A section of the railing of the General Lacret Morlot Bridge, popularly known as the Versailles Bridge or La Concordia, has disappeared in Matanzas, leaving those who cross on foot over the Yumurí River without protection, including elderly individuals who rely on these structures to walk.
The official newspaper Girón documented the deterioration of the historic bridge this Sunday in its photographic column Cámara Viva, featuring several snapshots, including one showing an elderly man using the handrails for support as he encounters the section that has been torn away. Similar images are circulating on social media.
The state media does not rule out vandalism as a cause of the dismantling, although it also points to the passage of time, lack of maintenance, and the effects of saltpeter.
"Whoever removed that railing not only took a piece of metal: they took part of the safety of pedestrians, part of the city's history, and imposed an additional expense on the entire community that the country did not have," the newspaper noted.
The incident had been reported at the beginning of the month on social media when citizens drew attention to the disappearance of a section of the metal railings.
A few days later, it was reported that two individuals were caught attempting to steal eight aluminum tubes from the Viaducto de Matanzas in the La Playa area. The police intervention prevented this theft.
Officials from the Ministry of the Interior have explained that those responsible for these thefts take advantage of poorly monitored facilities to steal metal materials, which they then sell in the informal market due to the widespread scarcity affecting the country.
The pattern repeats in other public spaces around the city. In May, the perimeter fence of the Armando Carnot children's park, adjacent to the Versalles bridge, was disappearing section by section without any action from the authorities.
The bridge, inaugurated on November 4, 1878, near the mouth of the Yumurí, is considered the first iron bridge in Cuba. Inaugurated by the then Captain General of the Island, Arsenio Martínez Campos (1831-1900), its name is related to the time of "apparent concord" that Cuba experienced after "the peace" of Zanjón.
It is also the only road link between the Versalles neighborhood and downtown Matanzas, making it critical infrastructure for the city.
Its structural deterioration has been ongoing for a long time. In May 2025, an urgent repair was announced, but by May the work had been stalled for eight months without significant progress, with deep cracks, moisture erosion, and an invasive ficus at one of its entrances.
"Are there no responsible eyes to see this?" then asked Ramón Recondo Pérez, a specialist from the Architecture and Engineering Projects Company of Matanzas.
The repair of the bridge is included in the investment package planned for the 333rd anniversary of Matanzas, which will be celebrated this December.
"The repair of the bridge is included in the plans for the city's 333rd anniversary. The budget for the investment may need to be adjusted," emphasized Girón.
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