Víctor Rolando Arroyo, UPECI
PINAR DEL RIO, June - Here in Pinar del Río province, as in the rest
of Cuba, new construction projects are started every day by government entities
who are the only ones with access to construction materials.
These projects are meant to increase the number of dollar stores, hotels for
foreign tourists, banking agencies, and any other operations that will
contribute to the government's effort to obtain the hated but much-needed
dollars.
For this type of construction there is never any shortage of materials. They
are always completed in minimal time and with excellent quality.
There are also no shortages when building housing for the upper echelons of
the Party. Construction brigades guarantee luxurious, roomy and comfortable
housing for these officials.
Yet, every day the roofs and walls of buildings housing businesses serving
the population who pays in pesos deteriorate further. During the month of May,
there was an increase in the number of total and partial collapses. The roofs
are usually the first to go; rotting wood and broken tiles that are not
replaced.
For those without dollars, Cuban workers who get paid in pesos, housing
problems are seldom solved. For them, there are no available resources; only
entreaties by officials to be understanding and to have patience.
Versión
original en español
CubaNet does not require sole rights from its
contributors. We authorize the reproduction and distribution of this article as
long as the source is credited.
|