Manuel Marrero Highlights Resilience at Havana Transport Fair: "We Are Still Standing"

The second International Transport and Logistics Fair held in Havana was described by Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz as proof that the Cuban regime continues to hold its ground despite decades of widespread mismanagement, particularly in the transportation sector. "It shows that we are still standing," Marrero Cruz stated during an interview with the National Television News (NTV), emphasizing the supposed commitment of Miguel Díaz-Canel's government to address the structural decline of the transport sector, which has been severely impacted by the island's economic crisis due to its poor management.

During the event's opening, Marrero defended the value of these fairs amidst criticism on social media labeling them as mere propaganda with no tangible outcomes. "On the contrary... This shows we are still standing, it demonstrates our commitment not only to sustain ourselves and emerge from this situation but also to grow," the head of government declared.

He highlighted projects such as electric tricycles and ambulances initiated in previous fairs, which are now operational in several provinces. "In places where reaching the hospital was problematic, now these transportation options are available at a modest price and continue to expand," he said.

Ambulance Services and International Cooperation

Regarding ambulances, Marrero pointed out a partnership with Mercedes Benz that ensures technical support and sustainability. "Today, they are operated by ambulance system drivers efficiently serving hospitals," Marrero affirmed, praising the opaque agreement signed earlier this year between MINSAP, MITRANS, and the joint venture MCV Comercial S.A.

Recent reports from state media indicate that public transport in Cuba only meets about 18% of national demand, while over 80% of the vehicle fleet is in critical or non-operational condition. In cities like Havana, where power outages and fuel shortages further complicate mobility, thousands of citizens rely on alternative solutions such as pedicabs, private trucks, and more recently, electric tricycles.

A Deep-rooted Crisis Born from State Mismanagement

Despite the official enthusiasm surrounding these events, the transportation reality in Cuba remains dire and is a direct result of decades of misguided policies, chronic underinvestment, and ineffective centralization. The decline of the public transport system is not a recent phenomenon nor solely a consequence of the current economic context but a culmination of a progressive deterioration that accelerated in the 1990s and has only deepened since then.

Before 1959, Cuba boasted one of the most efficient and advanced transportation systems in Latin America, featuring a functional railway network, tram lines in cities like Havana and Santiago, and a notable fleet of buses and taxis that ensured urban and rural mobility. However, following the "revolutionary" government's ascent, the statist model applied to all strategic sectors, including transportation, marked the beginning of a decline that has turned mobility in Cuba into a daily struggle for millions of citizens.

The lack of sustained investments, the deterioration of the motor vehicle fleet, the inability to produce spare parts, as well as the gradual elimination of railroad and efficient urban services, have left the population with few viable options. State policy has favored isolated projects without continuity or maintenance, many inspired by opportunistic agreements with political allies — first the USSR, then Venezuela and China — that failed to establish a sustainable infrastructure.

Today, the few state buses that operate do so with great difficulty; trains barely function, and passenger maritime transport is virtually nonexistent. Meanwhile, the private sector attempts to fill the gaps with converted trucks, aging classic cars, and improvised alternative transportation, often lacking clear regulations or minimum guarantees for users or drivers.

The fuel shortage, which the regime itself admits as one of the main current issues, has further exacerbated the crisis. In recent months, provinces like Villa Clara, Santiago, or Camagüey have had to suspend entire bus lines, prioritizing the scarce resources available for government-prioritized sectors.

Marrero Cruz's optimistic rhetoric at the fair contrasts starkly with this everyday reality: overcrowded stops, wait times exceeding two hours, a collapsed school transport system, and ambulance or emergency services with limited coverage. The public, however, lacks access to updated statistics that would clearly measure the crisis's impact, a common pattern in the management of a government that has been in power for 66 years and avoids acknowledging its direct responsibility in the sector's collapse.

Beyond fairs and announcements, concrete results remain elusive. Meanwhile, Cubans continue to wait for dignified, functional, and accessible transportation as an essential part of their rights and basic needs. Marrero Cruz's assertion of "we are still standing" raises a troubling question about how far the Cuban regime will go in its strategy to maintain power, despite the detrimental effects on citizens' quality of life.