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A electric hearse was delivered this Friday in the municipality of Placetas, amid a crisis where the transport of the deceased has been impacted by fuel shortages and the deterioration of the vehicle fleet in Cuba.
The internet user Kirenia Bermúdez Quesada, an employee of the Communal Company in Villa Clara, confirmed that the delivery of the electric car involved municipal officials, executives from Sancti Spíritus, and workers from the sector.
Dozens of forum users commented on Facebook that the idea should be replicated in other municipalities where citizens have to improvise means of transport to move the bodies of their loved ones.
The situation regarding funeral services in Cuba is critical due to the lack of operational hearses, a shortage of spare parts, and poor maintenance. This issue affects multiple provinces, forcing families to use alternative transportation for conducting burials.
The Cuban government has taken isolated measures, such as the introduction of electric hearses, but these actions are insufficient to address a structural crisis in the funeral services system of the country. The lack of resources and poor management continue to affect Cuban families during critical moments.
Last year, the Community Services Department of the municipality of Sagua La Grande in Villa Clara purchased an electric tricycle to address the lack of a hearse in that municipality.
The idea is not new; in October 2023, another tricycle was in the news, this time in Santa Clara, also intended for transporting the deceased to the cemetery.
In Santiago de Cuba, even B8 trucks—normally used for transporting sugarcane—have been seen being diverted for the transfer of coffins with deceased individuals.
The funeral cars are mostly broken or out of service due to a lack of tires and electrical components like batteries, after years without maintenance. Many municipalities do not have any active ones of their own.
In Manzanillo, Granma province, a family had to improvise the transport of a casket in a cargo truck due to the lack of a hearse.
In Ciego de Ávila, only eight of the 19 available vehicles were operational in February. And in Matanzas, even a government-affiliated journalist reported the inability to bury his grandmother due to a lack of fuel.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Funeral Services Crisis in Cuba
What is the current situation of funeral services in Cuba?
The situation of funeral services in Cuba is critical, with significant deterioration due to a lack of resources, poor maintenance, and a shortage of vehicles. Many families are forced to improvise means of transportation to move the deceased, reflecting a structural crisis in the country.
What solutions has the Cuban government implemented to improve funeral services?
The Cuban government has introduced electric hearses as a partial measure to improve funeral services. However, these actions are seen as insufficient by many, as they do not address the root of the crisis affecting the entire funeral system in the country.
How does the resource crisis affect funeral services in different provinces of Cuba?
The lack of resources critically affects funeral services across all provinces of Cuba. In places like Ciego de Ávila, only 8 out of 19 funeral vehicles are operational, and in Santiago de Cuba, there have been reports of burials in cardboard coffins. The shortage of spare parts and lack of maintenance have exacerbated the situation.
What reactions have been generated among the public by the introduction of electric hearses?
The introduction of electric hearses has generated criticism and mixed reactions among the Cuban population. Many believe that this measure is a temporary fix and not a solution to the crisis in funeral services. The criticisms focus on the lack of stable electricity and that these actions do not address the underlying issue.
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