Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly of People's Power and member of the National Defense Council, urged the people of Havana this Saturday to take personal responsibility for cleaning the streets and workplaces, accompanied by strong criticisms of those who fail to carry out this task.
During a meeting of the Provincial Defense Council of Havana, Lazo emphasized that workers and residents must take responsibility for cleaning public spaces, including streets, schools, stores, and workplaces, reported the state-run channel Caribe.
According to Lazo, collective effort is essential for keeping the "city clean," emphasizing that "the country is making an extraordinary effort to try to clean up Havana."
However, his speech conveniently overlooks the numerous criticisms pointing out that the capital was already facing a collapse in waste collection long before the impact of Hurricane Rafael, highlighting a management issue that cannot be attributed solely to the recent weather conditions.
Lazo also sharply criticized those who do not mobilize to fulfill this task, stating that it cannot be allowed for areas in the capital to remain uncleaned. He emphasized that "we accomplish nothing if we mobilize all that force and are unable to mobilize the internal strength from here in the province."
Lazo's call once again highlights the government's strategy of shifting responsibilities onto the population, rather than taking effective leadership in the management of basic services.
While residents of Havana are being asked to clean their surroundings, the capital is grappling with chronic issues related to waste collection, a lack of infrastructure, and insufficient resources for urban maintenance, highlighting the state's failure to address these matters.
Although it is promoted as a collective effort, the initiative seems more like a temporary solution than a comprehensive strategy to address the structural deficiencies affecting the city.
Two weeks after Hurricane Rafael, Havana remains in disarray, with thousands affected by a lack of water and the accumulation of garbage and debris in the city, despite the fact that the cyclone did not directly hit the capital.
Lazo's message aligns with the efforts of leader Miguel Díaz-Canel to express "concern" over the neglect, filth, and pollution that pervade the Cuban capital.
The president himself admitted last Saturday on his social media the significant deterioration that Havana is experiencing on its 505th anniversary, and internet users heavily criticized him for it.
Filed under:
