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The "liberated but controlled" sale of eggs announced by the Provincial Government of Las Tunas has sparked a wave of criticism among the population, who question both the price and the distribution method of an increasingly scarce basic food item in Cuba.
According to the official entity, 50,000 units of eggs will be sold at the El Mambí market, with a limit of five per person and a price of 60 Cuban pesos (CUP) per unit. The sale will be subject to the presentation of the supply booklet and will follow a first-come, first-served basis.
The measure, instead of generating relief, provoked predominantly critical reactions on social media, where many users pointed out logistical issues, inequality in access, and the economic impact of the offering.
"What length will the lines be?" questioned an internet user, while another warned: "That will be a slaughter for 5 eggs." Concerns about the organization were recurrent: "Wouldn't it be more feasible to place this product in various locations around the city, or to distribute it through stores in an orderly manner?"
Several comments agreed that concentrating sales at a single point will lead to crowds and exclude those who cannot stand in long lines or travel. "Most of us suffer from pain in our feet and hands (...) So only those who can stand in line will be able to buy," wrote another person.
There were also questions about the price and its impact on income. "5 eggs per person with the ration book? At 60 pesos per egg?" pointed out one user, while another summed up the general sentiment: "Misery and more misery."
Some comments pointed directly to the inequality and disorder that this type of distribution could generate. “Controlled liberation brings disorder, favoritism, opportunism, inequality,” commented one internet user, while another warned that the sale could end up benefiting resellers.
The measure comes in the midst of a sustained crisis in the production and distribution of eggs in the country. The availability of the product has decreased significantly in recent years, impacted by structural issues within the state system, such as the lack of feed, the deterioration of infrastructure, and the inefficiency of the centralized model.
In various territories, similar limited distribution schemes have been implemented. In the Isle of Youth, for example, the sale of four eggs per person for 50 CUP through the ration book was established, subject to availability.
Access to the product has also been marked by long lines and fluctuating prices. In Havana, there have been sales of cartons at 900 CUP that have raised suspicions among consumers. “I’m skeptical, how can it be so cheap? They must be almost spoiled, there’s something off,” commented a user on social media regarding one of those offers.
Concerns about quality are not new either. In Santiago de Cuba, a pregnant woman reported the delivery of spoiled eggs through the rationing system. “I don’t want bad eggs, I don’t want that rottenness,” she complained to the storekeeper in a video shared on social media.
In that context, the sale announced in Las Tunas reflects not only the scarcity of an essential food item but also the ongoing difficulties in its distribution and access. The combination of high prices, limited supply, and concentrated sales mechanisms continues to generate discontent among citizens, who see these measures as an inadequate solution to a prolonged food crisis.
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