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Lázaro Raúl González, CPI
HERRADURA, August (www.cubanet.org) - Getting around in Cuba is a heroic
act, one to be undertaken only in response to grave necessity."One goes out
only when there is no other option," said one elderly woman in Paso Real de
San Diego. "This is crazy, there are no buses, or any other way to get
about. The provincial bus lines have practically disappeared."
It takes the woman four hours to travel the 40 kilometers (25 miles) between
Paso Real and the provincial capital of Pinar del Río, the only place
where she can take her grandson for needed X-rays.
Recently, the one remaining bus service between Pinar del Río and
Sandino was canceled. Previously, two of the three available trains in the same
route had been canceled.
Now, the government has come down hard on private citizens who provide some
transportation services. By levying fines and canceling licenses, the
authorities have reduced the number of trucks rendering service in Havana from
40 to 18.
Recently the Ministry of Transportation issued a reminder that according to
Law 261/99, not only can fines be levied, but vehicles can be confiscated for
illegally transporting passengers.
Versión
original en español
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