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FROM
CUBA
In
Cuba not all quota goods are available all the
time
HAVANA, August 19 (www.cubanet.org) - The Cuban
government's rationing system is supposed to at
least guarantee consumers a minimum quantity of
scarce domestic cleaning products and other goods.
Lately, however, a number of products which consumers
are entitled to buy under the system have not
been available in distribution outlets.
For instance, in the year's first quarter, the
full allotment of bath soap and tooth paste were
not available to consumers in Havana city and
province. Tooth paste is supposed to be sold at
the rate of one tube per family of up to four,
and two for families of five or more. So far this
year, tooth paste was only available in January
and not again until June.
Laundry soap was only available once, in March.
The quota allotment for that is one half a bar
per consumer per month.
Cubans generally agree that the set quota does
not meet anyone's needs fully, and that it must
be supplemented by purchases either in the black
market or in the dollar markets, at much higher
prices, naturally.
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