Cuban content creator David el de Kitty published a video this Monday addressed to Cuban migrants residing in Guyana, offering a series of recommendations for protecting themselves against arbitrary evictions and conflicts with landlords.
The recording, which surpassed 84,000 views in just a few hours, emerged as a response to the case of a Cuban who reported being forcefully evicted, losing the money paid for the deposit and rent, and witnessing how the landlord threw his ebbó, a ritual object of Afro-Cuban religion, onto the ground.
"Always sign a contract."
David's main advice was that no Cuban should rent a home without a written contract, regardless of their immigration status.
"Sign a contract. Your immigration status does not matter. You can and should demand to sign a contract," he asserted.
He also recommended requesting a receipt for each payment made.
If the landlord refuses to provide a receipt, it was suggested that the tenant prepare a simple document and request the landlord's signature before handing over the money.
"Here is the money, here is the receipt. Sign here for me to give you the money," he explained.
When to go to the police and when to go to a court
One of the key aspects of the video was the distinction between a civil conflict and a crime.
He explained that when there is a dispute related to a rental contract, the usual procedure is not handled by the police, but by the courts, unless there is violence or property damage.
"When there is a dispute between the landlord and the tenant, the police have nothing to do with it, unless there is violence," he noted.
Instead, he recommended calling the police immediately if the landlord tries to evict forcefully, destroys belongings, or assaults the tenant.
Regarding the recent viral case, he stated that the affected individual should seek judicial recourse to claim the money and report the alleged breach of contract, although he acknowledged that starting that process involves time, legal expenses, and, in many cases, overcoming the language barrier.
"Don't be afraid of threats."
David also wanted to dispel one of the most common fears among Cuban migrants.
"The Guyana police cannot deport; that's an immigration issue. They are not deporting anyone here. Forget it, do not be afraid when they threaten you with that," he assured.
He added that if there is a valid contract and the tenant has fulfilled their obligations, the landlord cannot evict them unilaterally.
"The landlord would have to go to court for a judge to issue an eviction order," he stated.
That criterion aligns with the Landlord and Tenant Act of Guyana, which stipulates that evictions must follow a judicial process and cannot be carried out arbitrarily by the property owner.
A growing concern among Cubans in Guyana
The video was widely shared amid growing concern within the Cuban community established in Guyana, where thousands of migrants have arrived in search of job opportunities related to the booming oil industry.
In recent weeks, several episodes have highlighted the vulnerability of this population. On July 23, a fire in the Lacytown neighborhood in Georgetown left about 40 Cubans who were living in a building homeless. Months earlier, authorities intervened in another building where they found 77 Cuban citizens during an investigation for suspected human trafficking.
At the end of his message, David summarized the importance of knowing the basic rights of any tenant.
"This is universal, except in Cuba where there is no law. Civil cases, problems arising from breach of contract, are not resolved through the police."
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