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Pedro Lizardo Garcés, president of the Rampa Popular Council, revealed a recent case of hoarding and diversion of goods that occurred in the MLC store "Cibeles," owned by the CIMEX corporation and located in El Vedado, Havana.
Garcés explained that a citizen complaint alerted that "chicken liver" had come in yesterday, and that the administration of the place stated that it belonged to another unit to which it would be transferred.
However, after requesting, through the mayor, the presence of inspectors from the municipal inspection department, the following was detected:
-in the sales area only four wheels of popular cigarettes remained with no price displayed, this despite the fact that there were 90 wheels in stock.
Two boxes of Rothmans cigarettes were not available for sale.
-There were only four bags of chicken liver in the sales area, but in a fridge from the stock there were two boxes plus two packages.
-There were no invoices or inventory of the products on site.
The official indicated that in recent months there has been a significant increase in reports of this type of illegal activity in various stores.
Garcés specified that this occurs "especially with those goods that are priced lower compared to non-state forms, indicating that hoarding is directed towards these activities and others that are carried out illegally."
Pedro Lizardo Garcés did not specify in his post what measures were taken with the management and staff of the store involved in the mentioned incident.
In the final part of his publication, he called on "all administrators" of the Rampa Popular Council to strengthen controls and prevent situations like this from continuing to occur.
In the comments section of the publication, several internet users urged that this control be extended to other popular councils not only in Havana but throughout the country, as corruption is a widespread issue on the island.
Not far away, an internet user reported that a similar incident involving strong cigarettes occurred yesterday at the CUPET on 23rd and Malecón.
As of the writing of this note, the question remains about the actions taken against those responsible for the corruption reported by the President of the Rampa People's Council.
Frequently asked questions about corruption and shortages in MLC stores in Cuba
What irregularities were discovered in the MLC store "Cibeles" in Havana?
Cases of hoarding and diversion of goods were discovered, where products like chicken liver and cigars were unavailable for sale despite being on the stock. Furthermore, there were no invoices or inventory of the products on site.
Why is product hoarding common in MLC stores in Cuba?
Hoarding primarily occurs with goods that are priced lower compared to non-state forms, creating a parallel market where these products are sold illegally. This is due to widespread shortages and a lack of control in the management of state stores.
How is inflation affecting cigarette prices in Cuba?
Inflation has driven up cigarette prices in the informal market, reaching up to 500 pesos for a box of popular brands due to the shortage of supply in state-run stores. This situation reflects the economic crisis and the government's ineffectiveness in controlling inflation.
What has the Cuban government done to combat corruption in the MLC stores?
The Cuban government has implemented some measures, such as inspections and administrative controls, but these actions have been insufficient to eradicate corruption in the MLC stores. The lack of transparency and ineffective management continue to be persistent problems.
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