In a recent move, the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has mobilized a group of young students in Ciego de Ávila to tackle what are deemed as excessive and speculative pricing. According to the state-run newspaper Invasor, shared via Facebook, this group comprises students from high schools, medical sciences, and other educational institutions.
The initiative aims to "rectify distortions in non-state management" by assigning these students the responsibility of overseeing and regulating prices amidst a backdrop of rampant inflation and widespread scarcity. It appears the province lacks sufficient inspectors to handle this task. This governmental strategy highlights a tendency to shift the burden of addressing economic crises onto students instead of tackling the root causes.
Government's Approach Sparks Criticism
The decision has drawn criticism for placing young individuals in a socially tense environment without offering genuine solutions to underlying problems. In the comments section, Cristian Domínguez challenged the regime, questioning, "Why aren't inspectors and police, who are well-paid, doing their job? Must young people confront speculating mafias? Will this price-control army also have jurisdiction in MLC and USD stores, where prices are the most outrageous?"
Fidel Alejandro Ojeda César echoed these sentiments, describing the measure as yet another misstep by Díaz-Canel's administration: "These ordering ideas are understood only by the Central Committee. Control of speculation happens in the law of supply and demand; when products are scarce, prices rise, and when there's plenty, they drop because competition is fierce. Why don't MLC stores apply the same rule?"
Public Discontent and Economic Strain
López Julio César added, "These are the things that leave the population outraged and foster little faith in government institutions. It's inhumane to intimidate and frustrate the private sector when they can't even regulate their prices in MLC stores, which are exploitative. Analyzing MLC prices versus private sector prices reveals that stores are exploiting workers, while private businesses help feed people. The government is utterly incapable of providing for the population. This is the reality in Cuba, like it or not."
Back in July, the Cuban government announced fines exceeding 8,000 pesos for private businesses failing to adhere to price caps on six high-demand basic products. Following the enactment of Resolution 225/2024 by the Ministry of Finance and Prices, which set retail prices for items like cut chicken, edible oils (excluding olive), powdered milk, pasta, sausages, and powdered detergent, the regime launched a nationwide operation to identify price violations and penalize offenders.
Between August 17 and 23, the Ministry closed businesses and revoked work projects for 368 "non-state actors" as part of its ongoing control over the private sector. In just one week, the government ordered the closure of 171 businesses and terminated 197 private work projects. It also conducted 58 product seizures and 773 forced sales due to "detected violations." In Havana alone, as part of the "witch hunt," merchants were compelled to conduct 77 mandatory product sales during a control operation.