Food shortages are said to be the cause that led Cubans in the town of Palma Soriano to take to the streets in protest. The police quickly arrived, but protesters fought back. At least one Cuban is known to have been arrested during the early morning confrontation on Tuesday. The town remains occupied by the military, both in uniform and dressed as civilians.
Via Diario de Cuba (my translation):
Protests and confrontations between protesters and police in Palma Soriano
At least one Cuban has been detained since Tuesday, when residents from three neighborhoods in the Santiago municipality of Palma Soriano protested and clashed with the police, as reported to DIARIO DE CUBA by a resident in the area who requests not to reveal their name.
This town in eastern Cuba, where two stores were vandalized on Tuesday morning, was already the scene of protests against the government in July 2021, during the nationwide demonstrations known as 11J.
According to this Palma Soriano resident, the Cubans who protested on Tuesday came from the neighborhoods known as Maribel, La Ceiba, and Cuba after 5:00 AM. The main reason was dissatisfaction with the delayed delivery of children’s milk.
“The thing started around five in the morning. In front of the El Vebecu restaurant, they tore down a flag and broke windows of a store.”
The restaurant is located on Martí Avenue, as well as the freely convertible currency (MLC) stores that were vandalized on Monday night or Tuesday morning, La Hogareña and the one known as Tienda de los Gordos.
“It didn’t last long because the military arrived immediately and controlled everything so that people outside wouldn’t know what was happening. The population confronted them, but you know it’s very difficult; they are the ones with the strength. So far, we know that a young man they call ‘El Mellizo’ is detained. We don’t know if they took anyone else.”
“The problem started mainly because children’s milk, which was supposed to arrive on Monday morning, arrived at 9:00 at night. That’s when things started heating up in the neighborhoods. Here, the milk comes in bulk, don’t think they bring it in bottles or anything like that. And they bring it when they feel like it,” explains the source and adds that Palma Soriano remains militarized.
“This is still full of soldiers, it’s just that many are dressed in civilian clothes to confuse, but this is full of soldiers,” he assures.
Throughout 2023, several Cuban provinces reported problems with the supply of fresh milk for children and individuals with chronic illnesses. The state media has tried to blame producers who fail to fulfill their contracts with the state and do not deliver a single liter of the product to the industry. However, it has also had to acknowledge the state’s failures in paying what was agreed upon to the producers.
Despite the lack of milk for children and the sick in Cuba, in March 2023, the Business Group of the Food Industry presented a project for foreign investment at the International Agri-Food Fair (FIAGROP 2023), organized by the government. This project aimed to increase the production of blue cheese for export, hotels, and tourism.
The violent acts against the two stores, as well as the protests and clashes with the police, took place a day after the Cuban government announced new prices for gasoline and diesel, which will take effect on February 1.
Starting next month, B83 gasoline will increase from 20 CUP to 114 per liter, or $0.94; regular B90, from 25 to 132 CUP or $1.10 dollars; special B94, from 30 to 156, or $1.30; special B100, from 37.50 to 198 CUP, or $1.65; regular diesel, from 25 to 132 pesos or $1.10, and special diesel from 27.50 to 150 CUP or $1.25.
The announced price increases for gasoline and diesel announced on Monday during the Round Table television program are accompanied by the creation of a network of 28 service centers, out of the 613 existing in Cuba, that will sell fuel in dollars. Payments can be made using cards, coupons, and other electronic payment methods, catering to tourists and transporters who want to pay in foreign currency.
As for the wholesale price, applicable to state transport, private and freight transporters, among others, the new value will be between 22 and 56 CUP, depending on the type of fuel, compared to the current 14.66 to 20.27 CUP. All these changes will take effect on February 1.
On Tuesday, the Cuban government announced fare increases for interprovincial buses, trains, planes, and passenger boats to the Isle of Youth starting from March 1, as well as yet another modification of prices for private taxi drivers from February 1.
Traveling to Santiago de Cuba will cost almost triple: from 255 to 717 pesos, and to Guantánamo from 280 to 786. These are two of the longest journeys in Cuba. To Matanzas, one of the provincial capitals with more passenger traffic from Havana, from 30 to 91 pesos.
As for the railroad, the service to Santiago de Cuba will increase from 132 to 820 pesos for the special (air-conditioned) service. Onboard snacks will also see an increase.
Also, the catamaran to the Isle of Youth, which travels from Gerona to Batabanó, will cost 200 pesos, up from the current 50. Meanwhile, the ferry covering the same route remains at 200 pesos.
Regarding domestic flights, flying to Guantánamo will now cost 4,300 pesos per passenger, up from 1,140. To Holguín, 4,080 pesos, to mention two examples that see significant increases.