Related videos:
A new episode of neglect and state insensitivity has shaken the residents of the San Luis municipality in Santiago de Cuba, where neighbors have reported the presence of numerous deteriorated coffins spread haphazardly in the local cemetery.
The images published on by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada reveal a scene that is both painful and alarming: open, broken, and haphazardly piled coffins without any order or respect in various areas of the graveyard.
According to testimonies gathered by the reporter and shared on social media, the coffins were allegedly discarded following recent exhumations, yet without adhering to minimum health protocols or showing even basic respect for the human remains they contained.
"It is painful and even shocking to see how death is treated in this country. There is no respect for either the living or the dead," denounced a neighbor, upset by the scene.
Indignation, pestilence, and fear for public health
The residents have expressed their alarm over the foul odor in the area, which they say makes it even difficult to approach the cemetery's perimeter. "If this is how our loved ones are going to end up, then just give them to us and we will bury them in the backyard," said a visibly upset complainant.
Beyond the pain and moral outrage, the situation also raises serious health concerns. The abandonment of possibly contaminated coffins and the exposure of biological materials in an unregulated rural area could pose a direct risk to public health, particularly if they involve remains that have been exhumed without treatment.
Official silence and demand for answers
So far, no funeral authority or local government has provided public explanations. Residents are demanding an immediate investigation into the management of the cemetery, as well as penalties for those responsible for violations of human respect and dignity, something that not even death has managed to preserve under the Cuban regime.
This new case, far from being isolated, adds to a long list of complaints regarding the deterioration of funeral services and institutional abandonment in Cuba, where the scarcity and negligence of the State extend even to the deceased.
History repeats itself
The San Rafael Cemetery in the city of Colón, Matanzas, reveals the deep neglect that plagues cemeteries in Cuba, according to a report from the state media that showcases striking images and testimonials from workers and neighbors outraged by the situation.
Built in the 1920s, this space was meant to be a place of rest, but today it presents a scene of open ossuaries, exposed bones, destroyed chapels, and an environment riddled with unhealthiness
Frequently asked questions about the abandonment and deterioration of cemeteries in Cuba
What has happened in the San Luis cemetery, Santiago de Cuba?
Neighbors have reported the abandonment of deteriorating coffins that are scattered uncontrollably in the local cemetery. This situation has caused outrage due to the lack of respect and the potential health implications.
What are the health concerns in San Luis cemetery?
The abandonment of potentially contaminated coffins in an unsupervised rural area could pose a direct risk to public health, due to exposure to untreated biological materials.
How have the authorities reacted to these complaints?
So far, neither funeral authorities nor the local government have provided public explanations regarding the situation at the San Luis cemetery, which has led to demands for answers from the residents.
What does the state of cemeteries in Cuba reflect about the government's management?
The deterioration of cemeteries in Cuba reflects the lack of state investment and institutional neglect towards funeral services, highlighting an abandonment that extends even to spaces designated for eternal rest.
Filed under: