In “danger of collapse”: a tour of the streets of Holguín

HOLGUÍN, Cuba. – On the streets of Holguín, the “Danger of Collapse” signs are more than just warnings: they testify to the negligence and lack of action by the authorities. Neither state institutions nor private homes are spared from the lack of maintenance; meanwhile, the population remains in a state of permanent alert.

Under condition of anonymity, a worker at the “Manuel Dositeo Aguilera” House of Culture, in the city of Holguinrevealed: “The theatre’s beams are bent, in danger of collapsing. Brigade after brigade passes through here, charging millions for unsatisfactory work. It seems like an endless cycle of mismanagement and embezzlement.”

The House of Culture, located in the heart of the city, is a visible symbol of the infrastructure problems that plague Holguín. “Imagine what the other buildings in danger of collapse that no one sees must be like,” the worker reflected.

On Maceo Street, near Loma de la Cruz, a “Danger of collapse” sign over the logo of the Union of Young Communists (UJC) Cuba not only warns about the risks.

For many, it is more than a physical warning: it is a symbol of the inefficiency and bureaucracy that prevails even in youth organizations. “That wall can collapse at any moment and fall on anyone who is walking on the sidewalk at that moment; it is a danger, they should demolish it,” he told CubaNet Esteban Téllez Acosta, a young man who was passing by.

Many corners in the city of Holguín tell a story of deterioration and abandonment. At the intersection of Libertad and Garayalde streets, for example, an old warehouse is on the verge of collapse, forcing passersby to walk in the middle of the street to avoid danger.

Armando Gutiérrez López, an affected resident, regrets the lack of action: “We have raised this in meetings with the delegate and we have written letters to the Government, but they have done nothing.”

Cases are multiplying throughout the city. In Cervantes, between Arias and Agramonte, a building with collapse warnings on its walls has become a canvas for expressions of love and heartbreak. Despite the visible messages and multiple complaints from residents, local authorities have ignored requests for demolition or repair. “It is a reflection of how negligence affects not only our lives, but also our identity as a community,” said Gladis Martínez Pérez, a Holguín resident who frequently passes by the site.

In 2018, the facade of a house on Aguilera Street, between Mártires and Máximo Gómez, suddenly collapsed. The structure, rudimentarily covered with cardboard, gives an idea of ​​the lack of investment in the city. “It is a house with an ugly facade that spoils the city; this government has no sense of belonging,” says Katiuska Ramos Peña, a young woman from Holguín.

The year 2020 marked Holguín’s tricentennial, a date that, instead of being celebrated with significant infrastructure improvements, was used as a showcase for a false image of progress.

During the celebrations, according to statements by Ricardo Suárez Martínez, president of the Municipal Assembly, to official mediaMore than 170 construction actions were carried out in parks, museums, important institutions of the city, health centers, educational centers, among others.

However, the resources were allocated to cosmetic projects while structural problems were ignored. “The government only made adjustments for its propaganda, while the city literally fell apart,” says Holguín resident Daniel Sánchez Hernández.

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April 19, 2023: Collapse in San Germán

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July 2023: Landslide in Gibara

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November 7, 2023: Sewer collapse on the road to Moa

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