Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Assesses Water Availability in Holguin
- Written by Yenisel Elcea Olbine
- Published in Holguin
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Photos: Yenisel Elcea Olbine/Radio AnguloDeputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman Waugh visited Holguin to assess the province’s preparations and actions aimed at guaranteeing the water supply to the population. This visit took place against the backdrop of the intensified U.S. blockade against Cuba, which seeks to strangle the country economically.
The working meeting was attended by Vicente de la O Levy, Minister of Energy and Mines. Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez, National President of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources. And Joel Queipo Ruíz, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in the province. Together with sector executives and local authorities, they analyzed the main difficulties currently limiting the water supply in several municipalities of Holguin.
Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Assesses Water Availability in Holguin 0
During the meeting, Juan Mario Hechavarría, the provincial delegate for Hydraulic Resources, addressed the issues preventing stable service delivery in various communities. He cited factors such as power outages, equipment breakdowns, and the poor condition of some water mains. Situations exacerbated by the island’s complex energy crisis. Which necessitates the search for sustainable alternatives to reach residents.
Among the key constraints highlighted, it was reported that over sixty thousand residents are affected by equipment breakdowns. While more than eighty thousand are affected by power supply issues. However, the number of affected residents has decreased significantly compared to the previous week, thanks to the restoration of equipment.
The hardest-hit areas are Mayari and Cacocum, where work is underway to repair the Cauto water main. For Mayari, plans are being studied for two gravity-fed water mains that would benefit more than 20,000 people. Urbano Noris, for its part, lacks a reliable, nearby water source. Water must be pumped from the Cauto River, a journey of about three hours. This situation was compounded by a four-month halt in pumping operations caused by the theft of dielectric oil from a transformer at the water treatment plant.
Solutions implemented include rehabilitating and restarting that plant. Activating backup generators, drilling wells, extracting a faulty pump from the Cauto River, and repairing the distribution network and damaged equipment. Additionally, a schedule was adopted to provide electricity service every three days for approximately 10 hours. Ensuring the rest of the population could also be served.
During the meeting, calls were made to adopt measures that had proven effective during previous droughts in the province. Such as restoring disused wells, drilling new ones, and utilizing hand pumps, photovoltaic panels, and windmills.
Joel Queipo Ruíz emphasized the need to maintain unity between institutions and the public. Urging that no time be wasted analyzing problems so that concrete solutions could be implemented as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Inés María Chapman Waugh called for the involvement of local governments, state and non-state economic actors, and the general public in every municipality, noting that everyone must contribute to the solutions.
She also criticized resistance to changing operational methods, citing the need to take better advantage of daylight hours. She reminded attendees that the intensified blockade necessitates seeking alternatives and urged the use of all communication channels. Ranging from X, Facebook, and Telegram to traditional community outreach.
Also the day concluded with a call to redouble coordination among all agencies, prioritize the most challenging areas, and waste no time in implementing solutions. Ensuring a water supply for the population of Holguin is an urgent matter requiring unity, creativity, and adherence to approaches that have already proven successful in the region. (Source : Radio Angulo)
