A Cuban resident in Guyana has taken to social media to share videos documenting his eviction ordeal. According to his account, his landlord forcibly removed all his belongings from his home, confiscated his keys, and refused to return $650 he had recently paid as a deposit and rent.
The videos, circulating widely on social platforms, capture the man's attempts to reclaim his money and document the conflict. What angered him most was the landlord's decision to throw his ebbó, a sacred object in Afro-Cuban religious practices, onto the floor.
"He threw my sacred items on the ground—it's so disrespectful," he states in the first clip. "You can't mess with my religious items because I don't interfere with their religion," he adds.
In this initial footage, the Cuban confronts the landlord, insisting that he brought several people to remove his belongings despite having paid the rent. He even presents a receipt as proof of payment.
In a follow-up video, with the apartment now empty, the man reveals he's been waiting for over 30 minutes for the landlord to return his money.
"He owes me $650 and refuses to give it back," he says to the camera, warning fellow Cubans about the situation. "He's a scammer pretending to be a good person," he asserts.
The third video captures the only direct interaction between the two parties. The landlord, identified as Christopher, claims the tenant failed to pay for water and electricity during the first rental month.
The Cuban disputes this claim, showing bank statements to prove his payments.
"Here are all the receipts. I need you to pay me back, please," he insists as the landlord walks away without returning the money. Before ending the video, the tenant records the landlord's vehicle license plate as evidence.
The tenant alleges that the landlord exploits the precarious immigration status of many Cubans in Guyana.
"He takes advantage of the fact that Cubans are undocumented," he says, highlighting the vulnerability many migrants face in that country.
This situation underscores the risks confronting many Cubans in Guyana, a migration hotspot following an economic boom driven by the oil industry.
Current estimates suggest that between 5,000 and 7,000 Cubans are living in Guyana, largely drawn by job opportunities in construction and sectors linked to economic expansion.
However, many find themselves in unstable immigration situations. Cuban visas initially last for three months and permit only two extensions, leaving many migrants reliant on informal work arrangements and rental agreements with minimal legal protection.
Recent incidents highlight this vulnerability. On July 23, a fire in a Georgetown building left about 40 Cubans homeless, who had been living in overcrowded conditions. In February, Guyanese authorities raided another residence housing 77 Cuban nationals during a probe into a suspected human trafficking case.
The surge in Cuban migration to Guyana is closely tied to increased public investment in infrastructure, which grew from $184 million in 2019 to $3.7 billion in 2025, fueling a high demand for labor that has attracted thousands of foreign workers, including many Cubans.
Understanding the Cuban Migrant Experience in Guyana
Why are many Cubans moving to Guyana?
Cubans are relocating to Guyana due to the country's economic growth and the resulting job opportunities, particularly in construction and infrastructure projects.
What challenges do Cuban migrants face in Guyana?
Cuban migrants often deal with uncertain immigration statuses, making them vulnerable to exploitation in informal work and housing arrangements, with limited legal protections.
What legal protections are available for Cuban migrants in Guyana?
Legal protections are minimal, as Cuban visas are initially valid for three months with limited extensions, leaving many reliant on informal agreements.