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HOLGUÍN, August 2 (Juan Carlos Garcell, APLO / www.cubanet.org) - The
scarcity of food and fuel in Sagua de Tánamo, in eastern Holguín
province, is on the increase, say residents.
"Five pounds of rice, 10 ounces of beans, five pounds of sugar, and
eight ounces of salt, is what the people of Sagua de Tánamo were sold,
per person, under the government’s rationing plan. With that, they are
going to have to make do for the month of August," said one resident.
They were also sold five ounces of fish per person.
"It shows lack of respect for the people, to sell them five ounces of
fish, when Cuba is an island surrounded by water that’s full of fish. What
I bought, I wrapped in a piece of plastic and put in my pants’ pocket,"
said Raúl Torres, a resident, adding: "Were the fish also embargoed
from our waters by the United States government?"
Produce available locally is scarce and relatively expensive. Yet, stores
selling in dollars have available eggs, chicken, beef, milk products, rice,
beans, oil, and other products that people cannot buy with their ration book.
Fuel for cooking, kerosene for most here, is also in short supply. People
walk from one end of town to the other trying to get some alcohol or wood, if
not kerosene, to cook with. In the past seven months, rationing authorities have
sold seven 750 ml. bottles of kerosene per person. Some say that’s only
enough for a week.
"The town looks like an ant colony. First you see people going from
here to there looking for some food to buy. Later you see them carrying a bottle
or some other container, looking for fuel to cook with," said one local
woman.
Versión
original en español
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