The ongoing transportation crisis in Cuba has left travelers seeking to journey from Santiago de Cuba to Havana facing up to six days on a waiting list. This troubling scenario was highlighted by a social media user who shared the plight of his mother, describing her as "diabetic, hypertensive," and now burdened by "stress and discontent" due to the situation.
The user specifically pointed to the Viajeros Terminal on Martí Street in Santiago, the departure point for buses heading to the Cuban capital and other provinces. "I’ve had to take my mother there for the last six days," noted Hugo A. Valdez Hernández in the Facebook group “Bazar Santiago de Cuba.”
However, the issues are not unique to his mother; other users of the service face similar frustrations. "The complaints are not hers alone. We know people who have been there for over a week, enduring the corruption and theft that goes on there, with the waiting list not moving for more than six days," he asserted.
Valdez added that it wasn’t until Wednesday, May 22, that the list number finally moved, going from 110 to 153, though he did not clarify whether his mother managed to secure a spot on the bus. "Stop the abuse; the other day, an elderly man fainted. If you can do something, do it, but don’t make people come here for over a week just to sell tickets under the table. Have some conscience; not everyone in this country has 5000 pesos to pay for a bus," he appealed in his denunciation, highlighting the severe transportation issues plaguing Cuba.
Comments on the post reveal widespread frustration with the situation, casting doubt on the government’s explanations, which often blame the U.S. "blockade" for all the island’s problems. "We face two blockades daily: one for any kind of procedure and the other that we know of. It's just unhappiness and frustration," one user remarked.
Another person commented that high prices sometimes do not match the train's capacity, leading to empty trains preferred by station officials. Months ago, passengers at the Villanueva waiting list terminal in Havana demanded answers from Cuban authorities regarding the transportation crisis gripping the country.
Various videos online show hundreds of people crowded in the terminal, waiting for a vehicle to take them to their destinations. However, no resolution has been found for these passengers, and the harsh consequences continue to affect everyday Cuban life.
Recently, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, during his YouTube program 'Desde la Presidencia,' acknowledged that the transportation sector is experiencing its "worst moments in recent years." He admitted that the country lacks the necessary income and fuel to stabilize public transportation, with some units out of service due to a lack of parts and poor technical condition, while others are grounded by fuel shortages.
In at least 121 municipalities across the country's 15 provinces, the population is significantly concerned about the lack of transport, he noted.
Understanding Cuba's Transportation Crisis
The following questions and answers provide further insight into the transportation issues affecting Cuba, particularly the challenges faced by travelers and the broader implications for the population.
What are the main causes of Cuba's transportation crisis?
The main causes include a lack of income and fuel, poor technical conditions of transportation units, and corruption within the transportation system.
How long are travelers currently waiting to travel from Santiago de Cuba to Havana?
Travelers are facing waiting times of up to six days to secure a spot on the waiting list for a bus from Santiago de Cuba to Havana.
What has the Cuban government said about the transportation issues?
Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez has acknowledged that the transportation sector is experiencing its worst moments in recent years, citing a lack of income and fuel as major factors.