Lucas Garve, CPI
HAVANA, May – One of the most time-consuming activities in every Cuban’s life is buying what little is available under the government’s rationing system.
You have to be alert to "what came to the market" so as not to miss out on some necessary article.
"The meat arrived." "There’s canned fish today." "Did you make the bread allocation?"
These phrases have been common currency in Cuba for the last four decades. Once, a foreigner asked me why Cubans seem so preoccupied with obtaining food. "Because it will run out," was the only answer I could think of.
And, if it doesn’t run out, the time stipulated for its sale can run out. If you don’t show up during the time alloted, you don’t get any. "There will be meat available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today." If you missed the announcement, or you cannot make it to your assigned
market —you can buy your allotment there and only there— your ration book says you are entitled to buy some, but you are not going to get any.
So maybe your meat shows up later in the black market, courtesy of the clerk who has to make do himself. I suspect it does not get returned to central stores as not sold. I expect I’m recorded in my market’s books as someone who never fails to purchase every item I’m entitled to.
Versión original en español
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