(EFE).- The Cuban government extended for the third time in less than two years -and until June 2023- the norm that allows travelers who arrive on the island to bring food, toiletries and medicines without limits or tariffs, they reported this Friday official media.
The measure is a palliative that responds to the economic crisis that the country is going through, aggravated for two years and that translates into scarcity, high inflation, partial dollarization of the economy -the exchange market competes with the informal market , with a higher rate than the official one- and long lines to get food.
In a press release, the Ministry of Finance and Prices justified the extension, considering that “limitations persist in the supply of food and other products in the national market as a result of the tightening of the economic, commercial and financial blockade exercised by the administration American to our country.”
The Executive points to the United States and the economic crisis brought about by the covid-19 pandemic as the main causes, however, in his speech to the Cuban parliament last Wednesday, the president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, also added elements such as the “inefficiencies and obstacles generated” by “impertinence and errors” in management.
Until before the mobilizations of 2021, many Cubans resorted to the so-called “mules”, which entered their luggage with products from other countries.
In his speech, the president said he felt “enormous dissatisfaction” for “not having been able” to achieve the results “that the people need.”
Cuba issued exemptions for the non-commercial import of food and medicine for the first time just after the anti-government protests on July 11, 2021 – the largest in decades – in which one of the various reasons that mobilized the protesters was the shortage of supplies of basic products.
These measures have also been criticized for only impacting islanders who have relatives abroad or who have sufficient resources to travel by plane.
Until before the mobilizations of 2021, many Cubans resorted to the so-called “mules”, which entered their luggage with products from other countries and received compensation.
The Ministry of Finance and Prices issued a second resolution in December 2021 and extended the measure until June 30, 2022. A second extension was made in May that will end on the 31st of this month.
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