Social promises without funding: the reality of care for impoverished people in Las Tunas

Despite the official rhetoric that speaks of commitment and social sensitivity, the reality in the province of Las Tunas reveals that policies aimed at impoverished individuals operate with minimal budgets, limited implementation, and profound territorial inequalities that condemn thousands to an eternal wait for solutions.

The figures from the first half of the year show that only one third of the resources allocated to social programs have been implemented.

“That impacts the attention to communities in vulnerable situations and keeps the rating of social infrastructure at 'insufficient,’” acknowledged the provincial newspaper 26.

The government actions that are supposedly intended to benefit , people with disabilities, or the elderly operate "with a resource coverage at the limit." Furthermore, social infrastructure continues to be described as "insufficient," with no tangible improvements in the quality of life for the most vulnerable sectors.

In the municipalities most affected by poverty, such as Jobabo, Amancio, and Majibacoa, the lack of resources is critical. While specific efforts are acknowledged, such as the creation of children's houses or community prevention groups, progress is marginal in the face of a reality of neglect.

In Jobabo, for example, 40% of the population's concerns remain unresolved, while in Amancio the budget execution for social issues is low compared to other areas.

The fiscal figures mask an unbalanced economy. While Las Tunas displays high revenue and a reduced provincial deficit, the so-called “bifurcated economy” - in which the financial and fiscal sector improves, but not material production - shows that these advances do not translate into real improvements for the population.

The collection of fines and strict controls sustain revenue, but resources do not flow to where they are most needed.

The supposed "improvement" in the job placement of displaced individuals is also questionable, as most of the generated jobs fall into informality and do not offer real guarantees. According to the source, “there is a high resistance to formal employment,” reflecting a labor market lacking appeal and proper conditions.

The inequalities between municipalities reinforce the perception of institutional neglect. In the provincial capital, there are more childcare centers, the housing deficit is noticeable, and dairy production continues to fall short.

Puerto Padre stands out in its care for the elderly, "but there are too many neglected rural communities". In Majibacoa, low productivity combines with an ineffective apparatus for tax collection.

The governor Yelenis Tornet asserts that Las Tunas will prioritize investment in agriculture and livestock to ensure food availability, and has also proposed "to accelerate social infrastructure projects, housing, and services focused, for example, on the less favored communities."

But those statements, repeated year after year, no longer convince. The rhetoric about sensitivity, creativity, and dedication cannot replace the lack of real funding and the inability to turn programs into concrete actions.

In a province marked by migration, aging, and poverty, unfunded social promises are not enough. The contrast between fiscal figures and the precariousness of daily life reveals a model that continues to fail where it matters most: in the well-being of its people.

The government itself acknowledged on July 16 that more than 310,000 people residing on the island are currently in a state of poverty or social vulnerability, amidst a profound economic crisis and intense public controversy over recent official statements that denied the existence of homelessness on the island.

The Cuban regime attributes the increase of people living on the streets to family neglect and the tightening of the United States embargo.

Far from any self-criticism, the State does not acknowledge its responsibility in this crisis and chooses reactive measures to conceal its symptoms. It also fails to address the structural causes of the phenomenon, which are centered on the collapse of the economic model, family disintegration, demographic aging, and mass emigration.

While the authorities beautify poverty with euphemisms and unrealistic figures, a growing population of elderly, sick, and marginalized individuals survives outdoors in the province of Matanzas, without effective policies to support them or any genuine willingness to acknowledge what the country hides under the rug.

At the end of April, a report from the official newspaper Girón revealed one of the most painful realities of contemporary Cuba: the extreme precariousness in which thousands of retirees live who, after decades of work, find themselves forced to survive on the streets.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Social and Economic Situation in Las Tunas, Cuba