Boca Ciega, a neighborhood located opposite one of the most beautiful beaches in Havana East, is in a state of alarming neglect.
The YouTuber Alejandro, known for his channel Literally Cuban, recently shared a video showcasing the neglect faced by the homes in Boca Ciega, a ghost neighborhood in the East of the capital.
This community in the 1950s was home to private houses. It was a residential area in a prosperous coastal enclave, but it has since transformed into a desolate scene.
These properties, mostly used for vacation purposes, were expropriated by the regime in 1960. For a time, the authorities used them for vacation rentals for employees of state organizations. Later, they were taken away from these organizations and came under the control of the Ministry of Tourism, which led to an increase in rental prices.
At this moment, they ceased to be a "product for the enjoyment of workers" and began to be intended for those who could afford them. However, this was not enough for the regime either. Their maintenance is expensive, and they ended up being left to their fate, turning Boca Ciega into a ghost town.
The deterioration of these houses and apartments is evident. The structures that were once homes to powerful families now lie in ruins, with moldy facades, crumbling walls, and collapsed roofs.
This situation is incomprehensible considering the housing crisis affecting the Cuban capital. Instead of utilizing these spaces to alleviate the housing shortage, the authorities have allowed the neighborhood to fall into neglect.
Despite its prime location in front of a crystal-clear beach, Boca Ciega is not currently of interest to the Ministry of Tourism or local authorities.
The lack of maintenance and a strategy to revitalize the area has caused Boca Ciega to become another symbol of the regime's negligence.
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