US blockade affects transportation sector in Cuban province

HOLGUIN, Cuba, Jul 23 (ACN) Limitations in the acquisition of components for the cargo and passenger transportation, stand out among the damages of the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba to this sector, in the eastern province of Holguin.

The blockade includes monetary restrictions imposed on the Caribbean island, which hinder the purchase of fuel, tools and parts that allow the start-up of vehicles, Wilmer Garcia Ramirez, director of the Transportation Company of the territory, told the Cuban News Agency.

This leads to affect the technical availability coefficient, which currently stands at only 40 % of the existing means, and, therefore, reduces the activity and the itineraries demanded by the population, he explained.

The executive pointed out that among the main problems is the lack of supplies such as batteries and tires, which have not been available for about a year, and in addition to these causes of stoppage, there is the lack of oils and greases for maintenance.

Other resources of lesser importance, but vital for the improvement of the vehicle fleet, are the belts and industrial gases used to solve common breakdowns, which are scarce in the domestic market and have high import costs through third countries, he stated.

Garcia Ramirez commented that innovation is the main source of solutions to these problems, thanks to the sense of belonging and responsibility of the technical personnel, whose work has made it possible to maintain important services such as the transfer of the basic food basket, assistance to hemodialysis patients and the mobility of people on priority routes.