Government caps food prices following protests in Cienfuegos.

The Provincial Government of Cienfuegos decided to set price limits on agricultural products for free sale to the population.

The measure has been approved following recent mass protests in the Pearl of the South, where residents of Cienfuegos took to the streets to demand an end to power outages, and to demand Freedom.

Resolution 103 is awaiting the signature of Governor Yolexis Rodríguez Armada. The regime is trying to control the cost of food amid a growing economic, political, and social crisis in the country.

Resolution 103 establishes maximum prices for a series of agricultural products, including:

Maximum Retail Selling Price (CUP)

Root vegetables and vegetables

• Sweet potato: 20.00 CUP per pound
• Yuca: 25.00 CUP per pound
• Vianda Plantain: 30.00 CUP per pound
• Plátano Burro: 15,00 CUP per pound
• Banana Fruit: 25.00 CUP per pound
• Pumpkin: 15.00 CUP per pound.
• Tomato: 70.00 CUP per pound.

Fruits

• Guava: 20.00 CUP per pound
• Green papaya: 15.00 CUP per pound.
• Bumpy Giant Papaya: 20.00 CUP per pound

Grains

• Fresh corn: 15.00 CUP per unit.
• Corn flour: 60,00 CUP per pound.
• Black Beans: 150.00 CUP per pound
• Red Bean: 180.00 CUP per pound
• White beans: 180.00 CUP per pound.
• Chinese beans: 60.00 CUP per pound
• Caupi bean: 80.00 CUP per pound
• Rice Price: 150.00 CUP per pound

In addition, the resolution specifies that the prices of second-quality products will have a 15% discount on the price of first-quality products, and non-standard products will be sold with an additional 10% discount.

Products purchased in other provinces will be sold with a 40% profit margin, and street vendors will be able to increase prices by up to 30% above those established in the Annex of the Resolution.

This decision comes after the intense demonstrations that took place on May 28th, where hundreds of people from Cienfuegos took to the streets demanding freedom, an end to the 12-hour blackouts, and a solution to the food shortage.

The situation in Cienfuegos reflects a growing discontent among the Cuban population due to the economic difficulties facing the country and the continuous blackouts that make life unbearable on the island.

The implementation of this price control policy will be coordinated between the Agricultural Production Procurement Committee of the province and the municipalities, ensuring a consistent application throughout the territory.

Governor Rodríguez Armada emphasized the importance of this measure to alleviate the economic burden on citizens and stabilize the local agricultural market.

The resolution will come into effect on June 1, 2024, and is expected to help mitigate the effects of the food crisis in Cienfuegos.

However, the effectiveness of these measures will be closely monitored by the population, which continues to demand structural changes and long-term sustainable solutions.

The government warned that Resolution 103 replaces several previous provisions and will be notified to the relevant authorities for immediate implementation.