The recent announcement by the Cuban regime to eliminate the ration book as part of a new set of economic measures has sparked widespread uncertainty and outrage among the population. This sentiment was vividly expressed through a social media broadcast by a Cuban woman, who openly shared her frustration and despair over how this decision will impact daily life.
"Lend me a rope because I can't go on like this!" exclaimed the woman, capturing the feelings of many citizens who view the end of this rationed distribution system for essential goods as a direct threat to their already fragile survival.
In her video, she not only lamented the demise of the ration book but also criticized the rising costs of internet access and the dollarization of basic services like mobile data, all while salaries remain paid in Cuban pesos. "Next year, we'll have to restrict ourselves even more," she stated, explaining that Cubans will need to buy additional megabytes with dollars, despite most workers on the island being paid in pesos. She also noted the imminent rise of the dollar in the informal market, which will further inflate the cost of essential goods.
The Ration Book: From Lifeline to Relic
Implemented in 1962, the ration book was designed to ensure equitable distribution of basic goods, especially during Cuba's toughest economic times. Despite criticism for its limitations and obsolescence, it remained crucial for many families. However, the system's gradual decline has mirrored the island’s structural crisis. Recent reports highlight how the goods distributed via the book are insufficient to meet minimal nutritional needs.
Since 2021, the government has gradually cut back on subsidies for basic products, impacting items like rice, sugar, and oil. Eliminating the ration book entirely is seen as the final step in removing "excessive subsidies and undue gratuities," leaving Cubans more vulnerable to shortages and rampant inflation.
Public Reactions and the Cost of Living
The Cuban woman's TikTok video quickly went viral, igniting a heated debate on social media. Many users expressed support and shared their frustration. "We don't even have enough to get by, and now they're taking away what little we had," commented one user. Another added, "The ration book wasn't much, but it was the only certainty we had; now we're adrift."
The rising internet costs were another major point in her broadcast. She accused the government of planning to limit basic access and forcing citizens to buy additional packages in dollars, which most cannot afford. "As if we were paid in dollars here," she exclaimed, highlighting the disconnect between government policies and the country's economic reality.
The abolition of the ration book also raises concerns among small private businesses, known as Mipymes, which rely on wholesalers for supplies. According to the woman, these businesses will face new restrictions, further complicating access to basic products. "Mipymes won't be able to buy in bulk, and that will affect us all," she explained.
A Desperate Appeal
The video concludes with an ironic plea to those living outside the island: "Send me a rope through Cubamax," she quipped, illustrating the despair many Cubans feel facing an uncertain future. Her words encapsulated the emotional and psychological toll of the new measures on a population already struggling to survive.
The end of the ration book and the introduction of new restrictions mark a turning point for Cubans. Rather than alleviating the crisis, these decisions seem to deepen inequalities and increase burdens on families. While the Cuban regime claims these measures are necessary to modernize the economy, the population faces a grim outlook, characterized by scarcity, inflation, and hopelessness.
Contradictions Surrounding the Ration Book's Abolition
For years, authorities assured that this measure wouldn't be taken until favorable economic conditions existed. In 2020, then-Guidelines Czar Marino Murillo Jorge stated that "the dismantling of the ration book will happen when the economy allows it." Even Raul Castro's daughter, official Mariela Castro Espín, once labeled the ration book "indispensable" for ensuring food security amid the crisis.
In September 2021, she remarked, "It was heavily stigmatized, and there was always a lot of criticism of the ration book. Suddenly, in those meetings... we all started to defend the ration book, even calculating how much the lowest-paid earn and what they spend to buy this... No, no, they can't take away the ration book!"
In 2023, after several rumors about its elimination, the official press denied this possibility, reiterating that the system would remain in place. Even Minister of Domestic Trade Betsy Díaz Velázquez declared that "the ration book will stay as long as it is necessary."
These statements have been contradicted by recent decisions, increasing perceptions of improvisation and lack of planning by the government. The ration book has always been a sensitive issue in Cuba. Surveys conducted in 2010 showed that while Cubans desired economic changes, they feared losing this basic access mechanism to food.
Now, with the ration book's disappearance, Cubans face a landscape marked by uncertainty and a sense of abandonment, while the government seems to drift further from its initial promises.
Key Questions About Cuba's Economic Changes
What is the ration book and why is its elimination significant?
The ration book was a system initiated in 1962 to ensure equitable distribution of basic goods in Cuba. Its elimination signifies a major shift, removing a critical safety net for many citizens who now face increased exposure to shortages and inflation.
How are Cubans reacting to the end of the ration book?
Many Cubans are expressing outrage and fear, as the ration book provided a degree of certainty in accessing basic necessities. The public reaction has been one of widespread concern and criticism of the government's decision.