People drink juice at the Juice Bar Co-op on Monday, March 11, 2024 in Havana, Cuba. Nearly half a million Cubans have crossed into the United States in the past two years, and thousands more are heading to Europe. The economic crisis has significantly reduced the amount of food distributed to those who do not leave the country. (AP Photo/Ariel Rey) Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
HAVANA (AP) – Like millions of other Cubans, Maria de los Ángeles Pozo is denied access to everything from burgers, fish and milk to chocolate and beer by the government's ration book. I remember fondly the time I gave it to my family. Some people get cakes for their girlfriends' birthdays and weddings.
Libreta, as it is known to Cubans, was launched in July 1963 and became one of the pillars of Cuba's socialist system, which led to reforms such as cuts in Soviet aid that led to the deprivations of the 1990s known as the “Special Period.” We helped people overcome the crisis. ”
The system has been hit by a severe economic crisis, with around 500,000 Cubans fleeing to the United States and thousands more heading to Europe in the past two years. This also led to a significant reduction in food rations available to those who did not leave the country.
Many Cubans feel unprepared to deal with a new, more unequal country, and in recent decades have been unable to accept non-state commerce in a country where they can afford prices similar to international markets. That sentiment has worsened further as a small private market for imposition opens up. Income ranges between $16 and $23 per month.
“Everything comes out little by little, and it's delayed,” said Pozo, 57, a school employee. She retired to care for her disabled sister and her father, who live in an apartment they share in Old Havana. They earn $10 a month for three people.
Basic necessities such as 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of baby formula can cost as much as $8.
“The products we were used to don't exist anymore,” Pozo said. “We are suffering from great poverty.”
Protesters took to the streets in the eastern city of Santiago this month, denouncing up to eight-hour power outages and food shortages. State media confirmed the protests in Santiago, and videos showing people shouting “electricity and food” were quickly shared by Cubans on and off the island on platforms such as X and Facebook. Nongovernmental human rights groups monitoring Cuba said at least three people had been arrested.
At current exchange rates, Pozo pays just $2 in subsidized state-run shops. In February, she picked up several pounds of rice, beans, sugar and salt, oil, processed meat and soap for her family of three.
Pozo said he has not received any money from relatives overseas. This is a major indicator of class differences in Cuba in 2024, with approximately 70% of families receiving it.
Although there are no official numbers, many experts estimate that Cubans abroad repatriated $3 billion in 2019.
Cuba has long suffered from production shortages.
Ricardo Torres, an economist at American University in Washington, said the situation is worsening due to a lack of foreign currency and necessary equipment, leading to shortages of agricultural inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers.
Without a functioning market economy, Cuban agriculture has long measured itself by socialist production goals, but has hardly achieved them.
Camaguey, one of Cuba's main dairy hubs, produced just 42.8 million liters (11.3 million gallons) of milk last year out of the 81.3 million liters (21.5 million gallons) that producers had agreed to sell.
Producers complain that government prices do not cover their costs.
The Cuban government blames the economic damage caused by the coronavirus, as well as U.S. sanctions and recent macroeconomic changes that have led to severe inflation.
Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said: “Today, there are private shops where you can find everything you want – milk, bread, sugar – at prices that are unaffordable for the majority of the population.'' Stated. Interview with Associated Press. “The government remains committed to providing equal payments to everyone.”
According to official statistics, Cuba's average annual inflation rate over the past three years has been nearly 50% a year, and gross domestic product has shrunk by 2%.
Faced with this scenario, the government is trying to reduce the number of people receiving supplementary food out of an estimated 4 million libretas.
For most Cubans, the government has failed to address the most serious problems: declining productivity and low take-home pay due to inflation.
“Salaries have to go up,” said Hilmar Pagan, 53, a maintenance supervisor.
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Andrea Rodriguez on X: www.twitter.com/ARodriguezAP
Andrea Rodriguez, Associated Press
