The Cuban authorities extended the import of power plants of more than 900 watts for three months, a measure approved in August to try to alleviate the energy crisis, which experienced its worst moment in summer, and which expired on December 31.
The new resolution of the Ministry of Finance and Prices extends until March 31 the measure “to provide that some of the power plants purchased by the population are dispatched abroad before or during this deadline, are in transit and arrive in the country afterward” .
The norm indicates that “special treatment” is thus granted to these high production equipment.
The norm indicates that “special treatment” is thus granted to these high production equipment
In July were approved a series of measures aimed at making the importation of some items to Cuba more flexible as long as they were not for commercial purposes. Among them were from cell phones and computers to dozens of household appliances, car parts, furniture, toys and sports equipment, among others.
The list also included power plants of up to 900 watts for 200 dollars, from 900 to 1,500 for 500 dollars, and over 1,500 for 950. The General Customs of the Republic then established the quantity and rate limits, including 30% of value for items over $200.
The resolution entered into force on August 15, but before that the Cuban authorities had already realized the error made with the power plants, underestimated in the document. That is why they rectified the values in another standard dated August 11 that, although did not transcend until it was published in official Gazette of September 5should be applied from the beginning of operations.
“When assessing the effects on the residential sector that still persist, as a result of the energy deficit caused by breakdowns in the national electrical energy system, it is necessary to temporarily authorize the importation of power plants with a power greater than 900 watts, whose referential value in Customs exceeds the maximum value of two hundred (200) US dollars allowed to be imported via air, sea, postal and non-commercial courier shipments”, indicated the new text, now extended.
At that time, the prices of most 900-watt electric generators that could be found on-line Both in the United States and in Panama, favorite markets for Cubans, they exceeded not only 200 dollars, but even 500. Although the winter season has reduced prices, at the moment nor is it possible to adjust to the prices provided for in the July resolution.
The extension will allow the current imports and the new ones that can be made now to continue arriving, but it will be difficult to continue acquiring the equipment if the July standard is not modified after March, unless they become cheaper.
“Compadre, the Cuban situation is unique. They don’t have money to buy anything, an unpayable internal debt and they live on donations”
The reactions to the extension in the official press faithfully reflect the concerns that this newspaper exposed in the summer regarding noise pollution – “the lucky man’s family sleeps and the rest of the neighborhood stays up all night”, “I have not seen any document that indicates concern about the damage these plants are causing. If the noise is within permissible limits, if it affects the health of the neighbors…”– and, above all, the shortage of gasoline.
As this newspaper pointed out, although many workers skip the measure in exchange for compensation, it is common for service centers to limit the sale of gasoline in containers due to shortages.
“For what purpose, if later they put a thousand obstacles to solve the fuel? As is typical in our country, [para] make things difficult for the citizen”, laments a reader. Several call for the elimination of Customs limits and an end to the “internal blockade”, and although others recall that all countries have regulations of this type, one commentator points out the Cuban exceptionality “Compadre, the Cuban situation is unique. They have no money to buy anything, an unpayable internal debt and live on donations. Yes, it should be tax-free to make life a little more tolerable for Cubans,” he says.
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