The rehabilitation of Guanabo Beach, in the east of Havana, continues to face significant delays and obstacles, as acknowledged by Osleidys Torres Valdespino, the territorial delegate of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and the Environment (CITMA).
In the "Receipt Acknowledgment" section of the official newspaper Juventud Rebelde, the official acknowledged that despite the studies conducted since 2011 and the actions announced to protect the dunes and combat erosion, progress in restoring this important beach resort has been limited, leaving the local community and visitors without effective solutions.
One of the main issues highlighted is the lack of maintenance of the access walkways to the beach, which were built to protect the dunes and prevent their deterioration.
According to Torres, although a project was initiated in 2013 to construct and maintain these accesses, most are now in critical condition due to a lack of investment during the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in construction costs.
The delegate from CITMA noted that social indiscipline has been another aggravating factor in the deterioration of the beach, attributing the damage to vandalism and the improper use of facilities, which has complicated its conservation.
These problems have been exacerbated by the impact of weather phenomena, such as Hurricane Milton, which significantly affected the region's infrastructure.
Additionally, Torres highlighted that the comprehensive rehabilitation of Guanabo does not only rely on the walkways, but also on addressing broader structural issues.
He mentioned the need to improve the sewer system, treat wastewater, and eliminate constructions that occupy key areas for the development of natural dunes. Without these actions, any recovery efforts will be limited and unsustainable.
On the other hand, although CITMA assured that the studies for the Sibarimar Inlet, which includes Guanabo, are 75% complete, critical sections such as Boca Ciega and Brisas del Mar remain pending.
These areas have been identified as priorities in the State Plan for Addressing Climate Change (Tarea Vida), but concrete results have yet to be reflected on the ground.
Meanwhile, Guanabo beach continues to lose sand and environmental quality, highlighting the urgency of moving from studies and plans to effective action.
The words of the CITMA delegate respond to a criticism published in the same section of Juventud Rebelde, where Evelio León Díaz, a resident of Guanabo, raised the alarm on July 2, 2023, about the concerning loss of sand at the beach due to erosion.
León urged the promotion of building more access walkways to the beach to protect the dunes, a vital element for the conservation of the beaches in the East of Havana. He also emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the existing walkways, as their deterioration has worsened the vulnerability of the coastline.
He recalled that in Boca Ciega, years ago, a good job was done in protecting natural dunes through the use of walkways, but he lamented that the effort ended there. The development of new dunes was not promoted, nor were more walkways built, and many of those that were created have become unusable due to a lack of maintenance.
In response to their concerns, Evelio inquired at the local council about why the construction and maintenance of these structures had not continued. The answer he received was that such expenses were not included in the municipality's budget, a justification he deemed insufficient for an issue that transcends local boundaries.
In his opinion, the protection of the coasts, included in Tarea Vida, should not be viewed as merely a municipal issue, but as a matter of national interest. He emphasized that these investments should be prioritized within the national budget of CITMA, warning that the time to act is limited.
"Nature doesn't give us many breaks, and perhaps we'll realize it too late," he warned, emphasizing that although we cannot stop the rising sea levels, measures to protect the coasts can mitigate their effects or, at the very least, delay them.
In 2023, Osmany García Zaldívar reported the pollution at the popular Guanabo beach, east of Havana, which has become a dumping ground.
The doctor in Physics and professor and researcher at the University of Havana shared several photos on his X social media account showing the sand littered with cans, sticks, empty plastic containers, and nylon bags, very close to the sunbathers.
Filed under: