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The "coleros" in Cuba, as those who sell lines for entry into stores and businesses are called, have expanded their "work" to ATMs, where the population must spend long hours waiting to withdraw money.
On Friday, the police arrested one of these individuals in Havana on the central street of 23 and J, in El Vedado.
"In a joint action by our confrontation commission, the PNR, and based on citizen reports, one of the 'line-jumpers' of the ATMs was detected and taken to the Zapata Unit in a detained status," reported the municipal administration council of Plaza on Facebook.
The post generated diverse reactions. Several users expressed their happiness and requested that the government's offensive also target the CUPETS. There were also comments pointing out that in the identification and processing office of MININT, also in El Vedado, the line waiters charge 1,000 pesos for an appointment.
Other internet users recalled that police repression only addresses the symptoms of the problem, without tackling the underlying causes.
"The 'coleros' are a disease, and it's true that they are profiting from it, but what needs to be eradicated are the causes that give rise to this affliction: scarcity, hunger, and the lack of supplies (be it ATMs without cash or markets without products). Only by addressing these issues can we eliminate these characters, and those arrests will be avoided because instead of standing in line, they would be working (currently, one can earn more in a line than in a job), leading to a more dignified life," stated a man.
The shortage of cash in ATMs has been causing long lines at banks in Cuba for months.
In December, a tour by CiberCuba through Havana revealed the distress of users who spent hours in line without any assurance of receiving the desired amount, during critical dates when people need money for year-end shopping.
"We will spend the New Year without the possibility of spending our own money on necessary purchases for celebrations. There are those of us who have already been paid but cannot access our full salary," lamented a resident of Matanzas, another affected province.
Díaz-Canel has blamed the private sector for the cash shortage in the country, claiming that private businesses create a money-extraction effect in Cuban banks. According to him, state entities are not responsible for the scarcity; rather, private activities exacerbate the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cash Crisis and the Phenomenon of "Coleros" in Cuba
Who are the coleros and what role do they play in the cash crisis in Cuba?
Line waiters are individuals who dedicate themselves to selling places in line for access to stores and services in Cuba, including now ATMs. This phenomenon reflects the deficiencies of the Cuban economic system, where the shortage of products and cash has created an informal market that profits from people's need to access basic resources.
Why is there a shortage of cash in ATMs in Cuba?
The shortage of cash in ATMs in Cuba is due to a combination of factors, including the lack of liquidity in the Cuban banking system and government policies that have exacerbated the situation. The government has blamed the private sector for this shortage, claiming that private businesses withdraw too much money from banks, although many argue that the underlying issue is the poor management of the regime and the overall lack of economic resources.
What do citizens think about the arrests of line sitters in Cuba?
The opinions of citizens regarding the arrests of "coleros" in Cuba are diverse. Some applaud the police actions and hope that they will extend to other sectors such as the CUPETS, while others point out that these measures only address the symptoms of the problem and not its causes, such as widespread scarcity and lack of supply.
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