Editorial of CubitaNOW ~ Monday June 24, 2024
Once again, the Cuban regime shows its intolerance and abuse of power by attacking independent small and medium-sized businesses. The most recent case is that of Frank Cuspinera, a Cuban-American businessman and owner of Diplomarket, known as the “Cuban Costco.”
On June 20, 2024, the Cuban military forces intervened in Cuspinera’s business. Since then, he and his wife Camila have been held incommunicado, accused of tax evasion, currency trafficking and money laundering. These accusations appear to be a pretext for the government to confiscate his assets. The intervention occurred after the close of business, taking advantage of the prior authorization of the authorities to make a sale in his company.
The next day, authorities began confiscating all of Diplomarket’s assets to redistribute them to members of the government elite. This month, other businessmen, unjustly imprisoned for more than a year, have faced judicial controls. Although some were granted bail or freedom by a judge’s decision, these decisions were immediately revoked by the Cuban military, under the direction of the regime’s leadership.
Cuspinera’s case is not isolated. It is part of a systematic pattern of repression against businessmen who try to improve living conditions in Cuba by creating jobs and opportunities. Many others face unfair investigations or arrests for attempting to operate outside state control. The regime’s economic repression deprives the Cuban people of hope and progress.
(With information from social networks: La Tijera)
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