The transportation crisis in Cuba has reached such an extent that people in Santiago de Cuba are paying up to 1,500 pesos to get onto an underground waiting list at the train terminal in order to travel. One affected individual, named Esther, reported to journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada the hardships she is enduring to leave the province.
"We have been here for weeks trying to travel and have achieved nothing. Outside, there are about five lists created by people who run this as a business, and the needy people are the ones who can't solve it. They charge 1,500 pesos, not to register, but to get on the so-called list," she detailed.
Esther criticized the attitude of the staff at the Union of Railways, who are not doing their job, and questioned why people have to register on an underground list if their job is to register the public.
"But fundamentally, what is the Railway Police doing that they don't dismantle this chain of illegalities when they know who these people are?" she emphasized.
Esther sent several photos to Facebook of some of the people involved in this business at the terminal. She added that the person responsible for the waiting list at the station is the director of the Travelers Agency, named Eliades. She tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't even attend to her.
Understanding the Transportation Crisis in Santiago de Cuba
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the current transportation issues faced by travelers in Santiago de Cuba.
Why are people in Santiago de Cuba paying for an underground waiting list?
Due to the severe transportation crisis, people are forced to pay to get onto an unofficial waiting list at the train terminal to secure a spot for travel.
Who is responsible for this underground waiting list?
The director of the Travelers Agency, named Eliades, is said to be responsible for managing this unofficial waiting list.
What actions are being taken against these illegal practices?
Currently, there seems to be little to no action taken by the Railway Police to dismantle this illegal system, despite knowing the people involved.