A Cuban YouTuber identified on his channel as “Luix Alkimista” recorded live the moment he was expelled from a beach in Guardalavaca, in the province of Holguín.
In the images, a security officer is heard approaching and saying, in a polite manner, of course: “You cannot be here.”
When the content creator replies that he and his partner are not using "sun loungers or anything," the guard (it’s unclear whether he is a police officer) tells him: "Nationals cannot be allowed down here."
When I responded that there was no announcement or sign in the area explicitly stating that, the person in charge of removing him from the beach clarified that those with "green wristbands also cannot go down."
The green wristband identifies local guests, meaning that Cuban residents staying at the hotel were also not allowed access to that area, or at least that is what can be inferred from the explanation provided.
“We cannot be here on the beach, this is exclusively for guests staying at the hotel. This is my country, my people, this is Cuba”, the young man remarked to his followers just before ending the broadcast.
"Afterwards, they don't want you to make things complicated, dude," concluded the YouTuber, who did not specify which hotel it was.
The various forums where the video has been shared have generated numerous comments, many from outraged Cubans who express their frustration that something like this can still happen in Cuba; others, on the other hand, point out that it has always occurred and will continue to happen as long as Cubans do not truly stand up to the regime.
This is not the first time in recent years that a similar incident has surfaced on social media in Guardalavaca.
In March of last year, two Cubans who were peacefully enjoying Guardalavaca beachwere expelled by the police.
In that case, the embarrassing incident was captured by a young woman who shared a photo showing three officers talking with two older men by the seaside.
"It turns out that now you can't just lie on the sand sleeping because there are foreigners on the beach, and they can't see the ribs that show the hunger you're experiencing. Since we arrived here, they were not bothering anyone, but well, they've been taken away," the witness described.
"Oh, Cuba, every day you belong more to those who pay to see you, to those who make money from you, and much less to those who were born in your lands," he lamented.
Recurrent discrimination against Cubans in the tourism sector
Frequently, social media features posts of this kind, denouncing the discrimination that Cubans face in their own country, where degrading policies are maintained that humiliate national citizens in front of foreigners.
In February of last year, a young man reported the discrimination he faced at the Pernik hotel, also in Holguín, when he tried to enter to sit at a table near an outlet to work on his laptop.
In another incident, the photographer and YouTuber Yander Serra reported that he was denied entry to the Capri hotel in Havana, and was informed that if he wanted to consume anything, he would have to do so after the foreign customers.
In another unfortunate incident, a man walking down a street in El Vedado, Havana, was removed from the sidewalk where the Grand Aston hotel, owned by the military consortium GAESA, is located.
"The guard knows that with the lousy salary they pay us in Cuba, I can't even afford to look at the hotel, but damn it, the sidewalk, even if it doesn't resemble any in Havana, is not the hotel's, it's Cuba," emphasized the victim.
Frequently asked questions about discrimination on beaches in Cuba
Why was the Cuban YouTuber expelled from the beach in Guardalavaca?
The Cuban YouTuber was expelled from the beach in Guardalavaca because, according to the security officer, access is not permitted for nationals, even for those local guests identified with a green wristband. This reflects a discriminatory policy against Cubans in their own country.
Is discrimination against Cubans common at the tourist beaches in Cuba?
Discrimination against Cubans in beaches and tourist hotels in Cuba is a recurring problem. Such incidents are frequently reported on social media, where it is denounced that policies favoring foreign tourists over Cuban citizens are maintained.
What other situations of discrimination have Cubans faced in their own country?
Cubans have faced situations of discrimination in various contexts, such as the prohibition of entry to hotels unless accompanied by foreign tourists, or the restriction on the use of certain areas in tourist facilities. This adds to other restrictions that have historically limited Cubans' access to services and spaces reserved for foreigners.
What impact does this discrimination have on the international perception of Cuba?
Discrimination against Cubans in their own country negatively affects the international perception of Cuba. These incidents highlight the discriminatory policies of the Cuban regime and contribute to a negative image of the country, especially in a context where there is an effort to promote international tourism.
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