A fresh wave of crackdowns on informal commerce has rocked Havana during the so-called National Exercise for Crime Prevention and Control. This initiative has resulted in numerous fines, forced sales, and confiscations, directly affecting street vendors and self-employed workers in a city where many rely on this sector for their livelihood. This week, Havana witnessed these actions as part of the fourth day of the IV National Exercise, which is being conducted nationwide until September 27.
In the municipality of Guanabacoa, 27 inspectors participated, conducting 59 inspections and imposing 124 fines, with 29 of these under decrees 30 and 91. The total fines amounted to 315,120 Cuban pesos. Additionally, there were reports of 13 forced sales and five seizures, as part of oversight actions led by the Ministry of Finance and Prices on social media. This crackdown involved various state entities and extended to other parts of Havana.
Operations Across Havana's Municipalities
In Plaza de la Revolución, over 30 inspectors carried out an operation resulting in 90 control actions, 20 temporary immobilizations, and the identification of 11 illegal vendors. Fines in this area exceeded 1.2 million pesos. Meanwhile, in Centro Habana, a production and marketing workshop in Cayo Hueso was fined 42,000 CUP for selling expired products, alongside other penalties for price violations and lack of labeling.
In La Lisa, the focus was on the UBIA Company, where the quality of rationed bread, hygienic conditions, and internal security were inspected. On a broader scale, the National Office of Tax Administration (ONAT) reported 268 establishments reviewed, resulting in 143 fines totaling 740,500 CUP, 30 temporary closures, and a tax debt of 371.2 million Cuban pesos, with more than 24 million recovered.
Civic Backlash and Government Justification
These government-promoted operations, part of a campaign to ensure "internal order" and social discipline, have also sparked significant public criticism, particularly in areas like the Tulipán Agromarket, where arbitrary arrests and seizures of street vendors were reported. "The police rounded up people trying to make a living by selling produce and cigarettes that the government fails to provide," a citizen noted on social media.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel defended the crackdown during the national exercise's opening, emphasizing the need to "ensure citizen tranquility" amid widespread dissatisfaction due to blackouts, food shortages, and protests.
Economic Impact and Public Perception
The current campaign is part of recent efforts to enforce the use of the Fiscal Bank Account and mandatory electronic payments. Critics perceive these measures as attempts to tighten state control over the non-state economy amidst inflation and scarcity. Meanwhile, in Holguín, similar actions were reported against vendors on Calle 13, with neighborhood complaints of arbitrariness and a growing sense of repression.
For many Havanans, informal sales remain one of the few avenues for accessing basic goods in an economy stifled by shortages and increased institutional control.
Understanding the Crackdown on Informal Commerce in Cuba
What is the National Exercise for Crime Prevention and Control in Cuba?
It is a government-led initiative aimed at curbing illegal activities and ensuring social discipline through inspections, fines, and seizures in various sectors, particularly targeting informal commerce.
How have these actions affected street vendors in Havana?
Street vendors have faced fines, forced sales, and confiscations, severely impacting their ability to earn a living in an already struggling economy.
What has been the public reaction to these government actions?
The operations have drawn significant criticism from the public, with many denouncing them as arbitrary and repressive, particularly in areas heavily reliant on informal commerce.