On Monday, officials from Isla de la Juventud stated that 96.7% of citizen complaints presented to local representatives have been addressed. This announcement came during the XXVIII Ordinary Session of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power, as reported by the state-run Cuban News Agency.
The statistics were delivered by Jorge Faure, head of the Permanent Working Commission for Local Body Attention, who detailed that out of 13,465 issues logged through Account Renderings and Dispatches, 13,023 were reportedly resolved while 442 remain unresolved.
Among the unresolved, 13 cases are classified as issues that cannot be solved solely with the resources available within the territory, according to the official report.
However, these figures contrast sharply with the reality highlighted during the session. In the housing sector, of the ten requests for the repair of multifamily buildings included in the 2026 Economic Plan, only two have been resolved; the remaining eight are stalled due to a lack of building materials, specialized equipment, skilled labor shortages, and financial constraints.
Persistent issues also include property leaks, deteriorating road surfaces, and disruptions in basic services such as water and gas supply.
Elia Col, head of the Pueblo Nuevo Popular Council, acknowledged to the assembly that delegates have failed to fully follow through on resolving citizens' complaints. Inalvis Mazar, the Assembly's secretary, noted that "the minutes of the management councils do not reflect whether issues have been incorporated into the economic plan."
The commission further highlighted that pending cases are primarily from mandates XVII and XVIII, particularly those processed via Dispatch, pointing out deficiencies in administrative follow-up: lack of systematic analysis, vague assignment of responsibilities and deadlines, and few alternatives for unresolved issues.
This announcement comes amidst a severe structural crisis in the special municipality. In 2025, only 39 houses were completed on Isla de la Juventud, marking the worst outcome in the country according to the National Office of Statistics and Information.
In early September, authorities admitted shortcomings in garbage collection and warned of a dengue outbreak with over 40 new cases in La Fe within a single week. Shortly after, a technical failure left the area without mobile services and restricted landline calls to local numbers for several days.
The official report fails to clarify what criteria define a complaint as "resolved," making it impossible to independently verify the methodology behind the proclaimed 96.7% resolution rate.
The commission's own report acknowledged that, "amid the country's economic and financial constraints, it is essential to maintain management, control, and citizen participation to improve the quality of life and address their main concerns."
Frequently Asked Questions about Citizen Complaints in Isla de la Juventud
What percentage of citizen complaints were reported as resolved?
The officials claimed that 96.7% of citizen complaints were resolved.
What issues remain unresolved?
442 issues remain unresolved, with 13 classified as beyond the territory's resource capabilities.
What are the main challenges in the housing sector?
Only two out of ten building repair requests have been addressed due to material shortages, lack of equipment, labor shortages, and financial issues.
How did the local authorities respond to the unresolved complaints?
Local authorities acknowledged the lack of follow-through on complaints and noted deficiencies in administrative follow-up.