A work team from the Ministry of Transportation (MITRANS), led by its director of Staff Carlos Guerra, toured the eight municipalities of Las Tunas to identify the main problems and propose solutions for the sector's gradual improvement.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- The visit, according to Minister Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila began with a meeting with local officials, followed by trips through the municipalities of Majibacoa, “Jesús Menéndez,” Las Tunas, Jobabo, “Colombia,” and “Amancio.” The experts exchanged with directors of the Transportation basic business units (UEB), Parliament deputies, and the population, to learn firsthand about the difficulties and advances in the matter.
Among the main problems identified were the lack of essential resources such as tires, batteries, and lubricants and insufficient fuel allocation. Despite these limitations, they praised that the distribution of products included in the regulated family basket, the transfer of patients requiring hemodialysis and students -even in the most remote communities-, is achieved. They also highlighted the commitment and willingness of the staff to overcome adversities.
In southern Las Tunas, they noted that, in municipalities such as Jobabo, just one of the ten established routes is operational, with only four trips a day, due to the lack of fuel and the poor condition of the roads. In other routes, such as the Colombia-Amancio, the work done in road recovery was observed, although it also faces limitations due to fuel shortages. When visiting the local railroad terminal, passengers expressed satisfaction with the availability of seats on the Manzanillo-Havana train. However, at the bus stops, many people face long waits due to the insufficient frequency of the services.
The directors left some basic instructions to the transportation authorities in the province. Follow up on the repair of roads, continue to search for alternatives to prioritize the allocation of fuel and essential resources, and improve the working conditions of the staff. It is necessary, they added, that Las Tunas review the contracts of the rented means of transportation to guarantee their operation under state orders; as well as increase control and demand to ensure a greater commitment to the transportation of passengers.
