AREQUIPA, Peru – The Ministry of Domestic Trade (MINCIN) on Monday denied rumors about adjustments in the delivery of basic food baskets, one of the main issues affecting the population in Cuba due to constant delays and shortages.
The state entity made the clarification through its Facebook page, replicated by the official pressIn the publication, MINCIN rejects the alleged rumors published on social media and digital platforms that point to restrictions related to new measures to correct distortions in the Cuban economy.
In the statement, the body recalls that the situation of the standardized family basket was recently explained in the media.
According to the information, classified as false, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, Minister of Domestic Trade, would apply “new measures” with a view to “correcting distortions in the Cuban economy.”
The document stated that there would be no more chicken, that cleaning would be done quarterly, as would coffee, oil and peas. It also pointed out that the measures were taken in accordance with the availability of these products in SMEs.
In fact, the Cuban authorities have admitted Delay of months in some casesfewer products and the absence of others while they try to distribute the basic basket for August.
In this regard, Díaz Velázquez said this Saturday at a press conference that they are carrying out operations for Tuesday “to conclude, fundamentally, the distribution of the products of the standard family basket for August,” according to the report of the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
The official admitted that the delays, which in some cases last months, are due to a number of causes, including: lack of transportation, lack of electricity, lack of inventory and better organization of operations, and the late arrival of ships loaded with grains in the country.
In September, as happened in August, Neither coffee nor oil will be distributed to Cubans.
Regarding sugar, of which two pounds were distributed in July and August respectively, the minister said that “alternatives are being sought such as importing certain volumes.”
Díaz Velázquez also acknowledged that, in the case of rice, the situation is critical and only in 12 provinces will the seven pounds of rice in the standard family basket for August be completed.
In Santiago de Cuba, for example, Cubans received only six pounds of rice in Augustwhile in Granma, four or five.
The official also pointed out that there are three ships with 52,000 tons of rice that have not been able to be unloaded at ports due to financial constraints, which should ease the situation in September.
