Cuba’s Leaders Order a New Crackdown on Illegal Activities

[El Presidente]

This should inspire a little much needed capitalism 

https://havanatimes.org/features/cubas-leaders-order-a-new-crackdown-on-illegal-activities/

"However, the repressive actions, in fact, have already begun in some agricultural markets in the capital. Authorities issued fines to vendors who were reported for abusive price fixing and other illegalities. Specifically, last weekend operatives of the Municipal Inspection Directorate in Playa, Havana, imposed fines of up to 8,000 pesos (around US $66) to six vendors in the market at 19th and 42^nd Streets for price gouging and other illegalities.

Two of those sanctioned were fined for abusively fixing the price of tomatoes, bell peppers, and carrots at 300 pesos per pound as well as limes (200 pesos per lb.), and pineapples (100 pesos per unit). Two others were fined 5,000 pesos for not having product price lists or one for “possessing 999 plastic bags without a receipt, for which the responsible party was fined 1,500 pesos and the merchandise confiscated.”

[NSXCIGAR]

Price gouging? 300 CUP per pound for tomatoes is pretty good. $2 per pound. 

[Fugu]

If that’s their biggest concern... 🙄

[JY0]

Meanwhile, Rome is burning.

[anacostiakat]

When you don't have any big ideas you attack the small stuff.  

[NSXCIGAR]

7 hours ago, therealrsr said:

I thought that conversion rate only applied to connected people at the banks, on the street the government still claims that is a price gouging $12 per pound. 🤣  

Officially it's 120:1 now so at worst it's $3/lb but the street rate is around 150-170:1 so about $2. 

Even at 24:1 only dumb tourists were ever paying that and tourists aren't typically buying tomatoes at the street markets. 

[SCgarman]

What's going on there in Cuba is akin to the Hindenburg going up in flames. It all is starting to crash to the ground. Slowly but surely

[NSXCIGAR]

4 hours ago, SCgarman said:

What's going on there in Cuba is akin to the Hindenburg going up in flames. It all is starting to crash to the ground. Slowly but surely

I've heard that many times. Unfortunately last week I felt nothing more than an above average level of discontentment among the people. They'll let a few hundred thousand more people out and relieve some pressure. I heard Spain has now relaxed requirements for Cubans with Spanish ancestry to obtain passports. Many Cubans are lining up. 

We'll see what happens this winter when fuel becomes even more scarce throughout the world, although I'm sure Russia and Venezuela have plenty to give to the Cubans as usual.