A few weeks before the 510th anniversary of the founding of Santiago de Cuba, local authorities have announced an ambitious set of measures to "beautify" the city and improve basic services such as water supply, public health, and agricultural production. However, the residents of Santiago know that promises do not light up the streets or fill empty tanks.
The commemorative program, broadcasted by the state telecenter Tele Turquino, includes everything from road repairs and leak control to attention for transforming neighborhoods and the recovery of productive hubs like Campo Antena. All under the official slogan “It's Santiago and I feel proud”.
But while officials like Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, first secretary of the Communist Party in the province, insist that "there is no such thing as 'there isn't'", everyday reality shows the opposite: there are power outages, there is drought, there is traffic collapse, and there is abandonment.
On the same days that improvements and celebrations are announced, over 300,000 people in Santiago de Cuba are facing severe issues with the supply of drinking water, according to figures from the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources. Areas such as Maestra 1, Siboney, or El Cobre receive water once every 18 or 21 days, depending on trucks that cannot keep up and a collapsed system that barely pumps 70% of the expected flow.
The city also experiences prolonged blackouts almost daily, which stand in stark contrast to the constant illumination of hotels like Casa Granda, a tourist landmark that remains radiant while the neighborhoods are left in darkness. A viral video from May starkly highlighted this inequality: the population walks in shadow while the tourist buildings shine like foreign displays.
One of the cornerstones of the commemorative plan is road rehabilitation. However, according to the Ministry of Transport, almost 70% of the roads in Santiago are in poor or fair condition, and the available funds barely allow for partial repairs. Key routes for intermunicipal transport such as II Frente or Guamá remain impassable, and citizens report arbitrary charges and poor service.
Even programs like “Asphalt, Roads, and Bridges”, publicized with great media fanfare, seem more focused on beautifying main avenues than on truly addressing the mobility issues faced by the people of Santiago.
The plan also promises to boost agricultural production with the revitalization of greenhouses and areas like San José, which were previously abandoned. However, with state investments focused on hotels rather than agriculture, the results are limited. In 2024, while over 36 billion pesos were allocated to tourism, agriculture received only 2.7% of the national budget.
While speeches about popular participation and collective effort are repeated, the population continues to wait for tangible solutions, not just propaganda slogans. Celebrations should not be excuses to gloss over a city that needs sustained attention, investment in public services, and a policy that prioritizes its people, not tourism.
Santiago de Cuba was founded by the Spanish conqueror Diego Velázquez on July 25, 1515, becoming the seventh town established in Cuba.
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