Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, the Cuban Minister of Labor and Social Security, dismissed claims on Monday regarding the existence of beggars in Cuba, instead vilifying those who search for food or ask for money on the streets. "We've observed individuals who seem to be beggars, but if you look at their hands and clothing, they're merely disguised as such. There are no beggars in Cuba. They have found an easy way of life to earn money without adhering to formal work," the official stated during a parliamentary committee session of the regime.
Feitó Cabrera labeled these wanderers as drunkards and people seeking an "easy life," ignoring the structural causes of the issue, which is unexpected from someone in her role. "We usually call any behavior wandering. For instance, when someone is on the street cleaning windshields, they have chosen an easy way of living, at a traffic light cleaning windshields, and possibly later using that money to buy alcoholic drinks at a corner," she remarked.
Finally, the minister made light of a growing phenomenon that is undeniable to anyone walking the Cuban streets. "Divers are in the water, those people rummaging through trash bins, tossing garbage, and searching for cans. As some would say, 'they're not looking for food in dumpsters.' That's not true either. These are stereotypes being imposed on us," she asserted. The official even accused these individuals, who "are recovering raw materials," of being "illegal self-employed workers... violating tax laws."
The minister's statements, as is often the case with the regime's official discourse, starkly contrast with reality, where 89% of Cuban families endure extreme poverty, according to the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH). Her statements contradict even her own previous admissions. In February, Feitó Cabrera, in front of Miguel Díaz-Canel, acknowledged the existence of 1,236 communities living in destitution in Cuba up to that point.
Moreover, the official claimed that 96% of issues related to extreme poverty in the country are "undergoing comprehensive transformation," even as Cuba faces one of its most severe economic crises in history. Last year, DatoWorld, a renowned international electoral observatory, reported that Cuba is the poorest country in Latin America.
The nation exhibits a 72% poverty rate, placing it at the forefront of Latin American countries, as reported on DatoWorld's official X account. Additionally, last year, Cuba was labeled as the world's most miserable economy, according to the Annual Misery Index compiled by American economist Steve H. Hanke, a professor at Johns Hopkins University.
Understanding Poverty and Economic Hardships in Cuba
What did the Minister of Labor claim about beggars in Cuba?
The Minister of Labor, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, claimed that there are no beggars in Cuba, suggesting that those appearing as beggars have chosen an easy way of earning money without working formally.
How did the minister describe people who search for food or money on the streets?
The minister described these individuals as wanderers or drunkards seeking an easy life, dismissing their actions as merely a choice for an easy lifestyle.
What was the poverty rate in Cuba according to DatoWorld?
DatoWorld reported that Cuba had a 72% poverty rate, making it the poorest country in Latin America.
What did the Minister previously admit about poverty in Cuba?
The Minister previously admitted that there were 1,236 communities living in poverty in Cuba as of February that year.