Shortage of coffins in Santiago de Cuba

A great indignation among Facebook users has been caused by the complaint about the shortage of glass for coffins in Santiago de Cuba, amidst the serious crisis of funeral services in the country.

The report by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shows a quite revealing image that, along with the comments, exposes the shortages existing in Cuba.

Mayeta cited several independent media outlets in her post to raise awareness of the situation, although criticisms of the regime "pour" in from her followers.

"That's not new, they've been putting the glass for a long time and when they take the dead person away, they remove it," reads among the multiple reactions.

This country has become a disgrace. It is not enough that we are eating thanks to donations from others, nor do we have reasons to be able to say to our deceased rest in peace," wrote one user, while another played with one of the government's phrases: "Cuba is advancing, that is true, but for the worse, as it is also a reality that nothing works."

A few days ago, the communicator reported a distressing scene that took place in the city of Santiago, when a coffin fell from a hearse and remained lying in the middle of a central and busy avenue.

Despite its unusual nature, the incident is not an isolated event and highlights the country's critical economic situation, which has also affected funeral services, hit by a shortage of vehicles, a fuel deficit, a lack of materials for coffin production, and a scarcity of flowers for wreaths.

"It is not enough that the life of a Cuban is the most suffering, difficult, and unjust in the whole world, I won't talk about that. Today I will tell you about the odyssey you have to go through if a family member dies, at least in Santiago de Cuba," pointed out last year in the Facebook profile of the group "Revolico Santiago de Cuba," the user Yamilka González.

Among the vicissitudes she suffered, she mentioned that "the box is made of cardboard paper, very fragile, without glass. They put a dirty glass that they rotate without washing from one deceased to another, and they put it opaque and dirty."

He reported that "the funeral home is full of flies, they don't turn on the air conditioning to save (electricity), and there is heat and a tremendous stench in those filthy bathrooms."

Likewise, he denounced that "the person from Santiago lost the right to be buried in Santa Ifigenia, after they placed the stone. They send you to El Caney, Juan Gonzalez, Icaco, and a bunch of places just to get rid of you."

Additionally, he said, "you have to save a lot of money for that moment of a family member's death. For example, in order to secure a spot in Santa Ifigenia, you have to pay 4,000 pesos to the corrupt individuals in the funeral home. Death is a big business".

Also in 2023, a Cuban woman managed to get a coffin to bury her mother after requesting it on Facebook. The woman, identified as Rosy Rodríguez and residing in Holguín, posted her announcement because there were no coffins in that city for the deceased.