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Amid a deep crisis of public transportation in Cuba, the regime announced -for the umpteenth time- progress on a bus repair program intended for the capital's transportation system, a promise that comes too late for millions of Cubans trapped daily in long waits, overcrowding, and prohibitive prices.
According to the official newspaper Granma, the Evelio Prieto Guillama Bus Production Company (Caisa), located in Guanajay and the only assembler of this type of vehicle on the Island, is working on the recovery of 100 buses which, according to the official plan, should be gradually incorporated by 2026. The program includes 60 rigid Yutong buses and 40 articulated ones, as reported by the newspaper El Artemiseño.
Promises in the Face of a Stifling Reality
The management of Caisa assured that the first eight repaired buses will be delivered within the current month. However, this announcement contrasts with the daily situation faced by citizens: vanished routes, unpredictable schedules, and overcrowded stops from early morning.
Amid the collapse of state transportation, thousands of families are forced to turn to private vehicles, an almost indispensable alternative for getting from point A to point B, but with high costs that hit hard on the already strained pockets of Cubans. In many provinces, getting to work, school, or a hospital has become a luxury.
Blackouts, fuel, and foreign donations
The official report itself acknowledges that the repair plan has faced significant delays due to prolonged blackouts and a lack of fuel for transporting personnel during the second half of 2025, structural issues that affect nearly all sectors of the country.
To try to overcome these limitations, the company relies on donations of parts and components from China, as well as the local manufacturing of some pieces and the hiring of third parties from the national industry. In other words, even the recovery of public transport is still dependent on external assistance.
Getting Around in Cuba: A Daily Odyssey
Today, getting around in Cuba is an obstacle course: hours of waiting in the sun, journeys in precarious conditions, almost complete reliance on private transport, and an expense that is disproportionate compared to wages.
Meanwhile, official announcements progress at a pace very different from the actual needs of the population.
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