The Spanish chain Meliá Hotels International was identified by environmental specialists from Cuban institutions as responsible for a sewage spill from a hotel located in Trinidad, which poses a threat to the mangroves in the area.
The radio station Radio Sancti Spíritus announced last Thursday on its social media that specialists from the Ministry of Science, Technology, and the Environment of Cuba (CITMA) have activated alarms upon detecting a discharge of wastewater into mangroves in Trinidad, originating from the facilities of the Meliá Trinidad Península Hotel.
The spillage generates a negative impact on the mangrove ecosystem located in the area, as well as on the flora and fauna of the surroundings.
The stench of contaminated water gushing from one of the apparently blocked manholes of the treatment system that manages the waste of the Meliá Trinidad Península hotel affects tourists and locals as they pass through a section of the road linking the town of Casilda with the southern beaches.
The specialists described the spill as an "ecological issue" and got in touch with the Provincial Delegation of Hydraulic Resources, the organization responsible for the implementation of the project, which has only been in operation for a little over a year, according to the mentioned source.
"So far, the spill of wastewater that has been causing damage to the mangrove ecosystem and its biodiversity for approximately a month has not been resolved: crabs, crabs, fish, and aquatic birds are victims of the pollution," denounced the CITMA specialists.
As Radio Sancti Spíritus reports, mangroves are very important ecosystems for human well-being and the health of the planet, as they provide important environmental services, play a fundamental role in the conservation of various plant and animal species, and help to curb soil erosion.
Inaugurated in mid-November 2023, the ultra-modern Meliá Trinidad Península resort joins the more than 40 hotels managed by the Spanish chain in Cuba and is located on the Ancón Peninsula, south of the Sancti Spíritus province.
It is an accommodation on the beachfront, with impressive views of the Sierra del Escambray," highlighted a promotional note on the Meliá Cuba blog. "Located just 15 minutes from the historic center of Trinidad, one of the best-preserved colonial cities in the Caribbean and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this hotel is the perfect option to discover the destination."
The Trinidad Peninsula will add another 401 rooms, 80 of which will be dedicated to the exclusive The Level service, marketed as an ideal space to "enjoy a stay at another level", only for guests over 18 years old. In addition, the luxury hotel offers tourists swim-up rooms (with access to their own pool).
The hotel stands out for its "technological innovations" such as full automation of services through electronic wristbands, and energy self-sufficiency, as it has a platform of 1,500 photovoltaic panels that will also ensure the hot water system.
One month before its inauguration, in statements to Prensa Latina, the general director of Meliá Trinidad Península, Juan Pereira, considered that the facility would become a reference point on the second most important beach in Cuba, after Varadero.
At the time of writing this note, the Spanish hotel chain has not issued any statement regarding the spill reported by the Cuban authorities. The construction of the facilities had the Mixed Enterprise Toscuba as the investor and Mosaico Hoteles (Ceiba Investment + Meliá Hotels International) as the foreign financier.
The financier and local operator of the Meliá Trinidad Península Hotel is the company Cubanacán, while Meliá Hotels International serves as the international operator.
"At Meliá, we are aware that the tourism sector, and especially vacation tourism - in which we are leaders - is particularly sensitive to environmental and social issues, on the one hand, and on the other hand, our sector plays an essential role in the fight against climate change..." states the 2023 management report of the hotel chain.
According to this document, "Meliá's passion for hospitality drives us to respond to the global challenges of our world, addressing sustainability as a key lever to transform the tourism model and ensure a positive legacy on our planet and our society."
Despite the widespread crisis facing Cuba, the regime invested four times more in hotels and restaurants than in Public Health and Social Assistance in the first half of 2023, according to a report by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
The investment from January to June in health and social assistance was only 583.3 million pesos, while 2,325.3 million were allocated to hotels and restaurants.
The 80 million euro investment allocated to the construction of the Meliá Trinidad Península Hotel will now have to be expanded with a budget aimed at addressing the issue of sewage discharges affecting the ecosystem in the area.
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