{"id":6558,"date":"2022-07-05T10:06:52","date_gmt":"2022-07-05T10:06:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/?p=6558"},"modified":"2022-07-05T10:06:52","modified_gmt":"2022-07-05T10:06:52","slug":"cuba-putting-on-the-boots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/cuba-putting-on-the-boots\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba: Putting on the Boots"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is a dilemma for Cubans to make ends meet. Wages are not enough to face the very high prices that the lack of offers, real inflation and speculation bequeath to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we know well at the household level, we sometimes fail to understand at the level of the larger dwelling that is the country. Even at that scale, finances are not enough for everything we aspire to and especially for what we need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the heads of the nuclei in each household, the leadership of the country has to draw up accounts and more accounts of how it is going to solve the most urgent needs and define priorities in the midst of all that is lacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drawing up accounts every day at pencil point to know how to acquire food, fuel, medicines, spare parts, raw materials, services and other things that are required is not an easy task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Especially because these accounts must be drawn for the needs of 11 million Cubans. Where others solve with satisfying the elites, and the rest\u2026we already know, the socialist state has to look for solutions for all or for the majorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add to these additions and subtractions the money to pay what we can of the debts we have and the obligations of the contracts signed. And in this world, if you don\u2019t pay, nobody will sell you or give you credit again. Even less in the midst of such a complicated international economic crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The calculations are becoming more complex after two years of high expenses due to the pandemic and little income from exports of goods or services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get an idea of the dimension of our economic challenges: the country\u2019s total foreign currency income for the first quarter of 2022 exceeded 493 million dollars, a figure similar to that achieved in the same period of the previous year, but much lower than what we had before March 2020. However, imports of goods amounted to more than US$2 billion, US$688 million higher than in the same period of 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such an imbalance between what we take in and what we buy in hard currency implies new debts and more challenges. And it does not mean that more spending equals more goods. Generally, more has been spent to acquire the same or fewer quantities. Inflation is not just here at home; it is now a growing global process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the price of oil in June 2021 was at $71 a barrel today it exceeds $118 a barrel. In June 2020 it was around 38 dollars. In other words, in just two years, the country has to spend 80 dollars more for each barrel of oil if it acquires it on the international market. We are not talking about transportation costs or the permanent harassment by the United States against shipping companies that risk transporting fuel to Cuba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to continue to ensure basic foodstuffs for our diet, such as rice and wheat for bread, as well as other components of the standard basic food basket, which is sold to every citizen of the country without distinction, the government and our importing companies not only have to deal with an increasingly restrictive and protectionist market, but also have to pay more money for the same amount of products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We must remember that guaranteeing a pound of rice for each Cuban means acquiring 5,200 tons of rice. And so on for each product of the standard basic food basket: 5,200 tons to guarantee one pound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The country needs about 700,000 tons of rice for its consumption, most of which is imported. The trend of rice prices in the world market has been upward in the last five months and already exceeds US$430 per ton. And prices are expected to rise due to increased demand, in the face of insufficient supply and high prices of other basic foodstuffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The value of many food commodities, from wheat and other grains to meat and oils, has soared. That has been driven by a number of factors, including rising fertilizer and energy costs over the past year, as well as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UN food price index shows that prices are 75% above pre-pandemic levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its latest Food Outlook report, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) explained that an additional $49 billion will be spent worldwide on food imports this year due to higher prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Resumen<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is a dilemma for Cubans to make ends meet. Wages are not enough to face the very high prices that the lack of offers, […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101011,"featured_media":6559,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6558","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4856,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/fake-social-media-operation-from-abroad-catalyzed-cuba-incident\/","url_meta":{"origin":6558,"position":0},"title":"Fake Social Media Operation from Abroad Catalyzed Cuba Incident","author":"Editorial Team","date":"July 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The renowned Spanish analyst Juli\u00e1n Mac\u00edas Tovar has broken down the intense campaign extended across social media networks against the Cuban Revolution in the last few days. It was launched from outside of Cuba and one of its directors was the Argentinean Agus Antonelli, a right-wing political operator who has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bloqueo-Road-sign.png?fit=600%2C340&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bloqueo-Road-sign.png?fit=600%2C340&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bloqueo-Road-sign.png?fit=600%2C340&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2700,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/media-silence-about-cubas-contributions-against-covid-19-denounced\/","url_meta":{"origin":6558,"position":1},"title":"Media