Cuban labor minister resigns after her suggestion beggars were pretending sparked backlash

HAVANA (AP) — A Cuban minister who sparked criticism after saying that there are no beggars in Cuba, only people disguised as such, resigned Tuesday.

Cuba’s Presidency said in a post on X that Minister of Labor and Social Security Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera “acknowledged her errors and submitted her resignation.”

Feitó made the comments Monday before deputies in a National Assembly committee. The comments went viral, prompting calls for Feitó’s impeachment and a wave of criticism in a country experiencing a tough economic situation in recent years.

Even Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel was critical. Without mentioning her by name, but referring to the meeting at the National Assembly committee where Feitó participated, Díaz-Canel said on his X account: “the lack of sensitivity in addressing vulnerability is highly questionable. The revolution cannot leave anyone behind; that is our motto, our militant responsibility.”

The economic crisis in Cuba has increased social vulnerability and led to unusual scenes for the island, such as people — especially the elderly — begging or scavenging through garbage, or some cleaning windshields at corners.