Life in communist Cuba: Mountains of garbage, sewage, and mosquitoes

For many Cubans, life on the island is to be surrounded by garbage, raw sewage running through the streets, and be devoured by disease-carrying mosquitoes. In other words, a socialist paradise.

Cuban independent journalist Gladys Linares explains in CubaNet (my translation):

Life in Cuba: Garbage dumps, sewage, and mosquitoes

The air we breathe is saturated with countless viruses, although health authorities only warn about Oropuche and Dengue

Those who live or have lived in Cuba are aware that in any neighborhood, city, town, or locality, whether urban or rural, the same depressing and desolate landscape awaits us when we step out onto the street: endless garbage dumps, often accompanied by sewage water, remain uncollected for weeks. These not only pollute the environment with their foul emissions but also serve as a refuge for numerous rats, flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes, all of which are carriers of countless diseases.

These perpetual mountains of garbage grow daily, and as they increase in size, the pests inhabiting them expand their habitat, becoming unwelcome guests in our homes. We have no means to combat them, as it has been many years since effective fumigation or the sale of effective poisons to eliminate these disease vectors has been sporadic and often requires foreign currency, which much of the population cannot access. Therefore, we are constantly exposed to the diseases they transmit.

Sometimes, frustrated by governmental indifference and concerned about the proliferation of vermin and the risk of illness to themselves and their families, some neighbors resort to desperate measures like burning waste. Often, this remedy proves worse as flames spread to electrical poles or even nearby homes. Despite this, some still opt for the drastic method, perhaps convinced that fire will purify all the evils contained in the garbage. Recently, a neighbor remarked to me: “We are living amidst filth; I just saw a man throw animal entrails into the corner dumpster. That needs to be set on fire because the stench is unbearable.”

“There are no resources to clean up the country,” lament the leaders, attempting to evade responsibility by blaming the “tightening of the blockade.” However, by now, Cubans no longer believe them. On the contrary, more and more question how the “blockade” doesn’t prevent them from spending money and resources on national and international congresses and celebrations.

The truth is, Cuba is currently experiencing one of its most severe epidemiological crises since the Republic began. The very air we breathe is saturated with countless viruses. Health authorities only warn about diseases like Oropouche fever and dengue, and that’s only when cases become so numerous that an epidemic can no longer be concealed.

The serious problem of uncollected garbage is not new; it has persisted for decades. The decrease and deterioration of containers have also contributed to the problem. Many have lost their wheels and lids due to rampant vandalism inherent in a totalitarian system like ours. Additionally, negligent handling by employees of the Communal Services Company (who, after emptying them, often discard them carelessly instead of properly placing them) has caused many to lose corners or stability. Thus, it became customary to dump trash on the sidewalk, which, combined with irregular collection, turned our towns and cities into garbage dumps.

In one of the many apologetic “reports” occasionally broadcast on Cuban Television, a leader from Communal Services acknowledged “difficulties” such as a shortage of workers. However, he omitted to mention the main causes of this deficiency, such as low wages or the lack of essential protective equipment. Regarding the shortage of personnel, the report mentioned the use of prisoners for this work. Nevertheless, this practice is far from new or optional under the Castro regime; no prisoner can refuse to work wherever they are assigned, even in such hazardous tasks as waste collection.