Betsy Díaz Velázquez, the head of the Ministry of Domestic Trade (MINCIN), recently visited a store in the municipality of San Antonio de los Baños, Artemisa, which was notably stocked with eggs and powdered milk.
This visit made headlines given the severe food shortages currently plaguing the Cuban population. The country is experiencing what many consider the worst food scarcity in its history, exacerbated by the slow phasing out of state rationing and the ration book, and an increasing risk of food insecurity that has yet to catch the attention of international organizations.
In addition to cartons of eggs and packages of powdered milk, the store in San Antonio de los Baños, whose name was not disclosed, also offered a variety of rationed products that Cubans frequently find in short supply. These items are often received late or not at all, leaving citizens to wait indefinitely. Among the rationed goods available were imported rice (7 pesos per pound), sugar (5 pesos), coffee (11 pesos), peas (5 pesos), baby food (0.30 pesos), and even one kilogram of "free rice," likely sourced from donations. The store also carried hygiene products and had several chalkboards filled with illegible notes.
Remarkably, there were no long lines despite the availability of these scarce items. The minister also toured a community dining hall, though only photos of set tables with empty plates were published, showing no diners in sight.
San Antonio de los Baños, the epicenter of the historic July 11, 2021, protests (11J), seems to be up-to-date in delivering the meager basic food basket subsidized and distributed by the state through the ration book. However, given past experiences and the known workings of the Cuban regime's propaganda machine, there is reason to suspect that the store visited by Díaz Velázquez was specially stocked for the occasion.
The purpose of the minister's visit was to "verify the compliance of actions being taken in the province of Artemisa ahead of the agency's Accountability Report to the National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP)," according to MINCIN's Facebook page. This is no small task, especially considering the intense exchange Díaz Velázquez had last December with ANPP President Esteban Lazo Hernández, who emphatically stressed the importance of addressing "such a sensitive issue as popular gastronomy for lower-income people."
During the session of the Commission for Attention to Services, held prior to the Second Ordinary Period of Sessions of the X Legislature, Lazo Hernández criticized the report presented by the MINCIN head. "I am talking about sensitivity, about not letting capitalist ideas swallow us! That's what I'm saying, that we shouldn't let them swallow us! Things don't have to be private to work well here," Lazo told the minister, who held his gaze with a focused and challenging expression.
With a carton of 30 eggs priced at 3,500 pesos and a kilogram of milk costing over 2,000 pesos, Díaz Velázquez will present the results of visits like this one in San Antonio de los Baños when she renders accounts to the ANPP. The narrative remains: there are foods in the stores, social dining halls are operational, ships are now passing through the Panama Canal laden with rice for Cuba, and spring is arriving to the frozen rivers of Canada that transport the peas consumed by Cubans. But the "blockade" persists.
Understanding the Current Food Situation in Cuba
In light of the recent visit by Betsy Díaz Velázquez to a well-stocked store in San Antonio de los Baños, here are some key questions and answers to better understand the current food situation in Cuba.
Why is the food situation in Cuba so severe right now?
The food situation in Cuba is dire due to a combination of factors including the phasing out of state rationing, economic policies, and an increase in food insecurity that has not been addressed by international organizations.
What was significant about the store visited by the minister?
The store in San Antonio de los Baños was notably stocked with scarce items like eggs and powdered milk, which is unusual given the widespread food shortages. This has led to suspicions that the store was specially stocked for the minister's visit.
What is the role of the ration book in Cuba?
The ration book is used by the Cuban government to distribute subsidized food to its citizens. However, due to shortages and delays, many of the promised items are either received late or not at all.