The Camagüey Cemetery suffers from neglect, with open niches and destroyed graves

Open niches, broken tombstones, dirt, and the accumulation of garbage paint a bleak picture in the cemetery.

Desidia y abandono en el cementerio de Camagüey © Collage Facebook / Memoria Cívica
Neglect and abandonment in the cemetery of CamagüeyPhoto © Collage Facebook / Civic Memory

The General Cemetery of Camagüey, one of the oldest functioning necropolises in Cuba, presents a bleak landscape, a result of the regime's neglect.

Open niches, destroyed tombstones, dirt, and piles of trash now make up the landscape in this place that was once a symbol of respect and solemnity, reported the website Memoria Cívica.

Facebook Capture / Civic Memory

According to the portal, the necropolis, despite its historical significance, is currently facing concerning neglect, as shown in the shared images.

This cemetery was founded in 1814, on what was then the outskirts of the Villa de Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe, thus establishing a deep connection with the history and the local community.

The cited source added that its creation was closely linked to the Parish of Cristo del Buen Viaje, established in 1792, and that prior to its establishment, burials took place in local churches such as La Soledad, Santa Ana, and La Merced.

However, the rich history of this site has not spared it from falling victim to neglect. This is not a recent issue: since 2019, many people have raised concerns on social media about the unfortunate state of abandonment affecting the cemetery in Camagüey, a problem that is not unique to this city.

Recently, Facebook user Beatriz Alonso revealed the deplorable state of the Pantheon of Catalina Lasa and Juan Pedro Baró, located in the Colón Cemetery in Havana.

Facebook Capture / Beatriz Alonso

The shared images depict the damage caused by neglect and vandalism, which have severely impacted this iconic mausoleum. The situation has reached such a critical point that, according to Alonso, "the remains of Catalina and Juan Pedro were moved to the Pantheon of the Emigrants."

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