its development in the Eastern Caribbean , its slow translation speed and the metamorphosis leading to turn it into a hurricane . After passing through the Caribbean minor islands , we learned the ravages it left behind and we were convinced it was a hurricane to be reckoned with . Everything indicated that Cuba was on its road map . We waited for it in despair , since its speed was still low and its destructive potential steadily increased . Every Cuban , especially those in the east , paid attention to the meteorological bulletins . It became clear that Matthew would touch Cuban soil in the easternmost province , Guantánamo , which would be crossed by a great magnitude hurricane . Everything seemed adverse for us . Although the stage of hurricane alarm was decreed on October 3 rd , at 9 AM , the population in Guaso , for instance , perceived inertia among its leaders , became aware and began to manage the indispensable resources to face the incoming danger . Some tried to secure their precarious roofs and others went out looking for food . Although it used to be unsuccessful during the normal days , it was now a life or death issue . A few felled or pruned trees with the available tools , to protect their homes , while others managed to evacuate by themselves to the relatives ´ and friends ´ houses , because they knew that nothing else could be done . However , the national TV kept on broadcasting as if wouldn ´ t be important what was about to happen in Guantánamo . The province that would be directly affected by the hurricane was hardly mentioned ; instead , the socalled Heroic City of Santiago constantly appeared in the news . Army General Raúl Castro gave precise instructions before , during and after the hurricane , but always referring to Santiago de Cuba . What about Guantanamo , people wondered . How was it possible that Raul Castro , being so close , did not mention our province at all ? What kind of president is this ? This may explain the behavior of local authorities . What happened to them ? They were neither disturbed nor ready to deploy brigades for clearing up the sewer system — clogged for years — and cutting the trees that may fall and cause damages to electric grids and houses or , worse , personal injuries or even deaths . With respect to food , it goes without saying that , as a famous bolero says , " the little room looks the same as before ." Only God knows the whys of things and Matthew deviated to bring misfortune to the residents in Maisí , Baracoa and the nearby villages . These people from Guantanamo Province , knowing what the authorities are ( un ) capable of , managed to shelter themselves . Maisí gave a convincing example . Its residents wisely took refuge in caves with or without food . In Baracoa , people were less fortunate and found shelter in the best neighboring houses . They were overcrowded and the narrow spaces forced many evacuees to remain standing during the entire storm . In Yateras , the authorities accommodated the evacuees in educational centers , many of them lacking of beds and even food , because the edible products were stored in the province capital and they were not distributed in advance , despite the repeated warnings by the Meteorological Institute . It was quite admirable to see thereafter how the mass media filled out spaces with news about subsidies given to lowincome families and the 50 % mark down in construction materials , along with the vicissitudes of the hurricane victims to acquire them , because not all is rosy . For letting the history to repeat itself , we will only need another hurricane with about the same path . Thus , it will destroy the battered houses that are being erected today on those already destroyed by Matthew , which in
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