VILLA CLARA, July 20 (Edel José García, CNP) Lines of Cubans
waiting to buy rice have grown longer since the end of last year, provoking
disturbances, police intervention, and even knife fights, outside the markets
selling what is a basic staple here beyond the government's rationing quota of
six pounds per person per month.
Many here say the assigned ration, sold at a nominal price in "quota
markets," is barely sufficient for the first ten days of the month, leaving
residents to scrounge for supplies to cover the rest of the month. Enter the "liberated
price markets," where rice can be bought for anywhere from 3.50 to 5 pesos
a pound, but even at those prices, supplies are not always plentiful.
These last few months, the supply has been unpredictable, and Cubans are
always fearful that it will run out before they get to the head of the line.
Even the quota rice has been iffy lately, with the eastern provinces reporting
last month that only 5 pounds of damp, foul-smelling rice were made available
for purchase.
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