The Guantánamo State Dairy Company has ignited a wave of outrage after announcing on social media that its Anacaona brand chocolate ice cream would be sold exclusively in U.S. dollars at El Panchito store, seemingly a CIMEX branch in the city.
The announcement, presented in a celebratory tone and omitting the product's price, was met with sarcasm and anger by hundreds of Guantánamo residents. They highlighted the core contradiction: a state-owned enterprise aiming to sell its products in a currency to which most workers have no access.
"Perfect for family sharing," the announcement declared, a brief phrase that sparked widespread indignation, as the dollar pricing places the product beyond the reach of most Cubans.
"Are we still in Cuba or Miami?" questioned user Isle Perales, capturing the general sentiment in a single phrase.
Double Standards and Public Frustration
Katia Ortega Del Rio delivered one of the more articulate critiques, pointing directly at the regime's double standards: "They release their products in USD while demanding that individual entrepreneurs and small businesses use bank transfers so everyone can access products, yet they don't require themselves to sell in the currency that pays the people."
Maydalis Quintana Creagh, identifying as a doctor, posed the question many were asking: "How can we, the workers, the people, doctors like me who earn in national currency and on a card, purchase this?"
Practical Challenges and Social Exclusion
Other comments highlighted a second practical impossibility. "In USD, and how do they keep it frozen without electricity? Form a group only with those who have solar panels and receive dollars or have businesses," wrote Ailena Laurencio Pérez, referencing the frequent power outages affecting the province.
Alex Pardo summed up the collective bewilderment: "I still wonder who in this country gets paid in dollars when everything is priced in USD."
The announcement did not specify the ice cream's price in dollars, a detail that prompted dozens of unanswered questions in the comments.
"Poor kids: if they don't have USD, they won't know the joy of enjoying a delicious ice cream," lamented Daira Favier, capturing the human dimension of a policy that, in a province on the brink of culinary collapse, excludes those whose salaries supposedly sustain the revolution.
Not an Isolated Incident
This episode is not isolated. In May, a store opened with the slogan "100% Cuban" but sold its items exclusively in foreign currency, sparking similar criticisms.
In April, the Turquino Vegetable Canning Company in Holguín allocated fried tomato and guava paste to dollar-only stores managed by TRD Caribe.
The gradual dollarization of state offerings accelerated after December 2024, when the regime institutionalized the use of cash and card-based U.S. dollars in state-run retail commerce.
The situation in Guantánamo exacerbates the perception of mockery. The province ranks among the top five with the highest food insecurity in the country, according to the Food Monitor Program organization.
Understanding the Economic Impact of Dollarization in Cuba
Why is the sale of ice cream in U.S. dollars controversial in Guantánamo?
The controversy arises because most Cuban workers are paid in the national currency and don't have access to U.S. dollars, making the product inaccessible to the majority.
How does dollarization affect Cuban citizens?
Dollarization limits access to goods for those earning in national currency, thereby increasing inequality and reducing purchasing power for the majority of the population.
What is the government's stance on using U.S. dollars in commerce?
The regime has institutionalized the use of U.S. dollars in state-run retail outlets, which is viewed as contradictory to its demands on private businesses to operate in local currency.