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Far from being an isolated phenomenon or limited to the general public, the illegal occupations of lands and premises in Cuba directly involve high-level state bodies, as revealed by the National Institute of Territorial Planning and Urbanism (INOTU).
Among the entities mentioned are the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), the ministries of Education, Transport, Agriculture, Construction, Tourism, and Food Industry, as well as companies from the Sugar Group and the Business Administration Group.
The vice president of INOTU, Yordanka Vázquez Cuñat, presented an official report this Tuesday during the Commission of Industry, Construction, and Energy, ahead of the fifth session of the X Legislature of the National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP).
Statistics indicate that 93% of the illegal activities detected by the Institute up to May 2025 pertain to the illegal occupation of land, many of which are under the control of the mentioned institutions.
In total, more than 11,000 fines were applied, including 105 to legal entities, which shows that the problem is not limited to the average citizen but has ramifications within the structures of the State.
This situation raises serious doubts about internal control, transparency, and compliance with urban regulations within the institutional system of the regime.
The inaction or permissiveness with which these irregularities have been addressed over the years further exacerbates the loss of legitimacy of many institutions in the eyes of the public.
One of the clearest examples is at the Ministry of Construction, which has spent many years failing to meet housing construction plans without any measures being taken in this regard. This has exacerbated the housing crisis in the country and led to an increase in violations of urban regulations to secure a place to live.
The State prefers to turn a blind eye to institutions and focus on the behavior of citizens who fail to comply with urban regulations. The report itself details that there are 961 informal neighborhoods, of which 513 lack official recognition and 379 are considered precarious.
In 2021, CiberCuba reported on one of the most shocking cases of land occupation in Cuba. Families from the town of Ramón de Antilla, in Holguín, were forcibly evicted as part of a tourism plan led by GAESA. The initiative, approved in 2017, aimed to build thousands of hotel rooms without any benefit for the residents.
Despite the INOTU report and its control measures, without exemplary actions against the institutions that fail to comply with the established regulations, or effective mechanisms for oversight, violations of urban regulations will continue to multiply, even from within the state apparatus.
Frequently asked questions about illegal land occupation in Cuba
What state agencies are involved in the illegal occupation of land in Cuba?
Among the state agencies involved in the illegal occupation of land in Cuba are the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), the ministries of Education, Transport, Agriculture, Construction, Tourism, and Food Industry, as well as companies from the Sugar Group and the Business Administration Group. These institutions have been identified by the National Institute of Land Management and Urban Planning (INOTU) for their involvement in these illegal activities.
What is the magnitude of the problem of illegal land occupation in Cuba?
The problem is quite significant, as 93% of the illegal activities detected by INOTU as of May 2025 are related to illegal land occupations. This demonstrates that the situation not only affects ordinary citizens but also involves high-level state institutions, which exacerbates the issues of control and transparency in the country.
What consequences has the state's inaction had regarding the illegal occupation of land?
The inaction or permissiveness of the State in the face of these irregularities has resulted in a loss of legitimacy of institutions among the population, along with a proliferation of informal neighborhoods and an exacerbated housing crisis. Without exemplary measures against non-compliant institutions, violations continue to multiply within the state apparatus.
How has the lack of compliance with housing construction plans in Cuba affected the situation?
The failure to comply with housing construction plans has deepened the housing crisis in Cuba. The Ministry of Construction has not met housing construction goals for years, resulting in an increase in violations of urban regulations and the proliferation of informal neighborhoods, leaving many families without a suitable place to live.
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