Ciego de Ávila Intensifies Crackdown on Corridor Vendors Amid Economic Turmoil

Authorities in Ciego de Ávila declared on Friday that self-employed workers who persist in using the city's public corridors for selling might face the revocation of their work licenses. This warning incorporates fines, inspections, and direct pressure on homeowners.

Rosa Amparo Bernal Bernal, the head of State Inspection and Territorial Control at the Provincial Directorate of Territorial Planning and Urbanism, conveyed her message bluntly in an interview with the official newspaper Invasor: "We regret it, but if they repeat the offense, we will have to remove their project. We seek revenue, but also order and aesthetics."

Bernal clarified the legal distinction cited by authorities to justify the sanctions.

"The porch is for residential use only. Conversely, the corridor is a public space meant for transit, socializing, and protection from the sun or rain. No one should close it off or utilize it for personal business," Bernal explained.

She referenced Law 145 on Land and Decree 272 from 2001, both of which prohibit the commercial occupation of public spaces.

"No regulation supports misconduct. Using a corridor to sell violates urban regulations and the city's aesthetics," she stated firmly.

So far in 2026, Avilanian authorities have issued 276 fines for this reason.

The initial violation incurs a fine of 500 pesos, while repeat offenses can escalate to 1,500 pesos.

In severe instances, the case is forwarded to the Ministry of Labor to process the withdrawal of the self-employed worker's license.

Bernal also placed responsibility on homeowners themselves. "The homeowner should prevent vendors from setting up in their corridor," she remarked.

Officials have also announced increased inspections in the historic center and boulevard, along with phone numbers to report violations.

"The city is a larger home. When we visit Matanzas and see order, why wouldn't we desire the same for Ciego de Ávila?" Bernal concluded, making a comparison that overlooks the fact that the deterioration of public spaces across the island is due to the same structural crisis driving people to sell wherever they can.

This measure comes amidst a national tightening of the fine system. Since January 2025, Cuban inspectors earn based on their results—the number and amount of fines imposed—leading to a spike in figures.

In 2024, over 606,000 inspections resulted in 371,333 fines totaling more than 980 million pesos, according to official statistics.

This model has stirred complaints of arbitrariness. In April 2026, inspectors from the Popular Power admitted to fining a self-employed individual without any violations because "they are required to report results."

One of the most notable incidents occurred recently when the only oncologist in Isla de la Juventud was fined 4,000 pesos for selling notebooks at 100 pesos each during a garage sale outside his home, sparking outrage on social media.

For thousands of Cubans, selling in porches and public spaces is a survival tactic in the face of state salaries insufficient for living and a widespread scarcity with no formal solution in sight.

Ciego de Ávila, often referred to as the City of Porticos, earns its nickname from the spacious neoclassical-columned corridors lining the façades of its historic center, mostly constructed between 1906 and 1930, which form a part of the province's urban heritage.