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The Catholic Church's appeal in Santiago de Cuba shook social media: the pastor of the Santísima Trinidad church and his community publicly denounced the accumulation of garbage in front of the temple, describing the situation as "outrageous, painful, and profoundly disrespectful."
According to a post by the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba on its official Facebook page, Father Raoul Bekolo, along with the parishioners, demanded that local authorities immediately remove the waste accumulated in front of the main entrance and take measures to prevent the issue from recurring.
"Enough already! No more trash in front of the church!" wrote the parish priest in a post that reflected the outrage of the parishioners, as well as denouncing a situation that has become habitual over the years at this central temple in Santiago de Cuba.
The message denounces the lack of management of community services and the loss of respect for the religious and public spaces in the city.
The Santísima Trinidad Temple, regarded as a spiritual and historical center for the people of Santiago, has long suffered from the effects of institutional neglect.
"The trash in front of the temple not only pollutes the environment but also tarnishes the image of a city rich in culture, history, and spirituality," lamented the priest.
The Christian community requested that a lasting solution be ensured and that civic education be promoted to foster respect for the environment and sacred places.
In the words of Father Bekolo, faith is also demonstrated by taking care of what belongs to everyone: “No more trash in front of the house of God!”
In Santiago de Cuba, the situation of neglect and lack of respect towards religious spaces has been repeatedly denounced by priests and faith communities.
On at least three separate occasions, a church in the Reparto Flores was attacked with stones, breaking windows and damaging walls, despite being a center that provides community services such as food and drinking water.
The impunity of these acts has been questioned by the religious leaders themselves, who claim that the authorities have not taken effective measures.
In another parish of the city, the installation of a platform and even a public restroom in front of the temple was reported by a priest as an infringement on religious freedom.
Despite the interruption of its liturgical activities, the community continued its humanitarian work and publicly denounced institutional disrespect.
The problem is not exclusive to the temples. Throughout the eastern part of the country, reports of garbage accumulation in sensitive areas have increased, as happened in front of the Guantánamo cemetery, where residents coexist with waste without any official response.
The situation was described by residents as "unhealthy and humiliating," in an area designated for the resting of the deceased. The community reported the neglect and demanded solutions, as detailed in the testimony of Guantanamo families.
Meanwhile, from Havana, the Cuban regime itself has publicly acknowledged that it cannot maintain urban cleaning services.
The lack of resources, combined with poor management, has led to the collapse of community systems throughout the country.
This official recognition was embodied in a public admission of inability to clean or pay for basic services, which calls into question the government's genuine willingness to address these issues.
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