Yesterday, Cubans could legitimately purchase plastic tat for the first time. New president and tiny brother of Fidel, Raul Castro, has begun his lifting of “excessive prohibitions”. No matter that most of the population can’t afford decent food or even,…
Yesterday, Cubans could legitimately purchase plastic tat for the first time. New president and tiny brother of Fidel, Raul Castro, has begun his lifting of “excessive prohibitions”. No matter that most of the population can’t afford decent food or even, shudder, world wide web, the crowds that were lined up yesterday made it look like the iPhone launch.
Microwaves, flat-screen TVs and other First World treats were on sale, but with DVD players starting at $118 (Philips, if you need to know) and teachers’ wages at around $26 a month (the average for all workers is $17), Raul’s move is all about making people feel they could purchase these goods and relieving the political pressure of arbitrary restrictions. And while these prices are steep, they’re still cheaper than the black market options.
Cubans rush to purchase DVD players, electric bikes [Reuters]
Picture: Reuters
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