Press Secretary for Díaz-Canel Responds to Viral Photo of Children Sleeping in Hotel Gardens

Leticia Martínez Hernández, the Press Secretary for the Cuban Presidency, addressed the viral photo of children sleeping in the gardens of the Muthu Hotel, located at the intersection of 1st and 70th in Playa, Havana. The image has sparked outrage and debate on social media, highlighting the increasing issue of child homelessness amidst Cuba’s severe economic crisis and rising extreme poverty.

In a Facebook post, Martínez attempted to defend the regime’s efforts in child protection but admitted the scene was "unacceptable." She stated, “This Revolution does a lot for its children, daily and on all fronts. Let us never forget that, but situations like the one in that circulating photo are inadmissible. It is the responsibility of the State, families, and all who witness these things—many just post about them. Kudos to the deputy who went to resolve and respond. It is up to all of us.”

Her comments were in response to a message by pro-government deputy Carlos Miguel Pérez Reyes, who also discussed the issue on Facebook after visiting the location where the children sleep. Pérez Reyes, representing the Playa municipality, acknowledged that the problem is recurring and that the children involved "do not belong" to that district but to other parts of Havana.

He listed the Cuban State’s social programs that supposedly cater to children, from daycare centers to homes for children without family support, claiming that "in Cuba, with very few resources, much is done for children." However, he admitted structural deficiencies in institutional care, stating, “The MININT’s Council for the Care of Minors is responsible for these cases, and there are numerous complaints and files, as confirmed by local residents. Reporting and ‘rounding up’ the minors does not solve the root of the problem. We must assess whether the Council has the necessary capacities and how it coordinates with Social Work, Public Health, and local governments.”

The deputy also warned about the “lack of sensitivity” among some authorities and the public, who tend to take photos or normalize the presence of children on the streets.

The photo that ignited the debate was shared by Cuban journalist Yadira Albet, who reposted a Facebook post by user Mayelín Guevara. At least six children, aged 8 to 14, were sleeping on cardboard in the gardens of the Muthu Hotel after being expelled by police from the nearby Business Center area. “They used to wander around the Business Center, and it’s true they sleep there now and keep begging,” a local resident reported, while other witnesses confirmed that the children “assist tourists” or “ask for money” around the MLC market at 3rd and 70th.

Despite the widespread attention this case has received, no state institution had officially commented until the reactions of Martínez and Pérez Reyes. The photo has once again exposed the collapse of Cuba’s social protection system, while the regime continues to project a facade of "social achievements" that starkly contrasts with the reality faced by thousands of vulnerable children.

Independent organizations have warned that an increasing number of minors are living on the streets, begging, or scavenging for food, in a context of extreme poverty affecting 89% of Cuban households, according to the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights and UNICEF. Annual inflation, rising food prices, and the collapse of the state welfare system have exacerbated these cases, while the government prefers to blame families or “social factors,” avoiding direct responsibility for the crisis.

The press secretary for Díaz-Canel and a deputy try to depict the issue as an isolated failure, but images of children sleeping in the streets reveal a fractured Cuba, where child poverty can no longer be hidden behind official slogans.