Santiago de Cuba solar streetlights stolen shortly after installation

Solar-powered streetlights installed to mitigate Cuba's ongoing power crisis have been stolen in Santiago de Cuba. The theft occurred less than a month after the Provincial Government implemented the initiative to provide lighting on major thoroughfares, including Las Américas, Céspedes, Garzón, Ferreiro, and Plaza de Marte.

The theft has left several busy areas in darkness once again. Local residents have expressed frustration over the lack of security, noting that some lights were stolen in front of state institutions that have active guards. One resident reported that while workers at the University of Oriente's Mella campus attempted to alert the police during a theft, officers did not arrive at the scene.

As of late August, there has been no official public disclosure regarding the total number of stolen units, nor have there been reports of arrests or identified suspects. The Santiago de Cuba Electric Company has not issued a formal response to the incidents.