Johana Tablada, the Deputy Director General for the United States at Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex), acknowledged the presence of waste on Cuban streets but attempted to downplay the issue by comparing it to other countries. She insisted that Havana is not the only city facing hygiene challenges outside tourist areas.
In her effort to minimize the problem, Tablada highlighted that Cuba boasts one of the largest and best-restored historic centers in Latin America, though she admitted not all areas have received the same attention. During her appearance on the Alma Plus video podcast, hosted by official journalist Laura Prada, Tablada claimed that international criticism of Cuba’s cleanliness is part of a “demonization campaign” against the country.
“That’s why there’s this push to demonize everything… Yes, there is trash on the streets, but we are not the country with the most garbage in the world, nor are we the only city that has a tourist circuit… which is constantly maintained for the visitors we receive from around the world, while there are areas that haven’t yet seen restoration,” she emphasized.
Tablada blamed the media and U.S. government policies for focusing on the garbage issue rather than what she described as the country’s “natural beauties.” Her assertion that Havana does not have the “most garbage” highlights the gap between the official narrative, which seeks to downplay a daily issue, and the lived experiences of Cubans who deal with overflowing trash bins and inadequate waste collection systems.
Rather than announcing specific measures to tackle the garbage accumulation, the newly appointed ambassador’s message pivoted towards international comparisons and blaming the press, leaving the urgent need for action in a city overwhelmed by neglect and filth unanswered.
In Havana, one of the most notorious garbage dumps has gone viral on social media, serving as a testament to the decay of what was once a vibrant capital. Located on Virtudes Street, between Consulado and Industria, near the former Havana Musical Theater, the dump overflows at a corner and stretches a block in either direction.
The accumulation of garbage is rampant across the city, raising concerns about an out-of-control public health crisis for which the government has found no solution. Recently, the uncontrolled buildup of trash on several Vedado street corners has alarmed residents of this central Havana neighborhood, who have reported the prevailing unsanitary conditions and warned of the dangers as the cyclone season approaches.
On streets like 25 and H, 17 and 10, or 13 and 10, images reveal an alarming reality: overflowing trash bins, makeshift dumps on public roads, and waste piling up for days without collection.
In the Cerro municipality of Havana, the accumulation of garbage has once again sparked outrage among residents who denounce the unsanitary conditions and government inaction, as they endure flies, foul odors, and the fear of disease.
However, the spread of garbage, unpleasant smells, and pest proliferation are part of everyday life in other Cuban cities and towns. A few weeks ago, a young Cuban woman shared her account on social media about neglect and waste buildup on Matanzas’s Vía Blanca, one of the city’s busiest avenues and a tourist area due to its proximity to the sea. “Little by little, garbage is taking over the most beautiful places in our province,” she lamented.
The city of Cienfuegos, often regarded as the cleanest in Cuba, presents a dirty and neglected face every Saturday after the popular Feria de La Calzada, a marketplace that becomes a focal point of waste and neglect.
The former Hotel Venus, situated on the central San Félix Street in Santiago de Cuba, has turned into a hub of filth and ruins, one of many examples of the neglect and decay affecting significant parts of the island’s architectural heritage.
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