US Blockade affects transportation in Holguín
- Written by Redacción ¡ahora!
- Published in Holguin
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The intensification of the US economic, commercial, and financial blockade against Cuba is severely impacting transportation in Holguín, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
This policy has led to the near-total paralysis of various services by preventing the acquisition of spare parts, components, and fossil fuels, Wilmer García Ramírez, general director of the Provincial Transportation Company in this territory, told the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
Among the most affected services are those serving isolated communities, including those in the Holguín Turquino Plan region, whose mountainous roads require specialized vehicles, mostly Kamaz trucks, which are difficult to supply with the spare parts required for repairs.
The rail lines that connect to rural areas have also suffered interruptions due to fuel shortages, he noted.
The main limitation is the low availability of oil and diesel, which prevents to maintain the frequency of routes, compromises the stability of schedules, and reduces passenger confidence when supplies arrive.
Restricted access to external markets affects the technical and material maintenance of the vehicle fleet, especially components such as tires and batteries. In response, the Ministry of Transportation is promoting alternatives to achieve a gradual recovery and prevent further equipment downtime.
Despite the disruptions to public transportation, which is still far from meeting the population's demand, the province is fulfilling its adjusted plan through buses and leased vehicles, the approval of licenses for electric tricycles, and the gradual shift to a new energy source.
García Ramírez noted that more than 24 routes have been restored, primarily intercity routes, where the greatest impact on the public is concentrated.
The United States government formalized the blockade against Cuba on February 7, 1962, a policy that has caused considerable economic damage and limited the development of various social sectors in the country. (Source: ACN)
