A Cuban summed up the current situation in the country with three powerful words: "Hunger, filth, and need."
His testimony, shared by the portal Cubanet, reflects the growing discontent of many citizens in light of the shortages, the deterioration of public services, and the constant rise in prices on the island, which is under increasing pressure from the United States to force a regime change.
"There has always been the story of the blockade; before, they used to say it was because of the financial bank. There is no oil to collect the garbage, there is none for the hospitals, there is no oil for the work buses, but there is oil for the PNR," the woman stated in a video that is widely circulating on digital platforms.
In his complaint, he questioned how public transport and basic services are frequently paralyzed due to a lack of fuel, while police patrols continue to operate normally.
"They rise and mount without asking, they're treating us like the narcos in Mexico," he added, referring to police operations and controls as well as the situation in the neighboring country following the fall of 'El Mencho,' the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel.
The citizen also criticized the high cost of basic products. She reported that a tube of toothpaste can reach as high as 600 Cuban pesos (CUP) and a package of salt can cost up to 700 CUP, figures that are difficult to manage for workers and retirees whose monthly income barely covers the essentials.
In a country where the average state salary hovers around 4,000 to 5,000 CUP per month, the sustained increase in the prices of food, hygiene products, and services exacerbates daily hardship.
Complaints about garbage accumulation in the streets, lack of medications in hospitals, prolonged blackouts, and fuel shortages have become common on social media and in public conversations within the island.
The testimony of this Cuban resonates with a reality that thousands experience daily: long lines, empty shelves, and an ever-eroding purchasing power. “Hunger, filth, and need,” she repeats the phrase that encapsulates a widespread sentiment amid the deep economic crisis the country is facing.
Filed under: