Working in the same line is another of the keys to ensure the success of the new transformations, generating the greatest controversy that we have witnessed in recent years, because it touches one of the most sensitive fibers of Cubans and materializes an old desire.

The monetary and exchange ordering task, within which the wage increase is inserted, constitutes irrefutable proof of the political will to continue forward in the process of updating the Cuban economic model, despite the intensification of the blockade imposed by the United States government and the health, financial, commercial and social crisis caused by the pandemic Covid-19.

Although the process materialized in a matter of days, it was preceded by hard work at strategic levels. Legislation to strengthen consumer protection systems, ensure food safety and Decree 30/21 "On personal offenses, sanctions, measures and procedures to be applied for the violation of the rules that rule the price and tariff policy" , this last one published on January 29, 2021 in the Official Gazette No. 8 Extraordinary; all these facts confirm intentions to clear the way.

Clearing the way means immediately correcting harmful processes that contravene the principles of the Task, such as the excessive increase in prices, with “winds”, coming from the state and non-state sectors, which give a strong shock to the people's money and suggest that they will fail to make it to the end of the month.

In this sense, the most recent regulations are projected, which "aims to establish personal violations, sanctions, measures and procedures to be applied for the violation of the rules that govern the price and tariff policy" and "it applies to natural persons related to the commercialization of goods and services, on a wholesale or retail basis”.

In its Article 3, this decree clearly establishes the concepts of abusive and speculative prices, terms that resonate in the ears of Cubans, particularly those of Ciego de Ávila: the first one understood as “those whose growth is above a reasonable range in comparison with similar products or within the same family of products, and that seek to achieve a level of profit or excessive profit”; while, for legal purposes, they are called speculative those prices fixed to products, mainly basic necessities, higher than those established by the competent authority, linked to repurchase, resale or both, with the aim of obtaining profits.

The regulation establishes as the main sanction, the fine (with quotas that suggest rigor) and, with measures that allows the confiscation, the forced sale and the obligation to carry out, all in accordance with the gravity, the circumstances, the nature of the violations and the conditions of the offender.

In this way, the foundations are strengthened to intensify the timely, effective and efficient confrontation of those who, from fixed positions or as street vendors, enjoy impunity when selling essential products at exorbitant prices
such as garlic, whose price is capped at 3.00 pesos per head, however, sellers seem to have lost their minds and sell it at 10.00 pesos (without fear of what they will say or what will happen). It is just an example.

Although the decree empowers the recognized authorities to impose sanctions, we must not forget that this is a participatory process in which we are all essential actors, therefore, the call is to develop a popular confrontation, without waiting for the institutions, agencies, the inspector or the police man to act. Unity has always been our greatest strength.

Also, we must not neglect that the decrease in prices will result from our ability to increase production and generate goods and services that provide greater offers and enable the necessary competitiveness in the domestic market. As long as this is not the case, the upward trend may prevail and the right to choose continue to be minimized due to the scarcity of options.

Now, I think of the words of Martí: “It is not the job of the press to report lightly and frivolously on the events that take place, or to censor them with greater effect or adherence. It is up to the press to direct, explain, teach, guide, lead; (…) It is up to it to propose solutions, mature them and make them easy, submit them to consultation and reform them according to its principles; I mean, it is up to it to establish and base teachings, if the press wants be respected by the country, and in accordance with its services and merits, protect and honor it (…)”.

From the Ciego de Ávila's Citizen Portal, we will continue to touch the feelings of our people and generate the revolutionary debate, supported by a critical vision that always makes us return to the National Hero and the ideals of our Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, so that the Revolution, mighty and victorious, go ahead, as Fidel expressed on January 1, 1959 during the 50th anniversary of the triumph.