Another Face of Cuba: The Sellers of Used Objects
HAVANA TIMES – The street vendors of used items arrive at one of the most crowded spaces in the Marianao municipality, in front of the old Lido bus terminal, and spread out on a cloth the essence of their poverty.
These Cuban nomads go out onto the streets every day with the hope of selling something and returning home with some money to buy food for the day.
The permanence of these sales exposes not only the shameful situation of the seller. Sadly, this way of life becomes the salvation for many Cuban families, who, like them, have no financial support. Families who overlook the fact that sometimes these reused objects are taken from the trash.
Digging through the trash to find something to sell and alleviate hunger is the reason for these merchants with faces weathered by the sun, faces that take over the landscape, leaving a bitter taste, in the people who stop to buy or look, and in those who walk by. It’s inevitable to think that these merchants of hardship worked their entire useful life for the State and now survive in the rawest form of indigence, though more dignified.
To see these men sitting on the ground, displaying their poverty, with no other pretense than to provide for themselves, is a face of Cuba that stays with you, one that some do not want to see but exists.
so terrible, the United States should be more helpful….
i am an American w/Cuban ties.
How is this different from homelessness in Canada and the USA?
Not really different. The level of poverty is similar. At least the Cubans are selling not panhandling
We must liberate Cuba, where is the Monroe Doctrine? Let them be free. The US should help topple the regime.
This could be the new Canada at the rate we are going.Wake Up People…….
Just returned yesterday from Trinidad Peninsula, it is getting worse and worse every year for them, I have been going every year for 15 years. It’s heartbreaking I always bring bags and bags of Essentials for gifts And before you would never be approached on the street and now it’s very common and very heartbreaking. The usa has to lift embargoes this is mass cruelty to innocent citizens.
It’s the greatest Revolution of hunger that ever existed, A perfect example of what happened when you destroy the middle class.
Ahhh, the fruits of communist living….
I feel terrible for the Cuban people, they are wonderful and I really enjoyed evertime I visited. I wonder, how come we don’t hear about people or communities trying to de more self sufficient, like having green houses, growing their vegetables, chickens, pigs ,etc.
Its my understanding, that year of government subsidized food programs, and controlled economy gets people complacent and unaware of their ability to look after themselves.
Now that the government doesn’t have funds to look after the people, everything and everyone is suffering.
I hope there still people wiling to look for alternatives and succeed.
Cuba is a beautiful country and people ate amazingly smart!
The underground economy in Cuba is alive and well. I commend the Cuban people for their creative incentives. I would leave my clothing , bags and personal items with families in the countryside. I took pots and other practical items, a pass fineo show bridle halters show shirts but did not bring them horseshoes due to the weight .They would reciprocate with giving me their best horses to ride and dance lessons.I also bought a fine boddied red rona pasa fino l proudly named Spirit Dancer. It is a way to give to my friend. I have not been back to see my pony with bragging rights since l named her! They healed me with their sunshine and rhythmic music and told me they (lufed) me when nobody else did.l hope to return with my partner to Salsa dance and share my abundance of junk off the resort. l do not care if it is sold after l get rid of it. Canadians have a huge household clutter problem. I can loose 10 lbs in 2 weeks by riding and swimming. The mystery meats and booze kept me going. My prayers are with the people that were so generous giving me what they had. My heart goes out to the kind people of Cuba for giving me so much! Respect for the love that the Cuban people give kindness so freely with a kiss on each cheek .
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Yes We sell our stuff too! l saw communism at work in Cuba and recognized it when people were turning their heads to look around as we spoke socially in small groups and then on other occasions were questioned at the airport. 0ur photos were taken by strange officers in the parking lot.I also noticed there was a paper trail to all financial transactions in Cuba. I had no interest in politics until we noticed our Dictator implementing and forcing policies that were not in the best interest of the people that had elected JT. As communism in policies entered Canada some of our bank accounts were frozen an bill C ll was implemented which restricted public communication. Vaccines were forced upon us by coersion to keep our jobs. We now have Canadian families living on the streets and under bridges in Ice cold Canadian winters. We have to continue to work in our Canadian communities to restore our standard of living so we are not a replica of Cuba.
We do that in Canada too.
It is time for a mass civil disobedience! The government cannot put the complete civilian population in chains!!!!
We go to Cuba every Jan for a month. FYI, we pay for a month what most pay for a week or two. The longer you stay the cheaper it is actually, if you know how to plan your trip.
When I see people going thru the dumpsters on the street across from our hotel, I know they are trying to help there family, I have on a few occasions given them money. The last time I did this, I guess another woman saw me give money, because out of no where she approaches me asking for money. And I am not sure where she came from because there was no one else on the street when I approached the woman going thru the dumpster.. You can tell the difference between the 2. The woman who approached me asking for money didn’t look like she was in need of anything unlike the women going thru the dumpsters. I had no more money on me and offered her a pack of gum because that’s all I had on me. She wanted me to go to my room and give her money, and wasn’t happy when I didn’t. The woman who was going thru the dumpsters had not approached me, I went to her and she was grateful for the $20 Canadian I gave her, she was surprised and extremely thankful. She actually didn’t even go thru the other dumpster after I gave it to her. I think she went to get food with the money I gave her.
There is an obvious difference in Cuba between the have and the have nots. We always give to the street workers, or the grounds people, people who don’t ask or expect it. When we see there working hard we give water, pop, beer. They are always thankful . I always bring a suitcase of stuff to give, we tip our resort staff, housekeeping, security ect every day. We are not rich Canadians, we go to Cuba because it is cheap. We stay at a 2 star hotel, but I do what I can. I don’t like it when we are approached by people wanting stuff, and even when you say you have nothing they follow you and keep asking. I prefer to give to the people who really need it and don’t beg. I can be walking downtown Varadero and see people who really need and I will just give. I have been known to take off my jewelry, sunglasses ect . that I am wearing and give it away to people I think need it or need even a kind gesture to make there day.
I have been going to Cuba for the last 15 years and love it. The people are amazing for the most part.
This year they are really hurting with the lack of tourists because of all the bad press it’s been getting. Cuba has always had a short supply of stuff, food, beer, electricity, gas ect . But this year the bad press has kept tourists away, which is really hurting Cuba. This year we didn’t find a shortage of food. In past years we have gone into restaurants and had the waitress say they where out of this n that This year we ate out several times and was never told they were out of anything, had lobster and steak several times , only $30 Canadian
for 2 including drinks. We even went to the 3 little pigs and had poutine, yes poutine in Cuba, and it was good. The whole time we were in Cuba this year we lost power twice and only for about 15nin. It was out more last year then this year. If you plan before you go to expect shortages you will be ok. For example I heard in the press before going this year about the power shortages so I brought solar chargers, and didn’t even need them but gave them away when we left.
I just wish the press wouldn’t be painting such a bad scene in Cuba, because of the press tourists went elsewhere this year and that’s what is really hurting Cuba .. And because of the lack of tourists everything went up in price this year.
Can’t wait to return next year…
Happens in Canada as well. People selling their used items on the street. Cuba is not alone in this poverty.
That is the result of communism. Communism is a cancer. It destroys everything.