A state-run store in Cuba, known as one of the foreign currency collection stores (TRD), has been exposed on social media for hiding merchandise to avoid selling it to the public. The incident took place on Saturday, August 31, at TRD La Orquídea, located in the Doce Plantas building in the Sandino area, a busy part of the capital of Villa Clara.
According to the Facebook profile Inspección Villa Clara, inspectors arrived at the store in response to a public complaint, which was confirmed. "The public was informed that the product was out of stock," they noted on the profile.
However, it was confirmed that "there were 10 Minerva 26 bicycles in the warehouse, priced at 31,000 Cuban pesos each. These were withheld without justified cause for their commercialization," they indicated.
As a result, the responsible parties were fined 8,000 Cuban pesos, in accordance with Decree 30 of 2021. Additionally, it was assured that the bicycles were "immediately put up for sale," and a request for disciplinary measures would be sent.
Regarding state-run stores, the Cuban government has not been explicit about the measures taken to prevent merchandise from being hidden amid widespread shortages in the country. However, private businesses have faced more severe crackdowns in these processes.
Vladimir Regueiro Ale, the Minister of Finance and Prices in Cuba, has warned the owners of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that it is a "serious crime" to hide merchandise and not sell it to the public. "In many cases, we have had to order the forced sale of merchandise," he stated on a television program discussing the implementation of Resolution 225, which imposes a price cap on six essential products in the country.
The crisis facing the country, due to the government's inability to meet the most basic needs of the Cuban people, is no justification for actions like those that occurred in Santa Clara. This situation has led to the proliferation of criminal activities such as corruption, theft, and violence on the island.
FAQs on State-Run Stores and Merchandise Hiding in Cuba
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the issue of state-run stores hiding merchandise in Cuba, as highlighted by the recent incident in Santa Clara.
What happened at the TRD La Orquídea in Santa Clara?
Inspectors found that the store was hiding 10 Minerva 26 bicycles in the warehouse, withholding them without justified cause from being sold to the public.
What was the response to the incident?
The responsible parties were fined 8,000 Cuban pesos, and the bicycles were immediately put up for sale. A request for disciplinary measures was also made.
What is the Cuban government's stance on hiding merchandise?
The government has not been explicit about measures for state-run stores but has been stricter with private businesses, warning that hiding merchandise is a serious crime.
How does the current crisis in Cuba contribute to these actions?
The government's inability to meet basic needs has led to increased criminal activities such as corruption, theft, and violence, as people resort to illegal means to cope with shortages.