A Facebook post by singer Saúl Manuel has sparked debate after sharing a complaint from a citizen who claims to have been fined 36,000 pesos by state inspectors in Santiago de Cuba.
The testimony suggests that the officials penalized him for having "half a box of Criollo cigars and a bottle of rum" on the premises, even though they were for personal use and not for sale.
The complainant, whose identity has not been revealed, claims that the incident occurred in a café in the Pedrera area, near the building known as "18 Plantas."
In his message, the citizen accused the inspectors of behaving abusively and threatening him during the inspection. He also pointed out that they were consuming alcoholic beverages during work hours.
"I was fined 36,000 pesos for half a box of Criollos and a bottle of rum from the store. I told them I had no way to pay that, and they told me it wasn't their problem," he stated.
The complainant also identifies one of the inspectors as the main person responsible for the incident, although he does not provide any documentary evidence or direct witnesses.
The complaint has sparked dozens of comments on social media, mostly critical of the actions of local authorities. Some users lament the increase in fines in the private sector and the lack of oversight over inspectors, while others urge caution regarding potential mistakes made by the worker themselves.
So far, there has been no official confirmation regarding the case nor any statement from the municipal authorities or the Labor Directorate in Santiago de Cuba.
High-value fines in private businesses have been a recurring source of controversy in recent years, especially due to allegations of corruption, extortion, and abuse of power in the inspection mechanisms.
The case reflects the growing social unrest in response to the tightening of punitive measures against self-employed workers and entrepreneurs, amid a national economic crisis characterized by inflation, shortages, and labor exodus.
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