Hundreds of Cubans arrived early this Saturday at various hotels across the country, believing they would receive $1,100 in aid after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
The rumor, spread by the Spaniard Ignacio Giménez, sparked a massive mobilization that forced the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) to publicly deny the alleged distribution of money.
Incidents were reported in Havana and Santiago de Cuba, both cities woke up to an unusual movement of people in front of the regime's hotels.
Since six in the morning, neighbors and passersby began to gather discreetly, encouraged by a social media post promising the distribution of "financial aid" at the main tourist facilities in the country.
Giménez is known for spreading falsehoods about topics related to Cuba on social media. He was responsible for the most recent rumor regarding the supposed death of Raúl Castro and has once again caught the attention of Cubans with the same strategy.
In his post, he stated that "starting at 8:00 a.m." teams identified by yellow pullovers would distribute $1,100 per person, and that even state television would cover the event.
The completely false news spread rapidly through Facebook and WhatsApp groups.
The independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada confirmed that the mobilization in Santiago was a direct consequence of deception, and highlighted the vulnerability in which Cubans live, where a simple rumor can mobilize hundreds of people.
"The people, struck by crisis and desperation, fell once again into the trap of disinformation," Mayeta wrote. "In the meantime, the Government responds with patrols to a problem that did not originate from the people, but from deception."
The spokesperson explained that, in light of the growing concentration of people, the authorities sent police patrols to the location, attempting to "control" the situation.
The presence of agents did not stop more citizens from arriving, and the atmosphere grew tense until the published an urgent informational note refuting the rumor.
"The Ministry of Tourism informs that the news circulating in some media and digital platforms about the supposed distribution of donations in hotels across the country following Hurricane Melissa is false," the statement says.
"We urge the public and the media not to disseminate false information that could cause confusion."
The note also clarified that the MINTUR is not the institution responsible for channeling donations and urged the public to only heed official communications from the relevant entities.
This new episode highlights the desperation that prevails on the island and how misinformation spreads rapidly in a context where the lack of state transparency fuels rumors, and people, worn out by scarcity and hunger, cling to any promise of aid.
After the MINTUR announcement, Giménez's response came quickly. "The end justifies the means... Let's see if the third time's the charm and some learn to locate me. I am in an imaginative and non-conformist opposition that seeks unexplored avenues because the known ones do not provide a solution," he stated on Facebook.
The new hoax by Ignacio Giménez not only revealed the forced naivety of a desperate people but also highlighted the fragility of official communication in Cuba, where information censorship creates the perfect environment for confusion and deception.
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