The purchase of small vehicles, such as Foton minibuses, is a response to the shortage of fuel and foreign currency.
14ymedio, Havana, 25 July 2025 — We have to admit it: Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila seems to be the only minister in Cuba who is really taking action, even though his solutions are partial and insufficient in the face of a system that is in ruins – and also in financial ruin. The pro-government media outlet Tribuna de La Habana announced today the addition of 15 new ambulances for the capital. And the Minister of Transport himself posted on his Facebook page that they plan to purchase 120 vehicles for funeral services.
We have been closely following this matter of the 100 Chinese Foton minibuses that have joined the public transport fleet. It is true that initially the plan was to run them only on the streets of Havana. But then they changed their minds, in the face of a barrage of criticism from other provinces, which always have to make do with used vehicles.
Each area showed such enthusiasm for its new Chinese buses that they seemed to be welcoming a “victory parade”.
With the wisdom of Solomon, the minister “responded” to the complaints and divided the batch: 50 for Havana and 50 for five other provinces. The local media in the receiving territories enthusiastically celebrated the arrival of 20 units in Santiago de Cuba, 10 in Holguín, the same number in Camagüey, five in Villa Clara and another five in Ciego de Ávila, the province that won the national performance competition for the 26th of July. Each region showed such enthusiasm for its new Chinese buses that they seemed to be receiving a “victory parade”.
There are only fifteen ambulances for now. They look identical to microtaxis, but without rear seats, with red crosses and siren lights. The Tribuna article was quick to clarify that another 50 will arrive later, which will be distributed throughout the rest of the island. However, they claim that they constitute an “innovative operating model”. What did they mean by that? They do not say. According to the pro-government media, this system has shown “positive results in terms of efficiency and coverage”, although the report itself acknowledges that not all existing needs are yet being met.
Although coordination between the Ministries of Transport and Public Health is highlighted, the oversight mechanisms are not explained, nor is public data presented on response times, availability by municipality or actual coverage areas. In a context where citizens complain daily about the lack of medical transport, the announcements seem more like a communication strategy than a structural response.
While the modernisation of these services is being touted, the funeral transport system – another sensitive issue – is also undergoing reform, with the purchase of 70 petrol hearses and 50 electric ones, according to a statement by Minister Rodríguez Dávila. This is a belated response to years of complaints about the deterioration of the service, which has led to such painful scenes as coffins being transported in wheelbarrows used for construction.
Now, however, the minister is publishing images of modern tricycles, with colours appropriate for their function, aerodynamic bodywork and less need for spare tyres. In the comments, many people are thanking the minister. And one of his 73,000 followers even says: “At least… there is one ministry that is working.”
“At least… there is one Ministry that is working.”
These efforts, all financed by the Public Transport Development Fund, reflect an attempt at modernisation within the country’s economic constraints. But they also reveal a fragmented vision, focused on palliative measures rather than structural solutions. The purchase of small-capacity vehicles – such as Chinese minibuses or Zycar electric carts, recently introduced in some tourist areas – is more a response to fuel and currency shortages than a fundamental redesign of the transport system.
According to the minister, the decision not to use these new buses for tourism is because they were purchased specifically for the public sector. But this separation between tourist transport – which is privileged, with access to modern vehicles and guaranteed fuel – and public transport – which is in permanent crisis – only reflects the enormous gap between sectors within Cuban society.
Announcements about ambulances, minibuses and funeral tricycles, although necessary, should not serve as a smokescreen for the reality: a collapsed system that requires, at the very least, truly profound and urgent reforms.
Translated by GH
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