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The organization Food Monitor Program (FMP) reported what it describes as the existence of "two Cubas": one characterized by the scarcity faced by the population and another where officials and political leaders receive privileges and special attention.
In a thread published on the social media platform X, the NGO dedicated to monitoring food security on the island stated that, amid the current economic crisis, the State prioritizes the hosting of leaders during institutional visits and tours, while a large part of the population faces difficulties accessing food.
According to the organization, there is a recurring pattern during visits by political figures to workplaces or institutions.
At those times, protocols are activated for entities to present a favorable image to the authorities, which includes the preparation of refreshments and food for official delegations.
The NGO asserts that this practice contrasts with the daily reality of many Cubans, characterized by long lines to buy food, shortages of basic products, and an increasing difficulty in meeting nutritional needs.
An infographic released by the organization alongside the thread describes this gap as “the two Cubas: that of the leaders and that of the people.”
In the case of the population, the graph indicates that the cost of survival is continually increasing and that approximately 10 minimum wages are needed to cover a single monthly basic basket.
The material also indicates a public food budget of 56,135.4 million pesos annually, a figure that, according to the organization, is insufficient given the actual basic consumption needs.
Moreover, the infographic warns that in the last decade, numerous state institutions have eliminated lunch services for their employees, shifting that responsibility directly onto the workers.
In contrast, the graphic describes a "Cuba of the leaders" where, according to the NGO, protocols for receiving and honoring officials are maintained during official visits.
In those cases, the organization asserts, the workers of the institutions must prepare snacks or special meals for the delegations.
FMP also notes that access to food can become a mechanism of political control, while warning that the partial dollarization of the economy and the inefficiencies of the state apparatus are affecting food production and increasing social uncertainty in the country.
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