A Cuban woman was fined 16,000 pesos in the town of Dos Caminos, in the municipality of San Luis, Santiago de Cuba.
The incident was documented in a video shared by journalist Mario J. Pentón, where a visibly upset woman can be heard refusing to sign the penalty imposed by two state inspectors.
Next to her, her granddaughter tries to defend her and records the scene as evidence of what happened. In response, one of the inspectors threatens to accuse her if the video is published: "If you publish me, I will accuse you.", she said. "Don't threaten me.", the young woman replies during the tense exchange.
The young woman, distressed, insists that she is not threatening anyone and is merely recording what she believes to be an act of injustice. “She is my grandmother”, she says in a trembling voice as she tries to explain the situation.
The images reflect not only the despair of a family facing a fine they consider unjust, but also the atmosphere of intimidation that citizens encounter when they attempt to document the actions of the authorities.
Although the exact details behind the sanction are not known, the reaction of those present suggests a common scene in today's Cuba: working women penalized for trying to make a living as best as they can, and citizens threatened for exercising their right to record public events.
In March of last year, a cart pusher identified as Damián was forced by the police, also in Santiago de Cuba, to sell his products at ridiculous prices to avoid the confiscation of his goods and, despite this, received a fine of 36,000 pesos.
“Where is Damián going to get that money if he's a fighter just like anyone else?”, wondered a witness to the event, reflecting the hopelessness of those who are simply trying to survive amid an unprecedented crisis.
A month later, another incident shook the province when a coachman, allegedly after receiving a fine of 16,000 pesos, attacked an inspector with a machete in Palma Soriano. Although the official version attempted to distance the penalty from the event, multiple sources confirmed that the conflict arose following a direct inspection.
These cases are part of an institutionalized system of fines that has turned economic pressure into a tool for social control. According to figures from the regime itself, in just the first quarter of 2025, more than 425,000 fines were imposed in the country, with a revenue exceeding one billion pesos.
Santiago de Cuba is among the provinces with the highest number of sanctions, amid rampant inflation and salaries that are insufficient to meet basic needs.
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