Unclear prices run like Muddy waters of Contramaestre River
I have thought, time and time again, to take to the public arena the issue of prices, which runs as muddy as the waters of the Contramaestre when it is necessary to open the floodgates of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Dam.
I even associate it with the smoke from the chimney of América Libre Sugar Mill. That subject, prices, very widely talked-about by the inhabitants of this municipality and with greater harshness by those who come to take a private transportation, to ingest certain foods at the services of not a few freelancers and at agricultural fairs and non-state markets, with greater acute suffering.
Prices have been talked about in recent times, based on new measures to overcome the current economic situation as referred by our president Miguel Diaz-Canel. Because certainly financial, material, input, fuel and raw material limitations exist thanks to the iron US blockade that Cuba has suffered for almost 60 years.
It is true that greater offers in goods and services generate competitiveness, stable prices, satisfaction and a better quality of life… But perhaps, lack of supply can lead to tolerate abuse, undue enrichment, bad manners, disrespect and even offenses against claims for high prices and poor quality of the product or service.
The stories may be dissimilar, so I will not stop at taking them forward, while recognizing that a few, even opportunists, are only interested in increasing their coffers.
It will be that all those who raise the prices of their offers will declare with true fairness the amount perceived in money… It seems to me that NO; even more so in cases where they operate with illegal raw materials, regardless of the fact that Contramaestre does not have a wholesale market.
I consider that I cannot, nor should I be absolute when referring to abusive prices and bad quality in services and offers by freelancers, non-state markets, private passenger transportation and other demanded services.
Nor do I intend to hurt the sensitivity of others, not even I try to attack one or another private business, but I do want to reflect on the issue of prices, especially when new provisions on prices and contributions to the treasury have just come into force.
In fact, it must be clear that the wage increase set by the Cuban government to the budgeted sector with a backing of more than 7 million pesos does NOT involve price increases either by collecting sector, cooperatives, freelance workers, or other non-state forms of management.
The fact is that none of these actors, including the commercial companies, can increase commercial margin rates, nor can wholesale prices for exports and imports. It is time for prices not to continue to make muddy waters of Contramaestre River.
