Cuban Minister's Comments on Beggars Spark Widespread Outrage

The recent remarks by Cuba's Minister of Labor and Social Security, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, have ignited an unprecedented wave of outrage both within the island and internationally. During a parliamentary session leading up to the Fifth Ordinary Session of the Tenth Legislature, Feitó shockingly denied the presence of homeless individuals in Cuba. She claimed that those sleeping in doorways, rummaging through trash, or begging are actually people "disguised as beggars."

“When you look at their hands, when you look at their clothes, they're in disguise. There are no beggars in Cuba. They have found an easy way to make money without working,” she stated, in a tone many described as detached, arrogant, and out of touch with the harsh realities faced by countless Cubans.

The backlash on social media was swift and fierce. Intellectuals, artists, academics, journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens have vehemently criticized the minister's words as an unforgivable insult to the country's most vulnerable. Former member of the pro-government band Buena Fé, Ernesto Cisneros Cino, lamented that the official prefers to build "walls of privilege" instead of real public policies: "What an ingenious narrative to hide decades of errors and failures!" he remarked sarcastically.

The Public's Response to Official Remarks

Journalist and University of Havana professor Ana Teresa Badía issued a cautionary note: “When a public servant speaks detached from reality, they must reassess their mission and core values.” Meanwhile, actor Luis Alberto García Novoa, pointing to the complicit silence of the rest of the parliament, noted, “Not a single deputy challenged the minister. We are on the wrong path, Camilo.”

Social media became flooded with stark images and personal stories presenting a different Cuba, one that refuses to be erased by official narratives. Musician Dagoberto Pedraja shared a series of photos depicting people living among garbage, accompanied by the phrase: “Beggars have souls and hearts… and they did not exist in my country.” Comedian Ulises Toirac was blunt, stating, “It's legally indefensible to speak of those they call vulnerable in such a way… these are fake,” referring to the government.

A Broader Reflection on Cuban Society

Actor Lieter Ledesma voiced a collective outcry: “Cuba: the country where we're all begging.” His analysis suggests that the issue extends beyond the homeless; it involves an entire population surviving by "begging for help" from anyone willing to offer it, even at the cost of their dignity. Communicator Zuzanne Felipe condemned the state's denial of a reality that affects thousands of families daily. “People sleeping in doorways, scavenging for food, pleading for help with their eyes. Are they going to call that an ‘easy way of life’ too?” she questioned indignantly.

Activist Yuliet Teresa shared her experience with a mentally ill woman on the streets of Havana and reflected, “One doesn't sleep in doorways disguised as a beggar, but with a soul shattered by poverty.”

Official Response and Public Skepticism

In response to the outcry, the leader appointed by Raúl Castro, Miguel Díaz-Canel, took to social media with a vague critique: “The lack of sensitivity in addressing vulnerability is highly questionable.” Although he did not directly mention the minister, many saw this as an attempt to distance himself. The official response was deemed ambiguous by several users. “Who is the president referring to with ‘the lack of sensitivity’? He needs to be clearer and more forceful to lead the country,” wrote Zuzanne Felipe again.

Feitó's statements not only clash with the visual and everyday evidence present in every province but also with official data and independent studies. The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights estimated that 89% of Cuban households live in extreme poverty, and the government itself acknowledged this year that over 1,200 communities live in dire conditions.

As the regime tries to impose a narrative of "disguised beggars," Cubans endure power outages, shortages, inflation, and institutional neglect. As scientist Amílcar Pérez Riverol wrote, “The only disguise here is the one placed on that lady to make her appear as a minister.” Matanzas journalist Yirmara Torres summed it up: “Will they ever apologize to the Cuban people?”

On every corner of the island, there are testimonies that contradict the minister's words. Every forgotten face, every body sleeping on the concrete, every child scavenging in a dumpster is a cry that defies propaganda. Amidst the official discourse that criminalizes poverty, the citizenry responds with a clear message: dignity is not a disguise. It is defended.