Cienfuegos deploys police to manage the lines of elderly people at the banks

Cienfuegos has deployed police officers to organize the lines of pensioners in front of the province's banks, an action that temporarily alleviates the chaos, but which the regime tries to present as a sign of social sensitivity when, in reality, it is a direct consequence of its own failed economic management.

According to the regime's spokesperson profile on Facebook "Las Cosas de Fernanda", in recent days, the government of Cienfuegos has intensified police presence at banking institutions to "protect and assist" the elderly who wait for hours, sometimes since early morning, to collect their pensions.

According to the user allied with the MININT, the measure is a gesture of humanity and commitment from the State towards the elderly, and indeed helps this increasingly vulnerable sector. However, once again, there is a failure to address the real causes of this problem: the government's failed management.

However, the reality behind those images is less kind. The pensioners themselves have been denouncing for years that ATMs run out of cash, that the branches lack staff, and that long lines have become a daily scene, exacerbated by shortages, digital disconnection, and frequent blackouts.

The police presence aims to control the situation due to the rise of so-called "coleros," individuals who profit by reselling appointments or withdrawing cash for small private businesses that operate with multiple cards, leaving retirees without money.

At this point, the official discourse has also taken the opportunity to criminalize Mipymes, accusing them of withdrawing cash en masse, without acknowledging that this practice arises precisely from the lack of liquidity and the banking access limits imposed by the system itself.

The measure seeks to project the image of a government concerned about the elderly, when in reality it reflects the disorganization and lack of foresight of the authorities, who have failed to ensure a stable payment system or sufficient liquidity in the banks.

Despite the official propaganda that seeks to portray police intervention as an achievement, what is happening in Cienfuegos is further evidence of the deterioration of daily life in Cuba.

The presence of agents to organize lines for retirees is not a sign of progress, but rather a signal of how the crisis has reached even the most basic aspects: the right of the elderly to receive the fruits of their labor and commitment to "the Revolution" with dignity.

Nevertheless, the spokesperson himself admitted: “But let’s not forget that their presence is indicative of a deeper wound: when the elderly have to choose between getting up at 4 in the morning or going without sleep, something has gone wrong,” although—as is customary—he does not point out those responsible.