silence about Cuba’s contributions against Covid-19 denounced","author":"Editorial Team","date":"September 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Friday denounced the international media silence about Cuba's scientific contributions to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.On his Twitter account, the head of Cuban diplomacy noted that, even if men and women of science in the country 'share their achievements with the world, they show\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cuba"","block_context":{"text":"Cuba","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/cuba\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bruno-twiter.jpg?fit=748%2C498&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bruno-twiter.jpg?fit=748%2C498&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bruno-twiter.jpg?fit=748%2C498&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bruno-twiter.jpg?fit=748%2C498&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4860,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/bay-of-tweets-twitter-permits-anti-cuba-bot-army-despite-coordinated-inauthentic-behaviour-rules\/","url_meta":{"origin":6558,"position":2},"title":"\u2018Bay of Tweets\u2019: Twitter Permits Anti-Cuba Bot Army Despite \u2018Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour\u2019 Rules","author":"Editorial Team","date":"July 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The United Nations has voted every year since 1992 to condemn the US 60-year embargo of Cuba, which is responsible for shortages in fuel, medicine, and essential parts on the island that have affected the life of every one of its 11.5 million people. Despite the suffering, the US maintains\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bay-of-Tweets.png?fit=1200%2C652&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bay-of-Tweets.png?fit=1200%2C652&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bay-of-Tweets.png?fit=1200%2C652&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bay-of-Tweets.png?fit=1200%2C652&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bay-of-Tweets.png?fit=1200%2C652&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2716,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/russia-condemns-google-blocking-of-cuban-accounts\/","url_meta":{"origin":6558,"position":3},"title":"Russia condemns Google blocking of Cuban accounts","author":"Editorial Team","date":"September 11, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Russian Federation\u2019s Foreign Ministry recently denounced Google\u2019s blocking of this newspaper\u2019s account and those of other Cuban news media by the U.S. digital media conglomerate Google. \u201cThe blocking of Granma newspaper, Mesa Redonda (television program) and\u00a0Cubavisi\u00f3n Internacional, on the part of the U.S. company this past August 20, is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cuba"","block_context":{"text":"Cuba","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/cuba\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/cubans-on-phones.jpeg?fit=1200%2C882&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/cubans-on-phones.jpeg?fit=1200%2C882&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/cubans-on-phones.jpeg?fit=1200%2C882&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/cubans-on-phones.jpeg?fit=1200%2C882&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/cubans-on-phones.jpeg?fit=1200%2C882&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2364,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/cuban-doctors-treat-the-most-serious-covid-19-cases-in-haiti\/","url_meta":{"origin":6558,"position":4},"title":"Cuban doctors treat the most serious Covid-19 cases in Haiti","author":"Editorial Team","date":"July 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Port-au-Prince, jul 12 health professionals have been helping to fight Covid-19 in Haiti since April, and so far they have attended some of the most complex cases of the disease that plagues the country today.The twenty specialists of the Henry Reeve brigade work in the main treatment center of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Covid-19"","block_context":{"text":"Covid-19","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/cuba\/covid-19\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/medicos-brig-haiti.jpg?fit=748%2C498&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/medicos-brig-haiti.jpg?fit=748%2C498&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/medicos-brig-haiti.jpg?fit=748%2C498&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/medicos-brig-haiti.jpg?fit=748%2C498&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4827,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/the-events-in-cuba-put-it-them-in-to-context\/","url_meta":{"origin":6558,"position":5},"title":"The events in Cuba put it them in to context","author":"Editorial Team","date":"July 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"After the events of recent days in Cuba, let put a few things into context. After a few news and tendencies in social media about the government of Biden was in the process\u00a0 of analysing the policy towards Cuba, suddenly there were protest in different cities in Cuba, this was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cyber-Coup-Cuba.jpeg?fit=980%2C552&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cyber-Coup-Cuba.jpeg?fit=980%2C552&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cyber-Coup-Cuba.jpeg?fit=980%2C552&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cyber-Coup-Cuba.jpeg?fit=980%2C552&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3xdTY-1HM","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2022-07-05-at-10.56.11.png?fit=390%2C259&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6558","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101011"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6558"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6558\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6559"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6558"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6558"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6558"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}