Communism: When you can't afford to wipe your ass

Cubans were left sitting uncomfortably this week after news that the Caribbean island is suffering from a chronic shortage of toilet paper.

As is standard practice in the communist country, the price of 24 essential goods was artificially lowered recently to protect the spending power of ordinary citizens – long reeling from the dire economic situation.

But now state-run radio has unexpectedly declared that Cuba's supplies of toilet paper will run out before the end of the year, with levels of demand "presenting problems" and cashflow issues prohibiting new imports.

Cuba's economy has been decimated by years of crippling US embargos and hopeless fiscal policies by former President Fidel Castro.

Three hurricanes which struck last year - causing $10 billion (£6 billion) of damage - only worsened the situation, leaving the communist country heavily reliant on imports and incapable of producing adequate supplies at home.

But that economic climate took an unexpected turn last week when the country's state-run news agency announced a shortage of bog roll.

"The corporation has taken all the steps so that at the end of the year there will be an important importation of toilet paper," state-run conglomerate Cimex said, after admitting that Cuba lacked its own raw materials.

The country has been subject to strict commercial, economic and financial embargos since 1962. American President Barack Obama had initially voiced a desire to "recast" strained relations with the island, but six months into office few diplomatic voices on either side have voiced any optimism.

President Raul Castro, brother of the iconic former leader, cited a fine imposed on a Dutch company by Obama's administration as an example.

The US Office of Foreign Assets Control last month fined Philips Electronics of North America Corporation (PENAC), a subsidiary of the parent Dutch company, when a single employee visited the Communist country for business.

Aside from lifting travel restrictions on Cuban Americans, President Obama has done little to alleviate the decades-old stalemate. "The change announced by Barack Obama does not have much to do with the US-Cuba ties," Havana's state-run Granma newspaper snidely remarked last Friday.

President Castro seems equally pessimistic about the new US administration, warning citizens that despite any goodwill: "We have been forced to renegotiate debts, payments and other commitments with foreign companies."

Barring a change in relations, it appears those financial concerns will have to take precedence over the more basic needs of Cuba's "classless utopia".

  

Comments

[Zu]

time for Cuba to switch to the three seashells

[Jeff Lopez]

Its pretty disheartening to listen that Cuba is going deeper into economic crisis. Yeah they should lower the prices of commonly used stuff. Like I cannot live without the Habanos.