Cuban Minister Dismisses Beggars; Economist Fires Back Sharply

During a parliamentary session on Monday, Cuba's Minister of Labor and Social Security, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, boldly claimed that the island does not have genuine beggars but rather "people disguised as beggars." This assertion was met with a sharp retort from economist Pedro Monreal, who quipped, "Perhaps there are also people disguised as 'ministers.’" Feitó's comments, made before members of the Cuban legislative body, have sparked outrage and severe criticism from Cubans on social media.

Monreal, known for his critical stance on the policies of Cuba's ruling elite, was one of the prominent voices to challenge the minister's controversial remarks. He described Feitó's comments as reactionary and out of touch. "The 'minister' responsible for the miserable wages and pensions has delivered the most offensively reactionary speech in the name of 'continuity,’" Monreal stated.

He further mocked the minister's denial of poverty by suggesting that, if there are people posing as beggars, there might also be individuals pretending to be ministers. In a thread on the social media platform X, Monreal further criticized the high-ranking official who oversees labor issues and social aid programs in Cuba.

Outrage and Denial

Monreal pointed out that Feitó seemed more concerned with the visibility of poverty than addressing its root causes, labeling those in need as drunks and fraudsters. He urged her to "fight against poverty, not the poor," and called for the proposal of decent wages and pensions, considering the limited purchasing power of Cuban workers and retirees amid rampant inflation and the deepening economic crisis.

On Monday, Feitó told the National Assembly that those living on the streets are merely pretending to be beggars. "We have seen people who appear to be beggars; when you look at their hands and clothes, they are dressed up as beggars. In Cuba, there are no beggars," she asserted, accusing them of adopting an easy lifestyle to avoid formal work.

Ignoring the Structural Causes

Feitó labeled the citizens, whom the regime refers to as "wanderers," as drunks and seekers of an easy life. She failed to acknowledge the structural causes of the phenomenon or the ineffectiveness of the ministry's measures to eliminate it. Despite the worsening economic crisis that has exacerbated the problem, Feitó downplayed the situation and dismissed its underlying social causes.

She argued that street activities like windshield cleaning at traffic lights are not signs of homelessness but rather people choosing an easy way of life, likely using the money for alcohol. Feitó continued her dismissive rhetoric by mocking those searching for food in trash bins.

"Divers are in the water. Those people rummaging through garbage bins, looking for cans, are not searching for food, as some claim. These are imposed patterns that are not true," she said.

Contradictory Statements

Feitó also criticized individuals collecting raw materials, accusing them of illegal self-employment and tax evasion. Her harsh rhetoric against vulnerable street dwellers painted them as if they were an adversarial force needing to be combated.

The minister's report starkly contrasts with the reality in Cuba, where 89% of families live in extreme poverty, according to the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH). Her statements on Monday also contradict her earlier acknowledgment, in the presence of President Miguel Díaz-Canel in February, that 1,236 communities in Cuba were living in poverty.

Feitó had also claimed that 96% of problems related to extreme poverty were "undergoing comprehensive transformation" amidst one of the worst economic crises in Cuba's history.