The authorities in Guantánamo organized a closing event for Summer 2026 this Saturday, featuring roasted pork, churros, piña coladas, and cultural activities. However, on the same day, public transportation was paralyzed in several neighborhoods due to a lack of fuel, according to an official statement.
The Municipal Administration Council reported that, "due to a fuel shortage," there would be no transportation provided by the UEB Urban Buses during the day, affecting the settlements of Paraguay, Maqueisito, and other communities in the second ring. The entity requested that residents organize their travel in light of the situation and showcased the official profile Mi Guantánamo on Facebook.
The suspension of the service coincided with Noche Guantanamera, an event scheduled between 6:00 PM and midnight on Calixto García Street, featuring culinary offerings, music, and recreational activities for families, reported the source itself.
In the Plaza 24 de Febrero, the restaurants El Saltadero, León de Oriente, and La Avellaneda operated, along with stalls run by self-employed workers selling cotton, toys, pink popcorn, small bicycles, churros, and piña colada.
Along the street, establishments such as Jaibo, La Bodeguita, Noche Azul, Bayatiquiri, Guamá, Antillas, 1870, Los Corales, La Criolla, Venus, and México Lindo participated, among others.
The program also included screenings of videos and musical films at the Cine Huambo and the traditional Retreta at Parque Martí. Throughout the day, various activities took place, including a recreational sports festival at the Pedro Agustín Pérez multifunctional plaza, performances by the Carpandilla Variety Company at the Elpidio Valdés amusement park, and a Saturday of books at the Asdrúbal López bookstore, according to a report from the Cuban News Agency.
The coincidence reveals the unequal distribution of available resources amidst the crisis the province is facing. While entire communities were left without transportation due to the lack of fuel, the authorities maintained a recreational program that included cultural, gastronomic, and commercial activities throughout the day.
The fuel deficit has also impacted other essential services in Guantánamo. During August, the lack of fuel hindered garbage collection with trucks and forced a reliance on pushcarts and animal-drawn vehicles.
The shortage has also impacted agricultural activity. Tons of mangoes rotted in Río Seco because the Acopio entities did not have the means to collect the harvest.
The provincial energy situation worsened on August 27, when the entire eastern region of Cuba was disconnected from the National Electric System, following the simultaneous shutdown of three thermal power units.
The easternmost of the Cuban provinces relies on a single 110-kilovolt line from Santiago de Cuba to connect to the national grid, a situation that increases its vulnerability to system disruptions.
The events this Saturday presented a challenging scenario for the residents of the province. While some communities had to seek alternatives for transportation due to the suspension of public transport linked to a fuel shortage, the center of Guantánamo hosted a summer closing program featuring restaurants, vendors, music, and recreational activities.
The pattern was repeated in other provinces during the summer. In Holguín, the closing festivities sparked outrage as they took place amidst a backdrop of significant energy shortages that have condemned several areas to blackouts of more than 50 continuous hours.
The Fiestas de San Joaquín in Guantánamo, celebrated in mid-August, had already set the tone. The official newspaper Venceremos then acknowledged that the program was "tempered to the current real conditions of the territory," a summary that encapsulates the entire summer in Guantánamo.
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