A new episode of disorder and desperation occurred this Saturday in front of a bank branch in Villa Panamericana, in East Havana, where dozens of people crowded together trying to advance in a line to collect their salary or pension.
A video shared by Enrique Díaz's and Producciones Patria's Facebook page shows a crowd packed at the entrance of the bank, while some customers jostle to gain space in the line.
In the midst of the turmoil, a person calls for the police to try to restore order.
According to the description of the post, among those present were retirees and workers who had been waiting for hours to withdraw cash, a scene that has become common in various provinces of the country.
User comments on the social network reflect the growing frustration of citizens regarding a banking system unable to ensure basic operations.
Some reported that the police forces tend to intervene only to control demonstrations or protest signs, while others mocked the government's "bankarization" policy.
Several testimonies indicated that the situation is not exclusive to Havana. Users from various provinces reported that receiving salaries or pensions has become an ordeal that can involve spending several days waiting in line without any guarantee of receiving cash.
Just a few days ago, it was reported that elderly individuals were sleeping in the entrance of the Charity Bank in Camagüey, waiting for their turn to collect their pensions. Some were doing so on sheets, cardboard, and worn-out blankets, in deplorable conditions.
The banking crisis on the island has worsened in recent months. In February, several municipalities reported four days without service due to a lack of electricity, leaving thousands of citizens without access to their funds for days.
The situation has reached tragic extremes. In Cárdenas, a retiree died later as a result of the blows he received during an assault while waiting in line in front of a bank to collect his pension.
The plight of Cuban retirees goes beyond just waiting in line. According to recent data, 79% of those over 70 years old cannot have three meals a day, a figure that reflects the level of deterioration in the living conditions of the most vulnerable population.
The difficulties in accessing cash in pesos are compounded by the fact that the Banco Popular de Ahorro does not dispense cash in dollars due to low availability, further limiting citizens' options to manage their finances.
Meanwhile, the regime had claimed at the time that the banking system was ready to operate even without electricity, a statement that contrasts with the reality faced daily by citizens across the country.
Queues and chaos are recurring throughout Cuba, where there are more than 1.7 million retirees on the island who depend on a collapsed banking system to access pensions that are, in addition, insufficient to cover their basic needs.
Filed under: