Cuban Minister Resigns After Controversial Remarks on Poverty

Cuba's labor minister faced immediate backlash and resignation after claiming beggars were faking poverty, sparking outrage in a nation grappling with severe economic woes.

Cuba's government, known for its claims of fulfilling citizens' needs, encountered a significant public relations crisis this week when a government minister publicly dismissed the existence of real poverty on the island. Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, sparked outrage during a televised statement in which she suggested that individuals begging on the streets were merely faking their circumstances to obtain easy money.

Her remarks met with rapid public backlash in a country where many citizens struggle to afford basic necessities, including food. Within just a day of her controversial comments, Feitó was out of her ministerial position. The official government announcement attributed her resignation to her “lack of objectivity and sensitivity” in handling such a poignant issue.

The swift response to Feitó's comments is notable given the historical context of Cuba's political landscape, where officials often face little immediate consequence for unpopular statements. Political analyst Carlos Alzugaray noted that past instances of ministers making unpalatable remarks often did not result in quick resignations. He remarked on the unexpected combination of public outrage and a rapid government reaction to this particular incident, indicating a growing impatience among the Cuban populace with the longstanding socialist system established by Fidel Castro over six decades ago.

As frustrations among ordinary Cubans continue to mount, the resignation of Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera may signal a potential shift in how the government responds to public sentiment amid ongoing economic struggles.