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The authorities in Santiago de Cuba announced a "massive megasale of food and basic products" this Saturday, featuring participation from all nine municipalities in the province and multiple sales points throughout the city.
According to CMKC Radio Revolución, the event will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will focus on areas such as Avenida Garzón and Plaza de Marte, as well as other locations in neighborhoods like Santa María, Micro 7, Altamira, and Antonio Maceo.
The call involves a provincial mobilization, with participation from state entities, agricultural producers, and non-state management forms, including small and medium-sized enterprises, with the aim of consolidating a diverse range of products in a single day.
At various locations, there will be the sale of agricultural food products, prepared foods, bread, sweets, and other consumer goods, including light industrial products such as textiles. The presence of fish and yogurt was also announced, along with cultural and recreational activities throughout the day.
The proposal presents the fair as an opportunity to bring products closer to the population in a context of scarcity, but reactions on social media have been marked by skepticism and doubts about its real impact.
One of the most recurring themes is the lack of cash and difficulties in making payments. "Which bank can we withdraw cash from for the purchase, huh? Just asking," questioned a user. Another commented: "Everything looks great, but how can we buy if there's no cash and the sellers say they don't accept transfers?" Along the same lines, it reads: "The problem is how to pay because no one wants to accept transfers and cash is very scarce."
The demand for electronic payments is a recurring theme. "I hope they accept transfers," "Everything should be paid online," and "They need to accept payments via transfer" are some of the most frequently expressed opinions. There are even those who warn: "If there’s no sale via transfer, it’s just for fun."
Doubts about prices are another central theme of the criticism. “God willing, prices will be within reach for the working people,” expressed one internet user. Others are more direct: “Mega sale with mega prices” or “Prices through the roof.” In the words of another user: “The problem IS THE PRICES.”
There are also many concerns about real access to products. “Resellers are buying everything and inflating prices,” warned one comment. Others question the territorial distribution: “What about the towns where people buy because there’s no transportation to get there?” or “They should take a look at the municipalities.”
This is compounded by criticism of the concentration of offerings in a single day and location. "A fair does not solve the reality in which we live," stated one user. Another summarized: "The hunger that the people have cannot be alleviated with a single day of fair."
Some comments interpret the measure as a temporary response rather than a structural one. "To keep the people happy so they don't speak out," wrote a user. Others refer to more well-known phrases: "Bread and circuses" or "Bread for today, hunger for tomorrow."
Incredulity is also present. “My God, this will be a meme,” commented one person, while another summed up the general expectation: “Let’s see the prices.”
The announcement of this fair takes place in a context marked by food shortages, a lack of cash in banks and ATMs, inflation, and the challenges of making salaries stretch.
In that context, although the initiative promises to concentrate a diverse range of offerings in a single day, a significant portion of the population perceives it as a one-off measure that does not address the underlying issues affecting their daily lives.
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