The Ministry of Finance and Prices (MFP) of Cuba imposed 4,332 fines on private businesses violating prices between July 12 and 13, totaling over 13 million pesos, as reported by the official newspaper Granma.
As part of the crusade against the non-state sector led by the island's regime, authorities and inspectors from the mentioned entity carried out 11,891 inspections to verify compliance with retail prices.
In this regard, Vladimir Regueiro Ale, head of the sector, stated that the inspections covered the entire country. The detection of violations was at 41.7%, totaling 4,954, although 4,332 fines were imposed, amounting to over 13 million pesos.
In addition to the fines imposed, 354 forced closures were applied - 187 in Havana -, 53 temporary withdrawals of establishment operation authorization, and 21 confiscations, mostly from those operating illegally, according to the aforementioned media outlet.
It is worth remembering that the government announced last Monday the implementation of price caps on six essential high-demand products through a resolution published in the Official Gazette of Cuba.
Resolution 225/2024 from the Ministry of Finance and Prices establishes that the products with maximum retail prices are the following:
Chopped chicken: 680 pesos per kilogram.
Edible oils (except for olive oil): 990 pesos per liter.
Powdered milk: 1,675 pesos per kilogram.
Pasta: 835 pesos per kilogram.
Sausages: 1,045 pesos per kilogram.
Powder detergent: 630 pesos per kilogram.
The resolution aims to mitigate the impact of inflation on consumers. In order to achieve this, the payment of the Customs Duty on the importation of these products is eliminated, and maximum sale prices have been established. These prices take into account acquisition costs, marketing, the merchants' profit, and the sales tax.
In addition, a profit margin of up to 30% is set on costs and expenses, provided that the prices defined in the resolution annex are not exceeded.
One of the fined SMEs is located in East Havana, where its owner was selling the oil for 1,200 pesos, when the price set by the state organization is 990 pesos per liter.
"A fine of 8,000 pesos is applied under Decree 30 Article 7, section B," the MFP stated in a tweet last Saturday.
In another post, it reported an inspection of an establishment in the Boyeros municipality, where oil, chicken, and sausage were being sold at prices higher than those allowed.
The Cuban government's war against merchants who do not respect price caps has reached the point of asking citizens to report by phone those who do not comply with the rule.
The Ministry of Finance and Prices advocates for a movement of popular control, and established communication channels for each territory so that people can make complaints.
Phone reports would join the "army" of 7,000 inspectors that the MFP has prepared to enforce the provision.
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