A man posing as a transport inspector has been arrested in Holguín. Juan Manuel García, a resident of the Pedro Diaz Cuello neighborhood, thought he could outsmart the system. With a counterfeit ID badge and the demeanor of a 'transport chief,' he collected fares from passengers under the guise of being an inspector," reported the pro-government Facebook page Cazador Cazado.
According to the report, García was caught by official inspectors while operating on a bus route. The Cazador Cazado page, which often follows the regime's strategy of shifting focus away from its own inefficiencies by targeting citizens, mocked García's actions. "And if you're going to put on a show, at least learn how to act," they commented in a post that sparked criticism from several users.
One user remarked, "I understand it's wrong, but I'm sure many people reached their destination because of him, and the harm wasn't that significant. He wasn't hurting anyone, and if he took that route, it was probably because there were no real inspectors. The real question is, where were the actual inspectors?"
Another commenter pointed out that such posts attempt to conceal the widespread corruption within Cuba's state apparatus. "It's easy to catch that poor guy, but why not focus on those who are blatantly stealing, the ones we all know about? But since you benefit from them, you turn a blind eye. Stop posting this nonsense and respect yourselves as the competent authorities you claim to be," they said.
Imposter Nurse Incident
On the same Saturday, the Vladimir Ilich Lenin Hospital in Holguín confirmed the arrest of a woman posing as a nurse within its facilities, attempting to perpetrate a scam. "We clarify that this individual is not a nurse nor part of the healthcare system. She was accompanying a family member in the critical care unit and attempted to deceive other families at the hospital's information center," stated a Facebook post from the hospital.
"Thanks to the swift actions of the hospital staff, family members, and police, the individual was detained and is currently under investigation," the hospital added, without specifying the nature of the scam.
This case, mingling the grotesque with tragedy, underscores the severe crisis of values and oversight in Cuba. It also came to light through the Cazador Cazado page, which identified the woman as Belkis Bauzá. She allegedly posed as a nurse to rent out birthing beds for money. The anonymous post triggered a wave of reactions, not only due to the audacity of the woman involved but also because of the many questions left unanswered by the official account.
Key Questions on Fake Inspectors and Scams in Cuba
How did Juan Manuel García deceive passengers in Holguín?
Juan Manuel García used a fake ID badge and posed as a transport inspector to collect fares from passengers, pretending to be an official.
What was the response to the arrest of the fake nurse in Holguín?
The Vladimir Ilich Lenin Hospital reported the incident, and thanks to quick action by staff, family members, and police, the woman was detained. She is currently under investigation.
What broader issues do these incidents highlight about Cuban society?
These incidents spotlight the deep-seated crisis of values and lack of oversight in Cuba, as well as the diversion tactics used by the regime to focus attention away from systemic issues.