In a recent visit to Guantánamo province for a business group review, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, Cuba's Minister of Domestic Trade, revealed a stark disconnect between the ruling class and the everyday lives of millions of citizens. Her comments, intended to "revitalize" domestic commerce in nightclubs, restaurants, and recreational venues, were met with a mix of bewilderment and ridicule.
Díaz Velázquez suggested playing "music from yesteryear" in Domestic Trade units to offer activities for senior citizens at "attractive" prices. For students, she acknowledged the lack of transportation and entertainment options, proposing that state establishments entice them with offers of "a drink and a small buffet." Once the market stabilizes, prices should be increased.
The minister's proposal for engaging the youth market included a phrase likely to be remembered in national history for years: "We play the right music, they come skeptically the first time, they return, and then you say: Hey, but it's not 200 pesos, buddy, give me a thousand, because things are getting good."
Rather than being a simple gaffe, Betsy's words highlight the dismissive and out-of-touch approach of the authorities toward the real issues facing people in Cuba. The response on social media was swift, with hundreds of Cubans reacting with sarcasm and outrage.
"We're governed by people with serious logical reasoning problems," commented one user on the social network X, while another wryly noted, "The circus for the entertainment of the masses... pure imperial Rome."
The minister's suggestion that workers in the sector devise ways to encourage spending on leisure and recreation in Guantánamo is at odds with the daily reality of the average Cuban. Salaries are insufficient to cover basic needs, prices are skyrocketing, and essential services are increasingly costly, making the idea of "a drink and a small buffet" almost laughable.
The notion that the solution to public discontent lies in old music, drinks, and snacks not only underscores the leadership's lack of seriousness but also their disdain for a populace overwhelmed by crisis. "It's not two hundred, buddy, give me a thousand," the minister quips, as if joking, but for millions of Cubans, the only number that matters is what's missing from their paycheck to make it to the end of the month.
Understanding Cuba's Economic and Social Challenges
What did Betsy Díaz Velázquez propose to revitalize commerce?
She suggested using "music from yesteryear" and offering drinks and snacks at state establishments to attract senior citizens and students, with the idea of increasing prices once the market stabilizes.
How did the public react to the minister's comments?
The public reacted with sarcasm and indignation, criticizing the minister's lack of understanding of the real issues faced by ordinary Cubans.
Why are Betsy Díaz Velázquez's proposals considered out of touch?
Her proposals are seen as disconnected from reality because they fail to address the fundamental economic hardships faced by Cubans, such as insufficient salaries and high prices for basic needs.