, fans, and breaking showcases and display cases. Only some of the stolen items were recovered.
At that time, actor and theater director Jorge Mederos Reyes had already warned that "the floors are gone, railings have vanished, and gates and doors have been pillaged with impunity."
Last March, a fire damaged the abandoned cloister, which had been without security or protection from the Municipal Education Directorate for over a year.
A month and a half after the fire, in April, the religious order reported that their "countless meetings and calls" with various levels of government and the party had only yielded "promises and delays."
Photos released by the order show the ceiling's wooden beams painted in bright green, with damaged sections, holes, and fallen parts exposing the building to the elements.
The Escolapios point directly at the authorities: "Education abandoned the building without protection. The Government ignored repeated alerts from Heritage and us. The Party endorses the criminal inaction: promises fade into bureaucratic silence while looting continues in plain sight."
This situation is not isolated. The deterioration of historical heritage in Cuba follows a documented pattern across many structures: the Convento Corazón de Jesús in Cerro and another historic gem turned to ruins are recent examples of the same institutional negligence.
The order demands the immediate return of the cloister and school, an end to empty promises, and public accountability for what they describe as criminal negligence.
"This is not a religious claim: it is the identity of all Guanabacoans that is fading away. Enough with complicity. We are still in time," concludes the Escolapios' statement.
The Decline of Historical Heritage in Cuba
What is happening to the Colegio de las Escuelas Pías in Guanabacoa?
The Colegio de las Escuelas Pías, a historical building in Guanabacoa, is facing severe neglect and decay due to the regime's inaction, resulting in looting and structural damage.
Why is the Escolapios order demanding the return of the cloister?
The Escolapios order is demanding the return of the cloister because it is part of their historical heritage and identity, which is being threatened by neglect and lack of protection from the authorities.
What are the consequences of the regime's neglect on Cuba's historical sites?
The regime's neglect has led to the deterioration and destruction of many historical sites in Cuba, resulting in the loss of cultural heritage and identity for future generations.