Cuban actor Luis Alberto García has joined the chorus of criticism against the controversial comments made by the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera. During an official address on Monday, the minister denied the presence of homeless individuals in Cuba and went so far as to criminalize those who beg on the streets. Her statements have sparked outrage both within Cuba and internationally, with García being one of the prominent figures to respond decisively.
For García, the real issue extends beyond the minister's alarming remarks; it’s the complicit silence and lack of reaction from those in attendance that he finds most concerning. "This is very serious," he stated in a Facebook post, elaborating on his concerns. "Not a single deputy or participant at the CONCLAVE challenged the minister. The white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Palace of Conventions, suggesting that everyone present shares the same perception of our surroundings," he observed.
Drawing from a historic question once posed by Fidel Castro to Camilo Cienfuegos, García concluded, "We are going very wrong, Camilo," highlighting the gap between governmental rhetoric and the harsh realities faced by the Cuban people. The artist interpreted the deputies' silence as an alarming sign of institutional consensus, further promoting a narrative detached from reality.
Exposing Institutional Delusion Through Irony
In a subsequent post, García used irony to critique what he sees as institutional delusion. The minister’s suggestion that many street beggars are in disguise prompted a sharp response from the actor. To mock this assertion, García humorously credited real Cuban film and television professionals—specialists in makeup, costumes, and art direction—with "disguising" the homeless.
"From the series 'Disguises and Evaders'... Note, for example, the marvelous makeup work by Magaly Pompa and Magdalena Álvarez on the old man with the hat. Those emaciated arms! The Art Direction by maestro Carlos Urdanivia, with dumpsters and portals that appear so real, is a great achievement. And the costume design by Derubín Jacome and Diana Fernández, as always, a gem. I’m thrilled," he described, alongside stark images that confirm the homelessness Feitó tried to deny.
A Reality That Cannot Be Disguised
The minister's comments, delivered at the Palace of Conventions in Havana, have drawn widespread criticism across social media. Even President Díaz-Canel described the lack of sensitivity in addressing vulnerability during the Assembly Commissions as "highly questionable."
Feitó Cabrera asserted that Cuba does not have homeless individuals or beggars and that those seen begging or rummaging through trash are not genuinely indigent but rather avoiding work or rejecting state aid. This claim is consistently refuted by daily citizen accounts and numerous independent reports showing the contrary: elderly people sleeping in parks, individuals living on the streets, and citizens scavenging through garbage for survival.
Activists, independent journalists, and social media users have condemned Feitó's statements as "outrageous," accusing the government of attempting to conceal a growing social crisis through denial and the criminalization of poverty.
Frequently Asked Questions on Cuba's Social Issues
Why did Luis Alberto García criticize the minister's speech?
García criticized the minister's speech for denying the existence of homelessness in Cuba and criminalizing street beggars, as well as for the silence of other officials who did not challenge these claims.
What was the minister's controversial claim about beggars in Cuba?
The minister claimed that there are no homeless people or beggars in Cuba and that those seen begging are not truly in need but are avoiding work or rejecting state assistance.
How did social media and other figures react to the minister’s statement?
The minister's statement was met with widespread outrage on social media and was criticized by activists, independent journalists, and other public figures for attempting to hide the reality of Cuba's social issues.