This December 24th, as Cubans prepare for Christmas Eve, they face significant challenges in assembling a traditional dinner, exacerbated by not only sky-high food prices but also the separation of families affecting countless households. Elizabeth González Aznar took to Facebook this Tuesday to expose the rampant price gouging by vendors in San Agustín, La Lisa, Havana. "Right now, on Calle 240 and 31, San Agustín, Lisa, unscrupulous vendors are taking advantage of people looking for items for Christmas Eve, with prices through the roof," she wrote. González detailed some outrageous prices: tomatoes at 500 pesos per pound, cachucha peppers at 200, plantains at 60 each, cabbage at 400, and bell peppers at 400 pesos.
She also pointed out that many products had increased by 100 to 200 pesos compared to the previous day, exploiting the population's needs. "What's the abuse? Where are we headed with the government's inaction and the resellers' shameless pricing, while the people are crushed like a croquette in a bun? Enough is enough!" she added.
Additionally, she criticized the accumulation of garbage in the area due to a lack of collection for five consecutive days: "San Agustín is once again filled with trash everywhere. Don't we have the right to live decently at least during the end of the year? Where is the sanitation department?"
The Capital's Market Prices Raise Eyebrows
The capital's agricultural market at 9th and F posted a list of prices on Facebook this Tuesday, which couldn't go unnoticed due to their exorbitant costs, particularly at the butcher "El Pollito." Special Viking ham is priced at 500 pesos per pound, super special chorizo at 420, and butter at the same price, competing with boneless imported pork leg, which reaches 1000 pesos per pound. Even smoked loin is as high as 1100 pesos per pound, while more basic items like croquettes (140 pesos for a pack of 10) and hamburgers at 60 pesos each also strain family budgets.
In another post, the market shared the prices of agricultural products available on their stands, which also reflect the high cost of food in the capital. Among the items are yuca at 30 pesos per pound, lettuce and Swiss chard at 120 pesos per pound each, cabbage at 120 pesos per unit, parsley at 150 pesos per bunch, and bell pepper at 280 pesos per pound. The market's invitation to customers starkly contrasts with the reality of the prices: “Good morning, neighborhood family, our market, your favorite, offers these products. We look forward to your visit!”
Economic Crisis Casts Shadow on Traditional Festivities
An analysis by the independent organization Food Monitor Program (FMP) highlighted that in Cuba, Christmas Eve, a time traditionally linked with peace, harmony, and family, is deeply marred by economic hardships. According to the report, the country's multifaceted crisis—characterized by food, water, energy, and medical insecurity—is compounded by recent government measures like price hikes in essential services, subsidy cuts, and partial dollarization of the economy.
This has driven the cost of a Christmas dinner for a family of four to around 8,200 Cuban pesos, nearly two average salaries or four times the basic wage. FMP's estimates, based on markets in Havana and Cienfuegos, include staples like a pound of rice (300 CUP), beans (500 CUP), pork (1000 CUP), and a bottle of red wine or cider (1800 CUP). These costs illustrate the struggle to afford a conventional dinner, especially for retirees, whose minimum pension of 1,528 Cuban pesos barely covers a pound of two or three of these items per month.
The report also emphasizes that the right to food includes access to healthy and affordable items, a condition far from being met in today's Cuba, where the cost of Christmas Eve has become an unattainable dream for most. Both the Food Monitor Program's findings and González's complaints reveal that in Cuba, securing food for Christmas Eve has transitioned from a luxury to a privilege accessible to very few.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges During Christmas
Why are food prices so high in Cuba during Christmas?
Food prices in Cuba are high due to a combination of economic mismanagement, a lack of local production, and government policies that have exacerbated inflation and scarcity, especially during high-demand periods like Christmas.
How does the economic crisis affect Cuban families during the holidays?
The economic crisis severely impacts Cuban families by limiting their ability to afford basic necessities and traditional holiday meals, increasing stress and hardship during a time typically associated with joy and family gatherings.
What measures have been taken by the Cuban government to address inflation?
The Cuban government has announced various measures, including price hikes on essential services and subsidy cuts, which have often been criticized for worsening the economic situation instead of alleviating it.