Amid the political and social upheaval sparked by the controversial remarks of Cuba's Minister of Labor, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, CNN's correspondent in Cuba, Patrick Oppmann, broke his silence on Tuesday to directly challenge the regime. "This is a legless woman I recently assisted when she became trapped in a dumpster while scavenging for food," Oppmann revealed in an Instagram post.
He recounted how, after helping her, he requested permission to take a photo. "I never shared it because the experience deeply disturbed me. However, last night, I was even more unsettled hearing senior officials claim those who scavenge do so for 'an easy life,'" he emphasized.
Oppmann further criticized the government's insistence that "there are no beggars in Cuba," highlighting the increasing numbers of those living in destitution.
Controversial Claims and Public Outcry
The journalist's testimony comes in response to statements made by Feitó Cabrera during a parliamentary session on Monday, where she asserted that "there are no beggars in Cuba," only individuals "disguised" who have chosen an "easy life" over work. "When you look at their hands, their clothes... they are in disguise. They have found an easy way to make money without working," Feitó claimed, igniting a wave of indignation across social media, independent media outlets, and exile communities.
Intellectuals, artists, and citizens have condemned the regime's disconnect from harsh social realities, such as visible poverty on the streets, the rise of homelessness, scavenging for food in dumpsters, and extreme cases of neglect.
Government Response and Public Interpretation
On Tuesday, both Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero and leader Miguel Díaz-Canel released vague statements urging against "superficial" analyses of homelessness and pledged that the Revolution "will leave no one behind." Díaz-Canel described the lack of sensitivity in parliamentary sessions as "very questionable," without directly naming the minister.
These statements are widely seen as attempts to mitigate the fallout without taking political responsibility or holding Feitó accountable.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security continues to publish institutional content without addressing the controversy, while Feitó herself issued a generic message about social programs without any apologies or corrections.
Key Questions About Cuba's Social Issues
What did Patrick Oppmann reveal about the situation in Cuba?
Patrick Oppmann shared his experience of helping a legless woman who was stuck in a dumpster searching for food, challenging the Cuban government's narrative that there are no beggars in the country.
How did Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera's comments spark controversy?
Feitó Cabrera claimed that there are no beggars in Cuba and that those seen scavenging are "disguised" individuals opting for an "easy life," which resulted in widespread backlash and criticism of the regime's disconnect from reality.