Residents of Manicaragua, in Villa Clara, have voiced their outrage over the police's inaction following the theft of more than a thousand cangres of yuca from an 80-year-old farmer, who despite his age, continues to work the land. The elderly farmer, Pedro Ramos Toscano, reported the theft at the end of August to the PNR (National Revolutionary Police), but they have done nothing to apprehend the thieves, according to a citizen complaint posted on Facebook by user Héctor Tol Etón.
According to the testimony, Ramos went to the Manicaragua PNR on August 28th, around two in the afternoon, to report the theft. "They just wrote down the figure of more than a thousand cangres of yuca on a piece of paper. When the farmer asked for a receipt, they told him it wasn't necessary," the post states.
The authorities have since claimed there is no evidence of the theft and that nothing can be done. Without a receipt, there is no formal record of the report with the police, the note warns. Ramos farms a plot at the entrance of El Negrito, on the road to Güinía, according to the user, who noted that the farmer is "very disappointed because his hard work is being exploited by criminals and nothing is being done."
"This is the state of farmers in Manicaragua, with no security for their crops, and as a result, less and less is being planted each day," he added. "Here in Manicaragua, the MININT and the prosecutor's office are more focused on going after those who disagree with the government," he claimed. "While they're wasting time on surveillance, serious issues are occurring."
"At this moment, all the farmers in Manicaragua are very disappointed because they find no support from the interior forces to take measures against crime," the user who reported the case emphasized, a sentiment echoed in comments by other locals. Several others took the opportunity to report thefts they had experienced, while authorities continue to fail in apprehending the criminals.
A woman living in Santa Clara lamented the situation and shared her experience: "Poor man, I know him personally and I know all of this is true. But besides that, I'm more than sure some police officers (not all) are siding with the criminals, which is why they didn't give a receipt; I'm speaking from personal experience, having gone through something similar with my cell phone."
"They always give the same response to everything," wrote another Cuban. "Someone broke into my daughter's house, stole from her, and that was the response we got, despite having evidence and suspicions, and nothing has changed."
In recent years, as Cuba's economic, political, and social crisis deepens, Cuban farmers have repeatedly reported thefts of their properties and the dangers they face in protecting their animals and crops. At the same time, they have denounced police inaction in these cases.
Some had no choice but to sell their herds, like the owner of La Fe farm in Colombia, Las Tunas, due to the increase in thefts and the authorities' indifference, who "do nothing" to curb the crimes and catch the culprits. A farmer in Pinar del Río has reported continual thefts of his crops for years, with the police never apprehending those responsible.
In July 2023, 64-year-old farmer Moisés Ricardo Zayas was allegedly murdered on his property in Mayarí, Holguín province, in a robbery for his cattle, according to his family. Later that year, another farmer was robbed in his own home, where the thieves made off with 30 million pesos, a fact confirmed by an official source.
Understanding the Inaction of Police in Villa Clara
Given the increasing reports of thefts and the lack of police response, many are left with questions about the security and justice system in Villa Clara. Here are some commonly asked questions and their answers.
Why did the police not provide a receipt to Pedro Ramos Toscano?
The police claimed a receipt was unnecessary, which undermines the formal documentation of the report, making it harder to prove the theft occurred.
What are the implications of the police's inaction for farmers in Villa Clara?
The lack of action by the police leaves farmers vulnerable to theft and discourages them from planting crops, thereby impacting local agriculture and food security.
How has the economic crisis in Cuba affected crime rates?
The worsening economic crisis in Cuba has led to increased crime rates, as people become more desperate and resort to theft to survive.
Are there any efforts to improve the security situation for farmers?
As of now, there appears to be little to no effort from the authorities to improve the security situation for farmers, leading to widespread disappointment and frustration.