The Minister of Domestic Trade, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, has again highlighted the disconnection of the Cuban ruling class from the reality experienced by millions of citizens.
During a recent visit to the province of Guantánamo, for the assessment of the business group in the area, the official suggested measures aimed at "reviving" domestic trade in nightclubs, restaurants, and leisure venues. Her words evoked both confusion and ridicule in equal measure.
Díaz Velázquez suggested "installing a memory with music from the past" in the Interior Commerce units to provide activities for seniors, at "attractive" prices.
The students raised the issue. He acknowledged that there is no transportation or entertainment options for them, and thus proposed that state establishments offer "a drink and a little snack" to attract customers. Once the market stabilizes, prices should be increased.
The minister concluded her proposal for working with the youth market with a phrase that will likely be remembered in national history for many years: “We play the right music for them and the first time they come skeptical, they come back and then we say to them: Hey, but it's not 200 pesos, give me a thousand, because it gets really good."
Betsy's words, far from being just a slip, encapsulate the disconnection and contempt with which the authorities address the real issues facing people in Cuba. The response was swift on social media, where hundreds of Cubans reacted with sarcasm and indignation.
"We are led by people with serious logical reasoning issues," commented a user on the social network X, while another joked, "The circus for the entertainment of the masses… pure imperial Rome."
The minister's proposal for workers in the sector to seek ways to encourage spending by Guantanameros on leisure and recreation directly contradicts the daily reality of the average Cuban.
Salaries that are insufficient to cover basic needs. Prices are skyrocketing, and essential services are becoming increasingly expensive, making the idea of "a drink and a little snack" seem almost like a joke.
The idea that the solution to collective discouragement lies in old music, drinks, and snacks not only highlights the leaders' lack of seriousness but also reflects their disdain for a people burdened by the crisis.
“It's not two hundred, daddy, give me a thousand”, says the minister as if it were a joke, but for millions of Cubans, the only figure that matters is the one that is missing with each payment in order to make ends meet.
Frequently asked questions about the controversial statement made by the Minister of Commerce in Cuba
What did the Minister of Internal Trade of Cuba declare that generated controversy?
The minister Betsy Díaz Velázquez suggested that interior trade units offer music and activities at attractive prices for seniors and students. She proposed that once the market stabilizes, prices for student offers should be increased, using the phrase: "Hey, but it’s not 200 pesos, give me a thousand, because that gets good," which was met with mockery and confusion.
Why did the minister's statements generate so much backlash?
The minister's statements were seen as a sign of disconnection of the authorities from the economic reality of Cubans, where salaries are insufficient to meet basic needs, and the proposed measures were perceived as a mockery of the daily hardships faced by the population.
How has the Cuban population reacted to the minister's proposals?
The Cuban population reacted with indignation and sarcasm on social media, criticizing the lack of logic and seriousness in the minister's proposals. Many users expressed their frustration at being led by individuals they consider out of touch with reality and with serious issues in logical reasoning.
What context surrounds the criticisms of the Cuban government's measures?
The context includes a profound economic crisis in Cuba, with wages that do not meet basic needs, frequent blackouts, and growing social inequality. Furthermore, government measures, such as the opening of dollar stores and the lack of real solutions to the crisis, have exacerbated public discontent.
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