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FROM
CUBA
Dollar stores appear deserted in Santa Clara
SANTA CLARA, Cuba, May 19 (Javier Machado,
Cubanacán Press / www.cubanet.org)
- A week after the Cuban government announced
measures it implemented as a reaction to
U. S. policy changes regarding its dealings
with the island, dollar stores in Santa
Clara remain mostly closed, and the few
that are open are selling only food and
personal hygiene items.
Stores such as El Canesú, and the
Praga and Siboney department stores, have
rearranged their shelving so as to block
most of the stock from view, leaving in
effect a store within a store where shoppers
only have access to the few items they are
allowed to buy.
Prices have not been changed, but store
employees report that they have been changing
the prices on all appliances, clothing and
shoes in preparation for the day when they
start selling again. Prices reportedly are
going up by 10 to 15% in the stores belonging
to the TRD chain, although alcoholic beverages
could be up by more than that. Prices at
stores belonging to other chains that usually
sell at higher prices are also said to be
going up.
Among the better known stores, La Reina,
Boutique, and Bisart have posted signs at
their doors announcing they are closed;
the new market La Casa Caribe on San Cristóbal
Street has a sign that informs shoppers
that only non-alcoholic beverages, food,
and personal items except perfume and cosmetics
are available until further notice. Imagen
y Sonido is only renting video tapes.
Cubans now living abroad who are visiting
the island complain about not being able
to buy items they need and others they wish
to give to the relatives they are visiting.
Street money changers have taken a vacation,
and the official money changers, CADECA,
did land office business in the first few
days after the new measures were implemented,
but now are basically empty.
Versión
original en español
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