HAVANA, March 22 (José Antonio Fornaris, Cuba-Verdad) - Under the
heading "To the Cuban families who benefit from the gas service," the
Cuban Oil Company (CubaPetróleo) is sending a circular to its domestic
customers advising them of an April 1 raise in the price of liquified petroleum
gas of close to 300%.
The letter reads in part: "In order to make up some of the expense of
importing the gas and the investment required by this program, we have decided
that starting April 1, the price of a 10 kilogram tank will be 7 pesos, and a 45
kilogram tank will be 31.50 pesos." At present, the tanks go for 2.45 and
11 pesos.
CubaPetróleo cites Argentina, Perú, Brasil, Chile, Haiti and
Guyana as examples, of countries where a 10 kilogram tank costs more than 7
dollars.
The company's note does not compare the price to the average salaries in
these countries.
In Cuba there are millions of people who do not have gas service at home,
and those who have it get a quota. For example, a family of four is assigned a
10 kilogram tank every 19 days.
CubaNet does not require sole rights from its
contributors. We authorize the reproduction and distribution of this article as
long as the source is credited.
|