{"id":234248,"date":"2021-02-06T09:11:24","date_gmt":"2021-02-06T14:11:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=234248"},"modified":"2021-02-06T09:11:24","modified_gmt":"2021-02-06T14:11:24","slug":"the-reorganizations-prices-iii-of-caps-violations-and-medicines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/the-reorganizations-prices-iii-of-caps-violations-and-medicines\/","title":{"rendered":"The reorganization\u2019s prices (III): of caps, violations and medicines"},"content":{"rendered":"

The problem with the prices didn\u2019t begin in Cuba with the <\/span>monetary reorganization<\/span><\/a>. That, Cubans know well, is practically a truism on the island, a reality that has long been daily, fueled by the chronic economic crisis that, with its advances and relapses, the country has dragged for decades.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, that economic crisis\u2014multiplied in recent years by the tightening of the U.S. embargo, the crisis of a key ally such as Venezuela, the persistent internal inefficiency and, as if that weren\u2019t enough, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic\u2014 have shot up the <\/span>prices<\/span><\/a> on many occasions, especially on the black market, but also in formal circuits such as agricultural markets. In response, the authorities have imposed \u201ccaps\u201d (maximum limits) and control and punishment mechanisms on offenders that, beyond good intentions, have often proven not to be effective enough in a scenario spurred by scarcity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, with the reorganization already in place, the government continues to use this type of measures\u2015although the caps not infrequently translate into empty platforms\u2015, <\/span>while appealing<\/span><\/a> to the population to play an active role in confronting \u201cabusive and speculative prices\u201d and so that the policies drawn up \u201care correctly implemented.\u201d And a part of Cubans, in the midst of the crossfire of the increase in state prices\u2015in whose conformation the state itself is judge and party\u2015and non-state prices, including informal ones, have responded to that call.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to authorities from the Ministry of Finance and Prices, in the first two weeks of January, around 500 communications and 78 direct complaints related to violations of the established prices were received in that body. Lourdes Rodr\u00edguez, deputy minister of the sector, <\/span>explained<\/span><\/a> that most of the infractions detected have been in agricultural products and gastronomic services, while 65% of these violations correspond to forms of non-state management and the rest to state entities. Violators are imposed high fines\u2014between 5,000 and 15,000 pesos (CUP), <\/span>according to a recent decree <\/span><\/a>approved by the government\u2014as well as the seizure and forced sale of the products, the total closure of the establishment and the loss of the license in the case of private workers.<\/span><\/p>\n

MONETARY REORGANIZATION PRICES IN CUBA<\/b><\/p>\n

MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN HAVANA<\/b> (Selection)<\/span><\/p>\n

PRODUCT<\/b> PRICE<\/b> (CUP\/Pound)<\/span><\/p>\n

Tomato \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 8.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Cucumber\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 3.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Cabbage\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 3.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Peppers \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 10.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Carrots\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 6.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Beets\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a06.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Lettuce\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 5.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Guava \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 10.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Cachucha peppers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 13.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Chay peppers \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 7.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Source: Tribuna de La Habana\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

MONETARY REORGANIZATION PRICES IN CUBA<\/b><\/p>\n

MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN HAVANA<\/b> (Selection)<\/span><\/p>\n

PRODUCT<\/b> PRICE<\/b> (CUP\/Pound)<\/span><\/p>\n

Sweet potato \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 3.00\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Taro\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 8.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Cassava\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 4.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Banana\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a03.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Plantain\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 4.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Burro banana\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Squash\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a04.00<\/span><\/p>\n

White onion\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Garlic\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a047.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Black beans\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 14.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Red beans \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 16.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Chickpeas\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 35.00<\/span><\/p>\n

Source: Tribuna de La Habana<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>current state regulation on the subject,<\/span><\/a> which updates the existing norms in the face of the monetary reorganization, considers as abusive prices \u201cthose whose growth is above a reasonable range compared to similar products or within the same family,\u201d and that \u201cseek to achieve a level of disproportionate benefit or profit.\u201d Meanwhile, it defines as speculative prices \u201cthose fixed to products, mainly basic needs products, higher than those established by the competent authority, linked to repurchase, resale or both, with the aim of obtaining profits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, how are these prices defined and what is the competent authority to establish them? Explaining the logics and state mechanisms for this would be equivalent to writing a treaty, and showing all the official lists would be extremely long and cumbersome, due to those logics and mechanisms. As we have already mentioned in the <\/span>previous installments<\/span><\/a> of this series, in many prices the existing state subsidies until December were totally or partially eliminated, while others remained protected due to their impact or social sensitivity. Furthermore, a group of them were formed centrally, while others are the responsibility of local authorities and organizations, among them those of gastronomy and social services such as the family care system, which have brought so much controversy due to their high amounts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cuba: ancianos dejan de acudir a comedores sociales por aumento de precios<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n