The confiscation of several food trucks belonging to farmers in Santiago de Cuba has ignited a storm of outrage across social media platforms. Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada brought the incident to light on Facebook, highlighting that police seized the goods at a location known as "El Fuego."
These farmers had put in tremendous effort to transport their produce from rural areas to the city, a fact seemingly ignored by the authorities. Consequently, many users voiced their displeasure in the comments section of the post.
Community Voices Discontent
Carmen Rumayor, one of the commenters, expressed her anger: "That farmer worked hard on his land without any resources to sell his goods, only to face this abuse and extortion. Those officers should focus on vulnerable areas plagued by theft and violence, like the terminal on 4th Street, instead of harassing the peasants."
Another user, Roberto, echoed the frustration: "With so many crimes happening, focusing on a truck carrying food for the people... God, it's a DISASTER!"
Debate on Priorities Amidst Food Crisis
The authorities' actions have sparked a debate about the lack of support for farmers and the police's priorities during the country's ongoing food crisis. As farmers strive to deliver food to the population, these confiscations present an additional hurdle for those reliant on the sale of their produce for survival.
Incidents of this nature are not uncommon. A few months ago, Carlos Díaz and Joelkis Díaz, a Cuban couple both aged 58, experienced the seizure of two cows they had owned for over 25 years by Yisel Rodríguez, the Agriculture delegate in Boyeros.