Amid an increasingly deepening crisis, authorities in Guantánamo have made it clear what their priority is: ensuring that whatever little exists reaches the state store, in a situation where obtaining food has become a daily struggle for thousands of Cubans.
"The main fair is what arrives at the warehouse," stated Joeny Saimón Mora, coordinator of the Provincial Government, in charge of food distribution, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation in the eastern territory.
His words, spoken to the official medium Radio Guantánamo, do not come in a vacuum. They reflect a reality that impacts the entire island, characterized by fuel shortages, declining imports, and challenges in maintaining the state distribution system. "Very complex," defined the official himself as the current situation.
In light of this situation, the local government has chosen to reorganize its strategy: placing less emphasis on occasional fairs and more on ensuring that products—no matter how few—reach the storage facilities through regulated mechanisms, with per capita control and by leveraging "the potentials of the territory."
The message is clear: it's no longer about expanding the supply, but rather managing what little is available.
The statement comes in a context where food has become one of the main sources of distress for the population. The supply booklet, a system that dates back to 1962 and currently barely meets a fraction of basic needs, continues to be the focal point of distribution, even for international donations, as acknowledged by the government itself.
But in practice, the reality is different. Products arrive irregularly, in insufficient quantities, or simply do not arrive at all. Meanwhile, the deterioration of living conditions continues to worsen.
Recent reports warn that Cuba has moved beyond merely facing an economic crisis to entering a phase close to a humanitarian emergency. The lack of electricity, which in some areas lasts for days, further complicates the situation: without refrigeration, the few available food items quickly spoil.
This is compounded by the fuel shortage, which halts transportation, complicates distribution, and exacerbates access to basic goods.
In that context, the official's statement takes on a different significance: what matters is not what is produced or imported, but what ultimately makes it to the warehouse.
For many Cubans, that moment—when something appears in the ration book—remains the only certainty amid the daily uncertainty.
Meanwhile, the population continues to adapt, surviving amid blackouts, long lines, and a growing frustration that is already beginning to be felt in the streets.
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