While the moment when Hurricane Ian passed over Cuba recedes in time, variables such as the agility and quality of each recovery action increase its value; because those affected – who must also be the architects of each step forward – await the best and most expeditious responses, to gradually erase the gigantic trail of destruction caused by a natural phenomenon that raged against the westernmost part of the Island.
As in a battlefield, all the possible forces available to the country move, and they are assigned to the places hardest hit by the hurricane gusts. Each decision – whether it is a strategic plan, or a more tactical orientation – is permanently evaluated by the country’s leadership in check-ups such as the one that took place this Tuesday afternoon, from the Palace of the Revolution, and which was headed by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
The province of Pinar del Río, the most damaged by the meteor, had the largest number of analyzes in a meeting that also included Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz from the presidency; and with the Vice President of the Republic, Salvador Valdés Mesa. Both of them; members of the Political Bureau.
As reported via video-conference by the first secretary of the Communist Party in Pinar del Río, Yamilé Ramos Cordero, 5,244 people are currently evacuated from the territory. And in relation to the recovery of the electrical service, she explained that the figure already reaches 57.41%.
On this last front, when breaking down data, Yamilé Ramos Cordero said that the municipality of Mantua is at 100%; Sandino’s at 98; the Palaces, at 96.84. According to their part shared during the check, the lowest levels are located in San Juan and Martínez (with 24.82); in San Luis (with 27.15); and in Consolación del Sur (42.74).
The party leader explained that the forces have been reorganizing, to send most of them to the most needy places. She also emphasized the importance of the population joining the restorative tasks in each area, because that will make people feel closer to the solution of their problems.
Regarding the water service, Ramos Cordero said: “We maintain stability in the drivers of the city. The inlet pressure of water to the towns, to whom it corresponds according to the distribution cycle, is higher; and a decrease in the cycles is already being appreciated, although the areas that do not receive (the vital liquid) through networks continue to be a difficulty.
As she explained, the distribution of water in pipes is maintained –97 are being used–; and “control, organization, and rigor are maintained, but we still haven’t been able to reach the entire population with the necessary periodicity.”
Of food and its continuous distribution; of the decisions that are made to reach all families; of the food that continues to be made and sold in the areas that need it most; The first secretary of the Party in the western province spoke of the more than 300 collective kitchens; And she also gave an update on how the agricultural system is, where there is a battle to recover flowerbeds from urban agriculture, and the mobilizations of workers and companies and entities in the territory are maintained.
The tobacco campaign, the efforts being made to transfer this precious product to other factories on the island, and to recover all that is possible and that was damaged by the hurricane, were also topics that made up the dissertation of the party leader, who , regarding the housing fund, reported that today the province has 106,128 homes affected, and 13,213 total landslides.
Visiting each family is on the agenda of the authorities of the territory, affirmed Yamilé Ramos Cordero. And when adding details, she stated that 3,872 families have already bought construction materials, while another 3,800 have the form ready with which they can acquire what they need.
“We have construction materials in all the municipalities,” said the leader, who said that 203 bank loans have already been granted, and 280 subsidies to build homes in Pinar del Río.
Work continues, added Ramos Cordero, on educational, health, culture and sports facilities. And as for communications, she informed the country’s leadership: “We already have one hundred percent of the telephony
(Presidency Press)