The capital municipality of Cotorro launched an electric hearse this Thursday, as part of local efforts to enhance funeral services amidst a deep structural crisis in this sector in Cuba.
According to a report from the Facebook page Habana Noticias, the vehicle provided its first service with two home pickups and three burials, two of which took place in the Santa María del Rosario cemetery and one in Managua, in the Arroyo Naranjo municipality.
The activation of the new vehicle has been met with surprise by residents in the area, in a context marked by numerous complaints about the decline of funeral services in the country. In recent months, images and testimonies of improvised transfers in trucks, carts, or even on foot have stirred outrage on social media and have called into question the state's ability to ensure a dignified farewell for the deceased.
The arrival of the electric hearse in the Havana municipality of Cotorro did not go unnoticed among internet users, who reacted with a mix of sarcasm, indignation, social criticism, and resignation. Comments like “A coffin on wheels, but well, it's better than nothing,” or “Oh no, don’t put me in that; bury me in my backyard,” reflect the level of frustration of many Cubans at what they see as an improvised and insufficient solution to a deeper structural problem. Others were even more direct in their rejection, noting that “the electric car looks like a matchbox” or that “there isn’t even stable electricity to make it work.”
There were also criticisms of the unequal and elitist treatment in funeral services. "I would have liked to see the remains of Alicia Alonso, Eusebio Leal, or Pablo FG in that vehicle," wrote one user, while another complained that "for some there are four modern hearses, for others, just a coffin on wheels."
The complaints not only focused on the aesthetics or effectiveness of the vehicle but also on its symbolism as a reflection of institutional collapse. "It's disrespectful to enable such a clunker," lamented one commentator, while another summarized the collective sentiment with irony and anger: "An electric car in a country without power." Although some valued the initiative positively as a necessary step, the majority agreed that it is merely a temporary fix amid a funeral system that has been in crisis for years.
Sustained crisis in funeral services
The precariousness of funeral services in Cuba has been widely reported in recent times. In Manzanillo, Granma province, a family had to improvise the transport of a coffin using a cargo truck due to the lack of a hearse.
In Ciego de Ávila, only eight out of the 19 available vehicles were operational in February. And in Matanzas, even a state journalist reported the inability to bury his grandmother due to a lack of fuel.
Other cases have approached the absurd. In Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara, the authorities introduced an electric tricycle as a hearse, sparking mockery and public outrage, while in Banes, Holguín, the arrival of a second-hand hearse was celebrated as an achievement, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.
The new car in Cotorro, while a step in the right direction, remains a local and limited solution in the face of the widespread collapse of an essential service that should be guaranteed by the State. Meanwhile, thousands of families in the country continue to face the loss of a loved one under undignified conditions, in a process that, as one Internet user summarized, "you can't even die in peace in Cuba."
Frequently asked questions about the funeral services crisis in Cuba
What measures has the Cuban government taken in response to the funeral services crisis?
The Cuban government has implemented limited solutions such as the introduction of electric hearses in some localities. However, these measures are insufficient in the face of a problem that is structural and national, reflected in the precariousness and lack of resources throughout the country.
Why are funeral services in Cuba in crisis?
The crisis in funeral services in Cuba is due to the shortage of vehicles, lack of spare parts, insufficient maintenance, and the general economic crisis in the country, which affects all basic services, including the ability to conduct dignified burials.
How has the population reacted to the government's solutions for funeral services?
The population has reacted with skepticism and indignation to the government's partial solutions, such as the implementation of electric tricycles or second-hand cars in some regions, as they do not address the deep-seated shortages and inequalities in the provision of these services nationwide.
What are some recent cases that illustrate the crisis of funeral services in Cuba?
Recent cases such as the use of freight trucks to transport coffins in Manzanillo, the use of electric tricycles in Sagua la Grande, and burials in cardboard boxes in Santiago de Cuba, illustrate the seriousness and the makeshift nature of the crisis in funeral services in Cuba.
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