Just a few days after the Cuban regime implemented a neoliberal package which increased the cost of fuel by 500%the authorities have threatened to seize the vehicles of private transporters who increase the price of their tickets in an attempt to make their work a little more profitable.
According to the Prime Minister of Cuba, Manuel Marrero, the government also plans to implement various penalties such as the cancellation of operating licenses and traditional fines.
“We must make it clear what the established prices are and strictly apply the penalties for anyone who violates the rules. “Withdraw the operating license and if they are repeat offenders, until the vehicle is confiscated,” the official said during a meeting.
Marrero points out that, despite the marked fuel shortage that exists on the Island, and the fact that the government increased its price five times, these “abuses” by transporters cannot be allowed.
In this way, transportation workers must continue with the same fare price, even though now the expenses to maintain this job have increased considerably, making their work unprofitable.
The justification that the government has taken is that, according to them, the wholesale price of fuel has not increased as markedly as the retail price, and that licensed transporters should have access to wholesale prices.
However, it must be remembered that the government limits the amount of gasoline that transporters can carry at this price, and many times the assigned figure is not enough, so transport workers must buy more at the retail price.
Additionally, not all of them have operating licenses, purchasing all their fuel at a very high price.
At the same time, despite the speech given by the regime, wholesale prices suffered an increase in price, and although this is not as high as the retail price (500%), it is accumulating and represents an additional expense for transporters.
Marrero’s statements make it evident that the Cuban regime does not take into account the needs of the people when implementing economic measures.
The arguments given during the last meeting have left several analysts incredulous, as they lack any basis in market laws. And the minister ignores the simple fact that raising a price in a primary sector results in an increase in the price of all associated services, in this case, fuel and transport.
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