The controversial Cuban businessman and influencer Sandro Castro, grandson of Fidel Castro, lashed out at the independent media outlet El Toque, accusing it of being a "dark elite" responsible for the rise in the price of the dollar in the informal market in Cuba.
In a new video posted on his social media on Thursday night, titled “2nd Edition: Solutions for the Economy,” Sandro held El Toque responsible for “artificially inflating” the dollar rate in order to gain financial benefits.
"We are talking about a dark elite that does not show its face and instead of helping, what it wants is to enrich itself at the expense of all of us," said the most media-savvy of the Castros in his video.
According to their analysis, the independent platform —which daily publishes a reference for the value of the dollar, euro, and MLC in the Cuban informal market— manipulates prices "as in previous years," inflating the rates to later trigger a drop and take advantage of the "buyback."
"They are going to carry out the same manipulation as always. Once they manage to inflate it, the buyback follows. You'll see it drop to 460 so they can have a margin of 50 pesos and get their buyers out into the streets," he stated.
The businessman, known for his controversial comments and provocative style on social media, once again blamed the media for affecting the domestic economy of Cubans, while calling on the MIPYMES and private entrepreneurs on the island to come together to establish a "more fair and realistic" rate.
"We are not obligated to buy at the prices of El Toque. There should be a reference rate, but one that is fairer," he added.
This is the second time that Sandro Castro has made public accusations against El Toque regarding the dollar issue, amid one of the worst economic crises Cuba has faced in decades, characterized by inflation, scarcity, and the constant depreciation of the Cuban peso due to the erroneous policies of the regime.
El Toque has reiterated on several occasions that its exchange rate monitoring project is a statistical reflection of the informal market, not a mechanism for price setting.
On social media, the statements made by Sandro Castro have once again polarized opinions: while some users accuse him of being unaware of the economic reality of the country, others applaud his attempt to "find solutions" to the monetary chaos affecting Cubans.
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