Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, surrounded by a strong security detail and a significant military presence, visited the municipality of Imías in Guantánamo this Wednesday, where he addressed the population and warned that, among the damages caused by Hurricane Oscar, the recovery of housing will take the longest.
Díaz-Canel learned that in Imías, the damage to homes includes 54 total collapses, 98 partial collapses, 15 roofs completely destroyed, and 218 roofs with partial damage.
After receiving the information, the leader outlined a recovery plan that prioritizes the repair of partial roofs over total replacements, with the intention of "quickly addressing the most urgent problems."
"We are making progress on the total and partial collapses, first raising the walls so that when we finish the roofs, we’ll be able to complete the homes," he stated, appealing to the cooperation of the affected families, as if the primary burden rested on the population rather than the government.
Díaz-Canel also tried to highlight the support received, mentioning that "there has been a lot of international solidarity and support from within the country, with many people collecting and sending donations for all of you. I believe that Guantánamo and its residents have felt that support from the rest of Cuba and from various countries around the world."
However, this statement contrasts with the reality of a government administration that seems to rely more on charity than on effective solutions.
In front of the population that has lost a significant portion of their belongings, the ruler boasted that communication has been partially restored and some road repair work has begun, although he acknowledged that permanent solutions are still pending.
He highlighted that they have received support in the provision of food and medication, and that the first aid materials for those affected by the damage to their homes have started to arrive.
Furthermore, it was reported that the water supply situation, which had been critical, has stabilized, with more than 97% of coverage restored in the municipality.
He also took the opportunity to reiterate the message that "the revolution leaves no one behind" and urged the population to continue participating actively in the tasks of reconstruction and overseeing the actions of the government.
"The most important thing is that you also participate in everything that is done, supporting and overseeing," he emphasized, referring to "popular control" as part of the recovery process.
However, their statement that “everything we do in the recovery will be better than it was before” raises doubts among those affected, considering that many felt helpless in the wake of Hurricane Oscar's passage through Guantánamo.
Three days after the cyclone struck the province of Guantánamo, Díaz-Canel arrived assuring that "no Cuban has been left to fend for themselves" in this natural disaster.
"All of Cuba is focused on you. (...) Be assured that you are not alone, nor abandoned," said the leader to the people of Guantanamo.
However, during his visit to Baracoa, Díaz-Canel was confronted by the residents who shouted at him that they didn't even have water to drink.
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