In the town of Guisa, located in the Granma province, the government's recent seizure of tons of ripe bananas has sparked a wave of criticism from Cuban citizens who view the action as an "abuse of power." An officialist social media profile reported the confiscation, describing it as an effort to curb "illegal sales" in the area.
The profile, named Entérate con Aytana Alama and aligned with official narratives, announced on Facebook that the bananas were intended to be transported to Bayamo by private truck for unauthorized sale at inflated prices by street vendors. The official narrative claimed that the bananas would now be sent to Acopio for legal sale at lower prices to the local population.
However, residents of Granma expressed their frustration, viewing the move as an attempt to criminalize hardworking producers and sellers. One user commented, "You think this is a success? Of course, they sell it cheap because it didn't cost them anything. There's no progress when all you do is watch those who try to feed the people, something you don't do yourself. These are products bought from farmers, and you're not even able to purchase from them."
Another user criticized government leaders as "shameless," accusing them of seizing goods for personal gain. "They confiscate to keep the money for themselves. Let people sell their goods, fight against drugs instead, and allow the people to do whatever it takes to get ahead. You are abusers, only looking to enrich yourselves, the corrupt and shameless leaders of this country," the user exclaimed.
For another commentator, "thieves get away with murder, while honest farmers are not allowed to live in peace; it's a government competition against the people." A different user noted, "Every time agricultural products are confiscated, it means one less producer will plant, raising the product's cost."
"This is what I never tire of criticizing. If there are 100 producers selling tons of bananas or any other product, the price will definitely drop... That never fails. Meet the demand and watch how prices decrease," added a Granma resident.
Another local observed, "The issue is that the government has neither the money nor the guts to buy from the farmers themselves and then sell at a fair price. And if they do manage to buy, they don't pay the farmers; it's all on credit. That's why they prefer to seize goods. Oh God, how long will this continue?"
While farmers strive to provide food for the population, these seizures add an extra hurdle for those relying on the sale of their produce to survive. Unfortunately, such incidents are not isolated.
Just last year, a Cuban couple, Carlos Díaz and Joelkis Díaz, both 58, had their two cows confiscated by Yisel Rodríguez, a delegate from Agriculture in Boyeros. Similarly, in Santiago de Cuba, the seizure of trucks loaded with food belonging to farmers caused a surge of outrage on social media.
Public Concern Over Food Seizures in Cuba
Why did the government seize bananas in Granma?
The government seized the bananas to prevent illegal sales at inflated prices by street vendors, as reported by an officialist social media profile.
How did residents react to the banana seizure?
Residents reacted with anger and frustration, criticizing the government for criminalizing producers and sellers and accusing them of personal gain through confiscations.
What impact do these seizures have on farmers?
Seizures create additional challenges for farmers who rely on selling their produce to make a living, potentially discouraging future agricultural production.