A recent visit by the Cuban Vice President, Inés María Chapman, to the municipality of Manzanillo (Granma) concluded with a strong public demand for potable water and the decline of basic services in the city.
In a video that has gone viral in recent hours, but which dates back to September 24, Chapman, accompanied by the president of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH), Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez, toured several neighborhoods in the area to assess the water supply crisis.
However, that meeting with the neighbors turned into a scene of collective frustration and direct complaints to the Government.
In the Reparto Gutiérrez, the residents took advantage of the authorities' presence to express their indignation over the lack of concrete solutions.
"Everything here is worse, and personally, I haven't seen anyone trying to solve anything. My husband had spinal surgery, and we don't even have water." said one of the neighbors, while other residents reported that even the local hospital lacks a stable supply.
“They haven't put in any fuel, and after she came, everything got worse. There's not even water in the hospital”, lamented another woman, visibly upset by the lack of action from the leaders.
A man stated that although the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel claimed that blackouts should not last more than 20 hours a day, that town experiences up to 35 consecutive hours without electricity.
The complaints, recorded by residents and shared on social media, reveal the discontent of a population weary from years of shortages.
In the circulated videos, neighbors can be heard directly addressing Chapman and Rodríguez, while denouncing that the Government's promises are never fulfilled.
"No one ever comes here, only when there are cameras or important visits, but the water still does not arrive. There is none in the hospital or in the houses," exclaimed a man among the crowd.
The Vice Prime Minister, visibly uncomfortable, stated that "efforts are being made" to improve the supply and promised to return in October; however, it is unclear whether the official has returned to Manzanillo as she promised in September.
The water problem in Manzanillo is not new. Residents claim that the service is inconsistent, with interruptions lasting weeks, while local wells are contaminated and the pumping system experiences failures due to a lack of maintenance and fuel. Sanitary conditions have deteriorated, impacting hospitals, schools, and homes.
According to testimonies gathered by independent media, authorities often visit the area following reports on social media, but their promises fade away once the cameras are turned off. “After they came, everything got worse,” the neighbors repeat.
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