Long lines in Havana to collect remittances at Western Union

Long lines have been reported in Cuba to pick up remittances sent from abroad through the Western Union agency, in the midst of the coronavirus crisis that the country is going through.

From the neighborhood of La Palma, in the Havana municipality of Arroyo Naranjo, Cuban Mallisen Montes reported on social networks that there was a long line to receive money and The police did nothing to stop the gathering..

"They say there can't be crowds of people, but they don't put another place, only Los Pinos and La Palma are available," he indicated.

A CyberCuba There was also a complaint from a citizen who stated that in Guanabacoa, in Havana, there were also long lines to collect money from Western Union, and that even The shifts were being sold for a price of 5 CUC.

The source that was able to capture the video in Guanabacoa could only film from afar, since police control on the Island has tightened and the police are taking people to prison for documenting the queues in the country.

Although Western Union does not report data on the value of its transactions, it is estimated that it handles around 70 percent of the $3.5 billion in cash that annually arrives in remittances to Cuba.

At the beginning of the week, the Western Union company said that will maintain its regular operations in Cuba during the coronavirus crisis, without immediate changes in the use of the CUC for remittance deliveries to recipients on the island.

"We continue to carry out normal operations in Cuba, still paying remittances in CUC," said Margaret D. Fogarty, spokesperson for the corporation for the Americas area.

"We are doing everything we can to support our representatives and continue serving our customers in these extraordinary times," he added.

Last February, the suspension of sending money to Cuba by Western Union from third countries - outside the United States - came into effect.

"We understand the impact this may have on our customers and we will continue to follow up directly with them throughout this situation," Margaret D. Fogarty said at the time.

In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, remittances are more necessary than ever for Cubans, in a country where the economy is increasingly weak.

However, most of the Miami package and travel agencies that offered money delivery services in Cuba have paralyzed their activities, due to the recommendation of the municipal governments of South Florida to close non-essential businesses and the suspension of flights to the island.

Although social distancing is requested to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the country, Cubans must continue standing in lines for almost everything, from collecting remittances or buying food or personal hygiene.

This week they were reported to be long There were queues in the municipality of Limonar, in Matanzas, to be able to buy chicken and detergent, despite the coronavirus crisis that affects the country today.