The state-run newspaper, Escambray, has launched a critique this Thursday targeting the supermarket at 3rd and 70th in Playa, Havana, and the government's silence surrounding its practice of selling products in U.S. dollars and cash. "The people are waiting for explanations," states Elsa Ramos, a Sports journalist and recipient of the Juan Gualberto Gómez National Award in 2014, 2018, and 2019.
In her piece titled "Partial Dollarization in Cuba: The Locks of Silence?", Ramos condemns the "informational voids" surrounding the sudden opening of the store, which has stirred heated debates on social media about dollar sales. This situation exacerbates the longstanding issues Cubans face with the U.S. currency and highlights the existing social inequalities in the country.
Ramos notes that the dollars used in transactions at 3rd and 70th differ significantly from the former CUC and MLC (currencies not primarily used to pay wages in Cuba). She also references the "controversial CL" (Liquidity Capacity for Foreign Payment), which has perplexed state enterprises and agricultural producers. These "locks of silence," she argues, have already impacted the streets, where people anticipate the gradual demise of the MLC, affecting its informal exchange rate.
Ramos, who still supports Díaz-Canel's regime, insists that demonizing the USD is not the goal if, ideally, dollar stores could supply impoverished neighborhoods or allow state-run shops to sell essentials like chicken, powdered milk, or syringes in national currency. However, she recalls that when MLC stores first opened, promises were made to use the revenue to stock other stores, which never happened. She suspects the new dollar store at 3rd and 70th comes with similar empty promises. Additionally, customers receive change in candy, which she deems "a blatant consumer scam."
Those who cannot afford to even glance at the store at 3rd and 70th are, unfortunately, the same people who never or rarely managed to exchange their pesos for CUC, despite the 25-to-1 exchange rate back then. They also cannot access MLC stores due to the current exchange rate of 250-270 pesos or more. Many such individuals, left vulnerable by inflation, scarcity, and recent currency changes, are registered under the Ministry of Labor as they struggle to maintain a basic level of solvency due to inadequate salaries.
The Escambray article primarily addresses the lack of information and questions whether the regime plans to open more supermarkets like the one at 3rd and 70th in Sancti Spíritus and Trinidad, without prior notice. "One more dollar, despite our dire need, should not leave us with a diminished country," Ramos concludes.
Cuba's Economic Challenges and Currency Issues
Why is the opening of dollar stores in Cuba controversial?
The opening of dollar stores in Cuba is controversial because they highlight existing social inequalities and the struggles many Cubans face with the U.S. currency. The lack of transparency and unfulfilled promises about using revenues to stock other stores adds to the discontent.
What are the "locks of silence" mentioned in the article?
The "locks of silence" refer to the lack of information and official communication regarding the operations of dollar stores and the impact of these changes on the Cuban economy and society.
How are customers affected by the change policy at 3rd and 70th?
Customers at the store receive change in the form of candy instead of cash, which many view as unfair and a form of exploitation, as it prevents them from receiving proper monetary value for their transactions.