A Cuban residing in Guyana shared this week one of those moments that the diaspora celebrates with special pride: the purchase of their own home, far from Cuba and achieved through hard work in a foreign land.
Miguel Pymes (@miguel.pymes), as he is known on TikTok, posted the video on Friday, June 19 showcasing a decorative plaque shaped like a house, in navy blue, with the text "TITI'S HOUSE" in white letters, in front of a white door. The overlay text in the image says it all: "The immense satisfaction of having your own little house" and, in red, "(and not in your country)."
In the video description, Miguel dedicated the achievement to his partner: "We did it, my queen." The audio passionately repeats: "I did it, I did it, he did it, sir."
The phrase in parentheses is not a minor detail. For thousands of emigrated Cubans, buying their own home in another country represents exactly what is practically impossible in Cuba: accessing a decent home with the fruits of their own labor, in a system where miserable wages and structural scarcity transform that dream into something unattainable for most.
The achievement taking place in Guyana makes it even more significant. Purchasing property in that country is not a common practice among Cuban migrants residing there. Most rent shared accommodations to cut costs, and the price per square meter in Georgetown is comparable to that of American cities, making the purchase an uncommon milestone.
Between 5,000 and 7,000 Cubans currently live in Guyana, a number that has grown exponentially since the country lifted the visa requirement for Cuban citizens. In 2020, only 800 people had legal status there; by 2024, that figure reached 135,000, according to data from the Cuban migration dossier for that destination.
Guyana attracts Cubans with the possibility of immediate employment in construction, welding, masonry, and hospitality, offering salaries significantly higher than those on the island. However, the country is also facing a wave of violence that has claimed the lives of at least five Cubans since October 2024, including the case of Dainier Vegas Infante, 23 years old, who was shot dead at his workplace in Georgetown this June, and the discovery of a 53-year-old Cuban’s body alongside a highway in Coldingen also this month.
These risks are compounded by the uncertainty surrounding migration: the Guyanese system only allows visa extensions of three months with a maximum of two renewals, leaving many in an irregular situation.
In this context, Miguel Pymes' video contributes to a documented trend in multiple countries: Cubans celebrating their purchase of a first home abroad on social media. A Cuban did the same in Mexico in June 2025, another shared her home in Italy at the beginning of 2026, and there are similar cases in Spain and the United States.
The contrast with Cuban reality is striking. In June 2025, a resident of Ciego de Ávila offered on social media: "I’m giving away a house in Cuba (Ciego de Ávila) in exchange for two tickets, and I’ll leave the difference with everything," an image that summarizes just how far desperation has reached for those who have still not been able to leave.
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