Cuban Economist Acknowledges Poverty and Begging on National TV Show

During a recent broadcast of the program "En Línea" on the provincial channel Perlavisión in Cienfuegos, a Cuban economist publicly acknowledged the presence of poverty and begging in Cuba. This comes at a time when the regime is under intense scrutiny for its handling of these significant social issues.

Andrés Martínez Ravelo, introduced as a university professor, emphasized that merely using the term "vulnerability" is insufficient. He asserted that poverty and beggars are a reality in Cuba, a fact often downplayed by official statistics. "There is vulnerability, poverty, and begging. We state this not as a term, but because these issues have been repeatedly highlighted in Cuba's reports to the United Nations over the past three years," he stressed.

The economist pointed out that the state's claim that less than 1% of the population is poor should not be used merely as "display numbers" before the UN. Instead, these figures should serve as a foundation for crafting public policies. "This number cannot just be for show. It must be utilized to establish public policies and, importantly, to ensure transparency," he carefully noted.

Martínez Ravelo reminded the audience that household income and expenditure surveys, along with population censuses, reveal structural problems such as homes with dirt floors, lack of sanitary services, and low family incomes. These indicators highlight the persistence of poverty in the country.

These televised statements follow shortly after Prime Minister Manuel Marrero admitted in Parliament that over 310,000 people currently live in poverty or social vulnerability in Cuba, contradicting reports presented to the United Nations that depicted minimal poverty rates. This official admission came after national controversy sparked by former Minister of Labor and Social Security, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera. She had claimed there were no beggars in Cuba, only "disguised" individuals, labeling them as "drunkards" and "pretenders." Her remarks caused such public outrage that the Communist Party's Political Bureau and the Council of State accepted her resignation shortly thereafter.

The televised debate in Cienfuegos also touched on the necessity of turning the economic crisis into an opportunity to reassess priorities and focus on helping the most disadvantaged. "Even if there is just one, it is a concern, and if there are many, it is a significant concern," acknowledged the academic. According to the official newspaper 5 de Septiembre, where he also contributes, Martínez Ravelo was the director of the Municipal Statistics Office in Cienfuegos and a member of the National Association of Economists and Accountants of Cuba (ANEC). He insisted that statistics should reflect the actual conditions experienced by Cubans and not merely serve as an international showcase.

The open acknowledgment of poverty and begging on a state-run provincial media outlet underscores the rift between the official narrative and the everyday reality on the island, where more citizens rely on charity, remittances, and daily survival amid scarcity and the decline of basic services.