An agricultural and commercial fair held on Saturday in Las Tunas to celebrate Father's Day triggered a wave of backlash on social media. Residents of Las Tunas expressed their frustration, claiming that the product prices were far beyond the reach of the province's workers and retirees.
Official coverage by Tiempo 21 showcased images of green bananas, pumpkins, grains, and canned goods displayed under a roofed structure adorned with a "Happy Father's Day" banner.
Despite this festive setting, the public's response in the comments section was overwhelmingly negative; they saw the fair as nothing more than a decorative facade, failing to address the real issue of hunger.
"You need a truckload of cash to shop here," one local succinctly remarked, echoing the sentiments of many who voiced their discontent in various ways.
Another commenter highlighted the steep price hikes, noting that yogurt soared from 105 to 490 pesos between fairs, ice cream jumped from 490 to 1,460 pesos, and bread increased from 90 to 150 pesos overnight. "If you don't have family abroad, you starve," they concluded.
Irony was another common reaction. "What a fantastic offer, hahaha," one woman wrote. Another asked sarcastically, "How much does a retiree earn, and what's the price of a donkey? Is there a line? I don't care."
One woman summed up the purchasing power crisis with a stark observation: "You need a fortune in pesos just to survive; salaries don't even cover a pack of chicken. How long will this torture continue?"
"An offer would be selling at a price everyone can afford. Many locals didn't attend because of the prices," one citizen noted, highlighting a standard the regime seems unable to meet.
Another pointed out a structural contradiction of the event: "I don't know how they held a fair when the dairy plant doesn't have fuel to distribute milk for children."
This observation is particularly telling, considering that Las Tunas canceled an agricultural fair in May due to a lack of fuel for transporting products from municipalities to the provincial capital.
In May, Mother's Day fairs in Sancti Spíritus were described as "art for the wealthy mothers" because of their prices, while in Camagüey, citizens complained that "only vegetables are for the people; the meat is for the bosses."
On June 16, a Cuban woman from Trinidad went viral in a video showing charcoal priced at 3,500 pesos and oil between 1,800 and 2,000 pesos at a local fair, provoking a similar online reaction.
Official annual inflation in Cuba reached 15.89% in May 2026, although independent economists estimate the real inflation rate to be around 70% annually.
The average state salary is approximately 6,930 pesos per month, equating to about $13 on the informal exchange market, while the minimum pension is 3,056 pesos. Given these figures, the prices at the Las Tunas fair are mathematically impossible for most people to afford.
Understanding the Economic Challenges in Cuba
Why are the prices at the Las Tunas fair considered unaffordable?
The prices are considered unaffordable because they far exceed the average income of workers and retirees in the province, making it impossible for most to purchase basic goods.
How did the public react to the Father's Day fair in Las Tunas?
The public reacted negatively, with many expressing frustration and anger over the high prices and viewing the fair as a superficial solution to deeper economic issues.
What are the impacts of inflation on the Cuban population?
Inflation reduces the purchasing power of the population, making it difficult for many to afford basic necessities, thereby exacerbating the economic hardships faced by most Cubans.