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The publication from Tribuna de La Habana regarding the situation of the regulated family basket triggered a wave of criticism and mockery on social media, where numerous Cubans expressed their frustration over delays in food delivery and the poor quality of the products.
The official report from the Provincial Commerce Company of Havana details that distributions of peas, rice, oil, and sugar are still pending in several municipalities, with reference to rations corresponding to previous months such as July, September, and October. The text further explains that oil should be dispensed “by opening the bottles” of one, four, or five liters, depending on the number of consumers in each household.
The citizens' reaction was immediate in the media's Facebook post. One user commented, "which basket," while another asked, "and what about the missing rice, sugar, oil, coffee, when will that be available?". The criticisms focused on the poor quality of the products, with messages such as "the peas are rotten," "fifth-rate peas, not even fit for pigs, hard as pellets, and just a handful," or "today I got the rotten peas with weevils, what a disrespect towards the population."
Other readers reported a lack of hygiene and the deterioration of food: "peas full of bugs and a foul smell, that's what we deserve," wrote one, while another claimed, "I've got weevils from the warehouse in my house." There were also complaints about delays in distribution. "Check carefully, because in Guanabacoa there are several markets and bodegas where they have not yet sold the 7 pounds of rice from July (3 pounds are still missing)," noted one user.
Many questioned why the official media would spread such information. “It’s a shame they publish that,” wrote one commentator, while another remarked, “Doesn't it embarrass them to publish this? Peas with weevils? Shame on the journalists, for what they’ve become.” Another reaction captured the general discontent: “Come on, don’t they feel embarrassed to publish such barbarity? In the middle of November, the peas from July because that’s all they have left. They have to stop, the whole world sees this, what a shame.”
The ironic and mocking tone was also present. “My dove is saved, it will finally eat, long live the basket!” joked one user. Another wrote, “Wow, but how big is this basket? It looks more like a thimble.” Among the most shared comments was the phrase, “take away the ration book, since in the end it’s just a decorative object,” which reflects the frustration with the rationing system.
Messages also emerged that mocked the official propaganda. "Fishing law and there are no fish; food sovereignty law and there is no food; communication law and that’s when the people are least informed. We continue to go from bad to worse. A terrible government team without a doubt," wrote a user. Others expressed resignation: "that's what we have to deal with and resist."
The publication of Tribuna de La Habana has become a gauge of citizen discontent regarding an increasingly precarious distribution model. Similar situations have been reported in other provinces at different times throughout the year. In Camagüey, the authorities acknowledged in October that they were still distributing the rice from June and July, while in Las Tunas, in mid-November, the official press presented as “good news” the provision of one bar of laundry soap and one bar of personal soap per consumer, after eight months without including hygiene products in the regulated family basket.
In September, a video shared on TikTok showed a young woman collecting the rice from June in her storeroom, saying “I’m standing in line to buy the rice from June, we’re in September, but that’s when it finally arrived.” Her testimony highlighted the extent of the delays and the precariousness of the deliveries.
Meanwhile, the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel has launched an economic plan that includes the elimination of subsidies and the increase of prices on basic goods and services, without offering specific measures to address the scarcity or the structural issues of the distribution system.
The reactions to the official publication in Havana reflect a widespread fatigue and a loss of faith in the supply booklet system, summed up in a phrase that was repeated among the comments: "get rid of the booklet if in the end it is just a decorative object."
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