A new episode of citizen frustration highlights the deep crisis of the banking system in Cuba. Activist Yoel Parsons Bones publicly denounced the ordeal faced by thousands of Cubans in accessing their own money, in a context marked by blackouts, cash shortages, and the collapse of basic services.
"Trying to get fifteen or twenty thousand pesos... and they don't even make a little effort," he claimed, visibly outraged, as he described a situation that occurs daily in branches across the country. His testimony, filled with desperation, goes beyond the economic aspect and reveals the human impact of the crisis: "Who understands my wife and my children?"
The scenario described is not isolated. Users report that, due to the lack of cash, digital transfers are not a real solution, as it then becomes almost impossible to withdraw money. “If they don’t allow us through the system… today once again we won’t eat,” he lamented, reflecting a reality where access to money can mean the difference between eating or not.
Meanwhile, the authorities maintain a very different narrative. As the fuel crisis began in the country in early February, the President of the Central Bank of Cuba, Juana Lilia Delgado Portal, stated on state television that the banking system was prepared to continue operating even without electricity, thanks to investments in alternative energy and organizational adjustments.
According to the official, services such as payments, deposits, and withdrawals remain active, although she acknowledged limitations in operating hours and functionality. She also emphasized that the population should prioritize digital channels.
However, in practice, citizen testimonies indicate a system that is increasingly disconnected from real needs. The lack of cash, power outages, and operational restrictions have turned basic operations into a "mission impossible," as Cubans have been reporting for months.
The contradiction becomes even more evident following the recent announcement from the government of allowing emigrants to open accounts in foreign currency in banks on the island, in an attempt to attract external capital. This measure arrives at a time when many within the country are unable to even access their own savings.
Amidst endless queues, blackouts, and empty stomachs, the activist's question resonates strongly among thousands of Cubans: who understands the families who, even with money in the bank, cannot use it to survive?
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