Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugás has fiercely criticized the Cuban regime following the resignation of Labor and Social Security Minister Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera. Her departure came after she controversially denied the presence of beggars on the island.
Ugás took to Facebook to send a pointed message to the upper echelons of Cuban power, asserting that everyone who supported her should also resign. "The minister resigned, I didn't even know her. If a few words led to her resignation, what are they waiting for to have all those who applauded her step down?" he challenged.
His message was directed at the top leadership in Cuba, whom he accused of keeping the people in poverty. "Canel, Marrero, Lazo, and the entire Communist Party, along with all the corrupt, inefficient, and indecent people should resign as well. They have left the people without food, medicine, and freedom," Ugás wrote.
Response to the Minister's Controversial Statements
Feitó Cabrera's resignation followed her contentious remarks to parliamentary commissions, where she claimed that Cuba had "no beggars." According to her, those seen begging or scavenging do so "by choice" and accused them of being "disguised" and avoiding work. Her statements sparked a wave of outrage both domestically and internationally, especially on social media.
The government quickly attempted to manage the crisis, announcing her resignation just hours after her comments. The official statement claimed that Feitó Cabrera acted with a "lack of objectivity and sensitivity," and emphasized that she requested to be relieved of her duties after "acknowledging her mistakes."
Broader Criticism of Government Silence
The next day, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero described her resignation as a "brave" act, yet noted that her comments did not align with the government's policy. Alongside Ugás, numerous voices, including actors Héctor Noas and Luis Alberto García, condemned the silence of National Assembly deputies in response to her statements.
Discontent has grown among various sectors of Cuban society, which have long decried the neglect of the elderly, rising hunger and poverty, and the visible presence of homeless citizens, contradicting the official narrative.
Ugás's statements reflect not only his disdain for the government's handling of the issue but also a rising sense of frustration within the Cuban diaspora and among citizens who face an increasingly severe social and economic crisis daily.
Key Questions on Cuba’s Political Climate
Why did Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera resign?
Feitó Cabrera resigned following controversial remarks in which she denied the existence of beggars in Cuba, prompting significant backlash.
What was Yordenis Ugás's reaction to the resignation?
Yordenis Ugás called for the resignation of other Cuban leaders, including Canel, Marrero, and Lazo, criticizing them for the country's dire conditions.