Cuba slashes state-subsidised soap

[The Northerner]

HAVANA (AP) - The cost of cleanliness will rise in Cuba after its cash-strapped, communist government announced on Wednesday that soap, toothpaste and detergent will be slashed from monthly ration books.

Cuba's official Gazette said that effective Jan. 1, "personal cleanliness products" will join a growing list of products cut from the ration books that islanders have come to rely on for a small but steady supply of basic goods.

Cubans currently pay about 25 centavos, or about a penny, for a rationed bar of soap. They'll soon have to fork out four to six pesos, according to the gazette.

The list of products available with the ration books has shrunk in recent months as the government trimmed items deemed nonessential. Cigarettes, salt, peas and potatoes have been cut. Sugar, beans, meat, rice, eggs, bread and other products remain.

Read more: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20101230/D9KDTGO80.html

[Billy Burnett]

1. A "Ration" booklet is nothing more than a discount coupon booklet, used at gov discount stores.

Every Cuban gets one a month.

The government stores are shifting to provide only foodstuffs, purchased at a negotiated volume price, that are being grown at the numerous co-ops and newly privatized farms.

For every CDR office there is at least one gov discount store.

No one goes hungry in Cuba.

[greytdemocrat]

2. Yet another reason

I want to move to Cuba from Sarasota,FL.

NOT.

[PBS Poll-435]

3. I wish they would just stop this stuff already.

Their model = no bueno.



That does not mean that is 100% wrong, but it is definitely not 100% right.

And the fact that the citizens did/are/will suffer because of this stupid F'n impasse... shame.