A fire destroyed a large part of the Mirador de Guisa this Sunday, in the province of Granma, an emblematic space of the municipality that had been in deterioration and neglect for years despite official promises of repair.
Images and videos shared on social media show the facility engulfed in flames, as well as the damage following the incident, with several fire trucks and dozens of people gathered around the affected area once the fire was contained.
The photographs and recordings were shared by residents in local Facebook groups, where testimonies and opinions about the incident quickly began to circulate.
The user Rubiel Segura Oliva stated on his Facebook profile that all indications pointed to someone having set fire to the flagship restaurant in the area, while ironically questioning whether this incident would resolve everyday problems in the municipality such as prolonged blackouts or food shortages.
For her part, Leannis Lisbeth Sosa Barzaga, through the group Revolico Guisa-Granma-Cuba on the social network, shared images of how the installation looked at dawn this Sunday.
An element that has intensified suspicions regarding the cause of the fire was subsequently revealed by content creator Rickee Estrada, who posted on his Facebook profile an image of the location where a spray-painted message reading “Down with the dictatorship” can be seen on one of the structures of the Mirador.
According to Estrada himself, the graffiti would be evidence that what happened at the facility was not an accident, but rather an intentional act.
So far, there has been no statement from the authorities regarding the incident.
In the comments on the posts, many residents expressed sadness and outrage over the destruction of a space that was part of the collective memory of the community.
Some called for the identification of those responsible and for the full weight of the law to be applied if it is confirmed that the fire was deliberately set.
Other residents pointed out that the site had been in poor condition and non-functional for years, so they believed that the fire ultimately destroyed a facility that was already practically abandoned.
The Guisa Lookout had been suffering from significant deterioration for some time, which had been reported on social media by residents and emigrants from the municipality.
Recently shared photographs showed broken windows, accumulated trash, fallen trees, and interior areas in ruins.
The building, founded on December 31, 1983, was for decades one of the main meeting points in the municipality.
Perched on top of a hill and renowned for its structure and broad stairways, it was a regular stop for visitors and a common venue for family gatherings and social activities.
In March 2020, the official newspaper La Demajagua reported that the site would undergo a major renovation that included the restoration of 15 rooms, the replacement of the restaurant's roof, improvements to the kitchen and terrace, as well as the construction of a swimming pool and other complementary works.
However, the subsequent deterioration of the property and the images circulated on social media suggest that those promises failed to reverse the neglect of the site.
The case of the Mirador de Guisa adds to the long list of recreational and heritage facilities in Cuba that have fallen into ruin amid the economic crisis, lack of maintenance, and scarcity of state investment.
Residents of the municipality argue that the destruction of the site symbolizes not only the loss of a recreational space but also years of institutional neglect that ultimately left one of the local symbols to its fate.
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