Cienfuegos/In the last three weeks, Amaury, the goalkeeper of a restaurant in Cienfuegos located near the Malecon, stopped working five days. The reason was not the request for a vacation or a medical emergency, but the closing of the premises for the blackouts. “The owners are doing the impossible to keep it in operation. We try to make the most of the daylight, because the power plant is consuming quite fuel, but without electricity to cook, have running water or refrigerate food it is quite difficult to maintain the service, ”says 14ymedio.
The plant, with fuel purchased by the left at the price of gold, is reserved for the night service. “And thanks that we have that option, because otherwise we would have had to stop at that time,” explains the Cienfueguero, who knows that every hour that passes in his house for a blackout is money that stops winning.
The same problems that lacerate Amaury’s pocket are desperate to Ismael, the owner of a cafeteria on Argüelles street, which defines the blackout as the trigger for a vicious circle of deficiencies that leads to the loss of much money. “We are working limitedly, doing our best. We had to suspend the infusions and cocktail service, staying only with refrigerated drinks and pizzas to wear, ”he laments.
“We had to suspend the infusions and cocktail service, staying only with refrigerated drinks and pizzas to wear”
This little businessman adds that not even the sale of pre -elaborated is possible in some cases. “Because there is, after so many hours without electricity, the time comes when decomposition is almost inevitable. Paradoxically, my house is located in one of the so -called ‘protected circuits’, where they rarely remove the current. Conclusions: I spend much of the day carrying merchandise from one place to another, trying by all means to solve the problem, although I believe that not even the government knows how this will fix this, ”ditch.
The absence of vital services for its cafeteria, such as water or electricity, which suffers every time the light goes, not only empties its coffers but also weighs the profits of its business. “This represents a setback for us, and we have even forced to stay at the moment with a single work shift. We also decided to open from Monday to Saturday and close on Sundays, because that day consumption is so low that money to harsh reaches to pay salaries. ”
Both Ismael and Amaury have noticed a considerable decrease in the number of customers who come to their respective businesses. The goalkeeper has, in this regard, a theory: “People do not want to leave their homes and less if it is night. As soon as they think about the danger of being assaulted, how bad the transport is or how expensive a tricycle comes out to one is desired to go anywhere. ”
Ismael are the results of the lack of clientele that are concerned. The investment he made to set up his business was not small, and required his family’s help, as his son who put a large part of the initial fund from the United States. In the last year, he has seen several colleagues close their establishments and fears that all the work and money he put in his cafeteria will fall in broken bag because of how difficult it is to be an entrepreneur on the island.
Felipe, another Cienfueguero owner, cannot agree more, but knows very well that, if he does not do better, it is because the authorities care little about the contribution of the private ones.
/ 14ymedio
Even with the laws implemented years ago to be self -employed or created a MSMEcarrying a business in Cuba is still as difficult as when Fidel Castro disappeared to the deprived of the Cuban economy. Unless you have “a lot of ticket” or a “godfather of height”, the small private businesses are beaten not only the state persecution and control, but also the blackouts and the lack of resources.
“In honor of the truth, the individuals are the ones who keep active commercial management as far as our possibilities are achieved. What else would I like to keep my bar open 24 hours. But in addition to all the difficulties that exist, I understand that there are no conditions to maintain employees in several shifts because when they reach their homes, a man receives them, ”says Felipe with his voice almost inaudible by the sound of an electric plant.
The entrepreneur Lidia, “as it should be”, with the tasks that requires him to keep his trade: find suppliers, administer, pay wages, fulfill his tax obligations and maintain a quality service and with all the necessary licenses. On the other hand, the part that the State must almost never fulfill is fulfilled. “They demand us to fulfill their laws to the letter and are not able to guarantee the indispensable for us to work. They know perfectly to collect taxes, make surprise inspections and put fines, but when it comes to giving, they immediately disregard, ”he alleges.
In a country missed, Felipe has trouble imagining how people could survive if the private ones did not make available to the public
In a country, Felipe has a hard time imagining how people could survive if the private ones did not make available to the public, and in pesos, food, essential services and other highly demanded products. He acknowledges that sometimes prices are very high, but also defends that with less harmful policies for entrepreneurs there would be more businesses and offer, and prices would be more competitive.
Penaltail finally has learned to understand the market and knows that with less persecution and more legal opening a strong private sector could be created on the island. But he understands that this is not in government plans. “I don’t want them to give me anything. I just ask for some respect. ”
