The Marriage Palace in Sancti Spíritus, which had been closed for approximately two years due to severe structural deterioration, has been awarded through a public bidding process to the small and medium-sized enterprise Armonía. This company will undertake both the comprehensive rehabilitation of the building and the future management of its services, the provincial radio reported this Sunday.
Carlos Enrique León Reyes, director of the Provincial Property Management Company, confirmed that the bidding process concluded approximately a month ago and that the establishment was formally handed over to the new non-state actor, as reported by the broadcaster Radio Sancti Spíritus.
"It had been closed for about two years due to its construction condition, meaning the level of deterioration in the facilities, roof, and infrastructure in general. And it is an establishment that had been managed non-state for years, that is, leased to non-state economic actors," León explained.
Rehabilitation work is already underway and includes roofs, landscaping, walls, hydraulic and sanitation systems, coverings, overhangs, and floors, all while respecting the original colonial architecture of the building.
"They are repairing roofs, renovating all the landscaping, and patching walls. It is a fairly large construction project; it is a significant establishment in terms of size, structure, and infrastructure," the official explained.
The business project aims to restore the services that historically made the Palace a landmark for the people of Sancti Spíritus: a restaurant, a recreation area on the second floor with a bar, a café, and a bar.
In addition, the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise plans to produce bread and food on-site, without altering the building's structure. "Local services will be established within the existing framework, without modifying the structure of the property, to ensure these services," León specified.
The reopening is expected in a few months to host family celebrations such as weddings, quinceañeras, and birthdays.
The case of Sancti Spíritus is part of a trend that has accelerated this year: the Cuban government is handing over the management of iconic and deteriorated facilities to private entrepreneurs through bidding, while retaining ownership of the properties.
In July, the state-run company Cimex announced the bidding for 12 commercial establishments in Sancti Spíritus across several municipalities in the province.
In August, the government of Holguín announced a tender for its Marriage Palace, while Ciego de Ávila launched a similar process for the management of six bodegas under the Barrio Market project.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Domestic Trade has started to outline the procedure for awarding the management of family assistance system (SAF) dining establishments through tender to other economic actors, including the non-state sector.
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