An armed altercation took place this Tuesday in the Callejón del Carmen, in the historic center of Santiago de Cuba, forcing some self-employed workers to defend themselves against the provocations of two armed young men, reportedly residents of the Los Pinos neighborhood.
In the incident, there were no fatalities or injuries, reported journalist Yosmany Mayeta on Facebook, who also stated that the causes of the altercation are unknown.
However, the communicator reminded that on this street in the city, dedicated to self-employed activities, misunderstandings between vendors and customers are common.
"The conflicts that arise there are with self-employed individuals who sell phones or repaired equipment and present them as new, creating distrust and leading to disputes and arguments a few days later," he noted.
El Callejón del Carmen in Santiago de Cuba is a small street designated by the local government for self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs.
It is currently a bustling hub with dozens of businesses, including phone repair shops, shoe and handmade clothing sales, and photography studios.
The province of Santiago de Cuba is experiencing a concerning increase in violent incidents in the early months of 2024, a trend confirmed by the Prosecutor's Office to the state media.
Elizabeth Govea Maceo, head prosecutor of the Provincial Department of Criminal Proceedings, admitted that “in relation to violent events and crimes committed against the life and integrity of individuals,” there has been a “high rate of incidents,” according to a report from the newspaper Sierra Maestra.
However, the rise in violence is not an issue exclusive to Santiago de Cuba.
Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez confirmed the rise in violence, crime, and addiction in the country, within the context of what he described as an "adverse socioeconomic scenario."
During the closing speech of the third session of the National Assembly in its tenth legislature, the leader highlighted that the ongoing efforts of the Ministry of the Interior and the justice organs, in close connection with the people, have made it possible to uncover, prevent, and address numerous types and trends of criminal activities in recent years.
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