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Cuba’s Minister for Labour and Social Security, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, has resigned following controversial remarks denying the existence of beggars on the island.
The now-former minister stated that there were no “beggars” in Cuba, suggesting instead that individuals scavenging for resources were doing so by choice for “easy money.”
These comments, made during a parliamentary session, sparked widespread criticism from Cubans both domestically and abroad, prompting a response from President Miguel Díaz-Canel and ultimately leading to her resignation.
The incident occurs amid worsening poverty levels and food shortages in Cuba, as the nation continues to grapple with a significant economic crisis.
The public outcry over the minister’s statements, as well as the subsequent rebuke she received, are notable in Cuba, where anti-government demonstrations are prohibited and dissent is often met with legal repercussions.
Feitó Cabrera’s contentious remarks were delivered earlier this week during a National Assembly session.
“There are no beggars in Cuba. There are people pretending to be beggars to make easy money,” she asserted.
Furthermore, Feitó Cabrera characterized individuals searching through refuse as “illegal participants in the recycling service.”
The minister’s comments appear to have underestimated the level of public outrage and the extent to which they portrayed the Cuban leadership as insensitive, authoritarian, and disconnected from the economic hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
President Díaz-Canel addressed the issue during the parliamentary session, though without directly naming Feitó Cabrera, stating that the leadership could not “act with condescension” or be “disconnected from the realities” of the people.
With increasing shortages of food and housing amid Cuba’s ongoing economic downturn, the sight of people scavenging for food and sleeping in public spaces has become increasingly prevalent.
Daily life is further complicated by fuel shortages and frequent power outages.
Many Cubans also face difficulties obtaining essential medicines, often visiting multiple pharmacies in search of needed prescriptions.
In response to Feitó Cabrera’s assertion that there were no beggars, Cuban economist Pedro Monreal quipped on X: “It must be that there are also people disguised as ‘ministers’.”
Several Cuban activists and intellectuals also published a letter calling for her removal, denouncing the comments as “an insult to the Cuban people.”
Feitó Cabrera’s resignation has been accepted by the Cuban Communist Party and the government.
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