Ration Book Remains Central to Distribution of Donations in Cuba, Minister Claims

The ration book, a relic of Cuba's state-controlled distribution system dating back to 1962, stubbornly persists.

Despite its diminished role, with many blank pages and largely symbolic functions, the ration card continues to exist, at least in the rhetoric of Cuban officials. They have often predicted the end of its subsidized items, yet the necessity of managing scarcity has prevented its complete abolition.

Betsy Díaz Velázquez, the Minister of Domestic Trade, stated that the ration book remains the primary tool used by the Cuban government to distribute regulated products and international donations to the public. During an appearance on the state-run program Mesa Redonda, she asserted that this system "has been and will continue to be" crucial, as she elaborated on the procedures for distributing aid received from abroad.

She explained that products are recorded in the ration book, and in certain cases, additional lists are used to prioritize groups such as pregnant women, children, or individuals with specific dietary needs.

In the same program, Débora Rivas Saavedra, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, claimed that distribution is conducted "orderly," adhering to donors' intentions, with mechanisms for territorial monitoring and impact evaluation in place.

According to her, these controls help maintain international cooperation with Cuba and ensure compliance with control and monitoring mechanisms applied by donors.

Díaz Velázquez further noted that the process includes what she called "popular control," where citizens verify the receipt of products in their communities as part of the delivery confirmation process.

Transparency Concerns in Distribution

However, there are no established citizen mechanisms for publicly and transparently tracking the volumes of donations received, their storage, and distribution until they reach each recipient.

It is well-known that due to outdated expiration dates sometimes found on products, these items often come from old military reserves, replenished with fresh donations entering the country.

The officials' statements come amid growing scrutiny over the fate of international aid. A report by Mexican channel TV Azteca recently exposed that donated food, such as the so-called "frijol del bienestar," is being sold in state-run stores operating in dollars, with prices reaching $2.97 per half kilogram and up to $43 for 30-kilogram sacks.

Facing these accusations, government representatives, including President Miguel Díaz-Canel, have consistently denied any diversion or sale of donations, asserting that products intended for the population "have never been charged for" and that institutional audits ensure their proper use.

Despite these claims, journalistic investigations have revealed that some of the population has not received products announced as donations, while some items have appeared in hard-currency commercial circuits, sparking debate over the transparency and efficiency of the state's distribution model.

In this context, amidst an economic crisis marked by shortages of food, fuel, and basic goods, when international donations are most needed and requested, the Cuban government continues to present the beleaguered ration book as the central pillar of its distribution system.