In a move that highlights the disparity between the Cuban government’s rhetoric and the realities faced by its citizens, new gas stations have been unveiled in Villa Clara that cater exclusively to those with U.S. dollars. Despite the fact that most Cubans lack access to foreign currency, these stations are ironically promoted as being "for the people"—a slogan also used for stores that require payment in foreign currencies.
The CIMEX S.A. state corporation's Villa Clara branch announced the opening of the Máximo Gómez Service Center in Sagua La Grande via Facebook. This facility has been revamped to offer transactions solely in U.S. dollars, under the guise of providing "quality service" to the customer. "Opening of SC Máximo Gómez with a new sales model in USD, a renewed unit to provide quality service to the customer. For commerce serving the people," the state entity proclaimed on its official profile.
In a similar vein, CIMEX announced another station opening in the municipality of Placetas, using the same exclusive dollar-only model. "Inauguration of a new sales model at El Milagro Service Center in Placetas. A new space designed for customers with a refreshed image! We are waiting for you!" CIMEX posted, targeting those with access to U.S. dollars, in stark contrast to the majority of Cubans who earn their income in the national currency.
The promotional efforts have sparked critical reactions on social media, with users denouncing the exclusionary nature of the initiative, which leaves out Cubans without remittances or regular access to foreign currencies. Marisel Loretta Quesada pointedly asked, “Service for the people who earn in USD…,” punctuating her comment with angry emojis.
Jairon Betancourt questioned, “Hello, will they sell in Cuban pesos for the people there? Because you know the people do not earn in dollars. You must have the face the size of a 55-gallon tank,” capturing the frustration of many. Diego Velázquez Rojas succinctly summed up the sentiment with, “Which people? Please.”
Most reactions echoed this disconnect between official messaging and the exclusion experienced by the majority. Edy Frank Avilleira Tamargo challenged, “What do they mean by ‘serving the people’?” Meanwhile, Alexey Fernández Ruiz warned, “Little by little, they will all be like this.”
In December, the Cuban government sanctioned a document that endorses the "partial dollarization of the economy," as revealed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz during a National Assembly session. This move seeks to reorganize critical economic sectors amidst attempts to manage the informal exchange market's impact.
In line with this, February saw the regime announce new restrictions on special gasoline sales, limiting purchases to payments made exclusively in U.S. dollars. The measure, communicated by the state oil company CUPET, addresses the scarcity of such fuel and further entrenches the dollar's role in the energy sector. The directive underscored that service centers with special gasoline would only conduct transactions through USD cards, effectively sidelining drivers without access to this currency.
Impact of Dollar-Only Gas Stations in Cuba
Why are the new gas stations in Villa Clara controversial?
The controversy stems from the fact that these gas stations only accept U.S. dollars, which most Cubans do not have access to, thereby excluding a significant portion of the population.
How does the Cuban government justify the dollarization of certain sectors?
The government claims that partial dollarization is necessary to reorganize key economic sectors and manage the informal exchange market's impact.