The renowned Cuban economist Pedro Monreal has sharply criticized the Cuban regime's shift towards a "neoliberal" approach in food distribution policies, advocating for imprisonment of those accountable for the escalating "food insecurity" on the island. In a series of posts on social media platform X, Monreal expressed his outrage over the narrative promoted by state-controlled media, which attributes the collapse of Cuban agricultural production to so-called "unforeseeable factors" while normalizing societal "inequality."
Challenging the Government's Economic Strategy
A vocal opponent of communist central planning, Monreal directed his criticism towards the "continuity" government led by Miguel Díaz-Canel. He accused the administration of advancing a ruthless neoliberal economic agenda, particularly with the pricing policies adopted by import businesses known as Mipymes. "When the 'methods sought by the country' under communist central planning lead to a pure and harsh neoliberalism: 'those who can, buy,'" Monreal commented, referring to the scarcity of eggs and their exorbitant prices set by importing Mipymes.
Impact of Inflation and Economic Mismanagement
With inflation running rampant, Monreal condemned the blatant official neglect of basic food security for working families who earn paltry state salaries. "This should result in imprisonment," Monreal asserted in his now-deleted thread, implicating Cuban leaders who have failed, or refused, to implement an economic strategy that could rejuvenate agricultural production, boost supply, and influence prices.
These leaders are the same individuals responsible for the "economic restructuring" that promised improvements following the "currency unification" and wage increases, which quickly proved futile amid widespread scarcity, inflation, and the inability to establish a functional official foreign exchange market to meet existing demands.
The Egg Crisis: A Symbol of Economic Hardship
The egg, once a staple, has become a symbol of economic hardship, disappearing from distribution for months, sporadically reappearing at exorbitant prices in select areas. The government-subsidized family basket has been unable to provide consistent supply, drawing consumer attention and speculation about its availability, as reported in an article by Escambray.
According to Aliesky Guevara Molina, director of the Poultry Company in Sancti Spíritus, "egg production in the province has stalled entirely because the animals went 12 days without feed." This significant disruption has impacted productivity levels, and recovery is currently underway. "We estimate that between November 10 and 15, the first batches of eggs will become available, as the animals are regaining weight," Guevara Molina stated.
Nevertheless, Guevara Molina admitted that the feed supply for animals has been unstable all year, meaning eggs have become a luxury for Cubans who can afford market prices—reaching up to 5,000 Cuban pesos for a carton of 30 in a country where the minimum wage is a meager 2,100 pesos.