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PINAR DEL RIO, March 28 (Víctor Rolando Arroyo, UPECI /
www.cubanet.org) The residents of Viñales, the primary tourist
attraction in Pinar del Río province, don’t have bus service.
With a population of 32,000, Viñales should have priority in the
allocation of transportation by the government because due to its topography it
is part of the so-called Special Mountain Plan.
"There are places such as the fishing town of La Esperanza where there
haven’t been any buses since 2000. They say these places were not included
in the fuel allocation," said activist Florentino C. Fernández, who
lives in Viñales.
Fernández pointed out that tourist buses constantly circulate through
the area. "The drivers of these vehicles are forbidden from picking up
residents, even if they have spare capacity," he said.
At the beginning of this year, an articulated vehicle was put in service in
the tourist areas and with the fare payable in dollars, which in no way
contributes to solving the population’s needs.
"Repeatedly Viñales residents have appealed to the local
government complaining of the lack of transportation and asking about the money
produced by foreign tourism. Officials simply repeat that the money is used to
benefit the community," said Fernández.
In January and February of this year alone, the owners of housing rented to
foreigners paid the government 54,000 dollars.
Versión
original en español
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