A collapse in the early hours of Monday in Santiago de Cuba, where a kiosk wall crumbled, highlighted the nation's crisis: people scavenging bricks for reuse.
Journalist Yosmany Mayeta reported on Facebook that the incident happened at the intersection of streets A and 3 in Vista Hermosa, in front of a Baptist Church. "With the construction material shortage, some individuals have started arriving at the site to take bricks for their homes," he noted, emphasizing the severe situation in the country, where those building homes must use any available resources to meet their needs.
According to Mayeta, this corner is very busy because locals have turned it into a dumping ground; however, no human injuries were reported following the wall collapse of the kiosk, which sold produce. "Thankfully, it happened at night when no one was dumping garbage or passing by, otherwise they might have been crushed by the falling wall," a local resident told the journalist.
"I advise drivers and motorcyclists using this street to take safety precautions because there are still concrete and brick debris in the middle of the road, which could be very hazardous for vehicles," warned Mayeta, highlighting the regime's inaction on the issue of solid waste collection.
In 2023, Santiago de Cuba was one of the provinces with the fewest housing constructions, along with Camagüey, Holguín, and Havana. This situation forces people to use any means to solve the long-standing problem of having a decent home, such as salvaging bricks from a collapse. The regime has consistently failed to meet its housing construction plans for several years but has not missed its hotel construction targets, despite their low occupancy rates.
Granma reported that by the end of October, only about 13,300 buildings were completed in Cuba, representing just 54% of the annual plan.
Understanding the Construction Crisis in Cuba
To provide further insight into the construction material shortage in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
What triggered the brick scavenging in Santiago de Cuba?
The brick scavenging was triggered by the collapse of a kiosk wall in Santiago de Cuba, highlighting the severe shortage of construction materials in the country.
Why is there a construction material shortage in Cuba?
The shortage is primarily due to the economic inefficiencies and mismanagement by the socialist regime, which has failed to meet the housing construction needs while prioritizing hotel construction.
How has the regime's focus on hotel construction affected housing availability?
The regime's focus on hotel construction, despite low occupancy rates, has diverted resources away from housing projects, exacerbating the housing crisis in Cuba.
What was the completion rate of the housing plan in Cuba by October 2023?
By the end of October 2023, only about 13,300 buildings were completed, representing just 54% of the annual housing plan.