minister of Cuba steps down following understatement of nation's poverty issues
In a shocking turn of events, Marta Elena Feito, the Cuban labor minister who oversees both the labor sector and the social security system, tendered her resignation on July 15, 2025. The resignation came following a heated parliamentary committee meeting the previous day, where she made a controversial claim that people rummaging through garbage cans in Cuba are only pretending to be poor, not beggars.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel entered the fray on July 15 to lambast Feito's "lack of sensitivity" regarding her controversial claim. The Cuban state media, in a statement, also criticised Feito for showing a "lack of objectivity and sensitivity."
The economic crisis in Cuba, marked by shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, as well as daily power blackouts, has led to a sharp increase in poverty levels. The Caribbean country is grappling with its worst economic crisis in three decades, and the scenes of people rummaging through garbage cans, particularly in Havana, have become common.
Social media users in Cuba reacted with outrage, posting photos of people eating out of trash cans. The controversial claim made by Feito caused an uproar, with many Cubans expressing their disbelief and anger.
In additional statements on state television, Feito claimed that people rummaging through garbage cans in Cuba are not beggars. However, some people in Cuba are resorting to panhandling or eating out of the trash due to the economic conditions.
As of now, the new labor minister of Cuba after Feito's resignation has not been named or announced. The people in communist run Cuba are grappling with runaway inflation, meager wages, and food shortages, and they await the appointment of a new minister to address their pressing concerns.
[1] Cuban Labor Minister Resigns Amidst Controversy Over Poverty Claim - The Guardian, July 16, 2025 [2] Cuban Minister Resigns After Claiming Poverty Does Not Exist in Cuba - BBC News, July 16, 2025 [3] Cuban Labor Minister Feito Resigns After Controversial Poverty Claim - CNN, July 16, 2025 [4] Marta Elena Feito Resigns as Cuban Labor Minister After Poverty Claim - Al Jazeera, July 16, 2025
- The controversy surrounding Marta Elena Feito's statement about poverty in Cuba has escalated into a political issue, with general-news outlets covering the resignation of the labor minister from various perspectives.
- The crime-and-justice implications of Feito's statement are also being discussed, as the economic crisis in Cuba has led to a rise in desperate measures such as going through garbage cans for food, sparking public outrage and calls for greater support systems to help those in need.
