HOLGUÍN, Cuba. – “I heard it in the Newscast; “They said it was provisional until there was more flour,” says Esteban González, referring to the measure put into effect by the Cuban Government on September 12 that establishes the reduction of the weight of bread from the regulated quota of 80 to 60 grams temporarily. .
With this readjustment of the weight, the price of bread fell from one peso to 75 centavos, according to reported Anayra Cabrera Martínez, general director of Industrial Policy of the Ministry of the Food Industry (MINAL), told the official press.
The measure has generated diverse opinions in the population of Holguín. Although the Government has assured that the provision is temporary, Holguín residents express distrust, fearing that it is a step towards the total elimination of bread from the quota.
The unrest increases due to the availability of bread released at higher prices in the same bakeries where bread is scarce. the ration book.
Almost a month after the measure came into force, CubaNet gathered opinions among Holguín residents. “Bread costs 75 cents, but they rarely give change. I have protested, but the clerks say they don’t have money to give change,” says Ramón Ochoa, a resident of the Alex Urquiola neighborhood.
In the Nuevo Holguín district, Nelson Domínguez is another of those who has complained to the sellers on several occasions. “They don’t give me the change, many of us can’t leave it with the seller every day. “People have protested,” says the man.
Although the official note assures that the measure is temporary, almost a month after it was applied the criteria have become polarized: some believe that the 80 grams will soon be restored, others say that it will remain at 60 grams. “I think the measure will remain in place for another month,” calculates Juan Alberto Sánchez, a resident of Libertad Street, in the center of the city.
However, the opinion has spread that the government decision is part of the gradual elimination of bread from the regulated quota, as has happened with other products. “That is here to stay, and they will reduce it more and more until they eliminate bread from the notebook, as they have done with other products. Everything indicates that the Government will leave the bread released expensive and the bread from the notebook will disappear,” says Yaquelin Ocampo.
Before the aforementioned measure, the 80 grams established for the weight of bread in the quota were repeatedly breached due to the diversion of flour and other ingredients used to manufacture the product. “The quantity and quality of bread has always been poor. That has been a historical approach in the delegate’s accountability assemblies,” says Loida Ávila, a resident of the La Quinta neighborhood.
The same opinion is shared by Laritza Torres: “According to the Government, the quota bread now weighs 60 grams, but there is not much difference when compared to what was sold before.”
Although bakeries receive the same ingredients to produce bread, it is also said that the difference in size and quality varies from one establishment to another. “At the bakery where my son buys the bread is bigger and of better quality. The one they sell to me is bad and small. That means that more flour and oil are stolen from my bakery,” says Mario Fernández.
The first days of the measure being implemented, the bread showed good quality and size; However, in a short time these indicators decreased. “Like everything in this country, things start well and then quickly get worse. At first the bread was acceptable, but not a week passed and now it is smaller and of poor quality,” says Ladis Contreras from Holguín.
On the other hand, and as explained by officials, the measure was taken to guarantee production and avoid affecting consumers. However, on repeated occasions the sale of bread has failed due to lack of flour. “Terrible, there was no bread yesterday or today. Maybe tomorrow they will sell it,” says Israel Lorenzo, who buys at a winery in the Piedra Blanca neighborhood.
It is striking that in the same state bakeries where there is no bread in the regulated quota, a bread known as telera is sold freely. “There is no bread for the book, but they are selling released telera for 35 pesos,” says Olga Lidia Hernández, visibly upset.
This inexplicable situation also angers Xiomara Rodríguez. “No one understands that, that in the same bakery there is no bread for the book and there is free telera. “That is not understood, as nothing is understood in this country where everything is backwards.”
“When there is no bread, the most affected are the children who leave for school without having breakfast and parents have to buy bread on the street at any price. There are people who are hungry because they don’t even have money to get the 75-cent bread ball,” Rodríguez concludes.
