The Cuban Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) denied that donations will be given to Cubans who attend the island hotelsas has been spreading on social networks.
In a publication on its networks, Mintur assured that “the news circulating in some media and digital platforms about the alleged distribution of donations in hotels in the country after the passage of Hurricane Melissa is false.”
The entity urged “citizens and the media not to spread false information that could cause confusion” and asked them to “remain attentive to official sources and contribute to the prevailing of truth and informational responsibility.”
“The official information about the donations that are delivered is communicated through the channels authorized by the competent institutions, which in this case is not the Ministry of Tourism,” he stated in his note.
The alleged donations
Information about the alleged donations has been circulating on the networks for several days, based on publications made by a user identified as Ignacio Giménez Cuba, who in the past has gained visibility on the networks for campaigns and statements related to the island.
Giménez, who allegedly would be Cuban-Spanish and who has engaged in activism against the Cuban Government, now announced that would provide important financial aid and supplies to people who showed up at all the hotels in the country.
It would do so with the supposed support of Cuban entities and collaborators who would wear yellow, while the press would cover the deliveries. They would begin this Saturday morning and would continue throughout December.
Although many people have been ironic and have warned about the falsehood of this announcement on the networks, others took it as true and spread it even more, to the point that there was no shortage of Cubans who went to hotels with the idea of receiving the donation.
The journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso said on Facebook having seen today “more people than usual in the surroundings of Habana Libre waiting for the promised ‘gift'”, as a result of the hoax.
“Social networks, unfortunately, are also used to misinform, lie and make fun of people, especially with everyday shortcomings,” lamented the communicator and confirmed Mintur’s denial about false donations.
