Las Tunas Officials Point to Public adn Businesses for Hygiene Issues

Officials in Las Tunas say that keeping teh eastern territory clean is largely the obligation of residents and private companies, though they acknowledge problems with how the city manages its services.

Osbel Lorenzo Rodríguez, the first secretary of the Cuba Communist Party (PCC) in the province, said that dealing with waste is a major concern in the city.

He admitted there are organizational issues with city services, but also criticized people for illegally dumping garbage and tree waste in areas where it isn’t allowed.He shared these thoughts during the monthly television program Tunasvisión, which features the area’s top political and government leaders and is covered by the official newspaper 26.

He also noted that the growth of private businesses has led to more waste and called for discussions with these businesses to prevent their activities from harming public cleanliness. He believes it’s important to improve interaction with the non-state sector.

Governor Yelenys Torres Menéndez explained that the amount of garbage in the city is increasing while the number of workers collecting it is decreasing.

She admitted there’s a long-term shortage of trucks and tractors and announced plans to divide the city into four zones,increase the number of garbage collectors,and hire private companies to help with waste removal.

Torres reported that 2,048 fines have been issued so far in 2025 for waste-related violations, but emphasized that preventing problems is more effective than punishing people after they happen.

She also criticized the poor condition of pedestrian walkways in the city, which she said is due to a lack of maintenance and people misusing them.

The governor said a program to renovate these areas is underway, including adding physical barriers to prevent cyclists and cars from using them, increasing the number of inspectors, and having more law enforcement officers present.

However, she pointed out that all of these efforts will fail if people don’t cooperate.

Recently, the official press in Las Tunas reported that the province is experiencing a rise in public disorder, including loud music, illegal dumping, vandalism, and attacks in public spaces.